Subject: Celebrating diversity and unity through art in Carson Calif.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Wells Fargo Demonstrates SupporT For Local Artist And His Message of Unity
Artist Alexey Steele’s “My Neighbors: Capturing the Soul of America’s Diverse City”
On Display at Wells Fargo’s Carson Town Center Bank and Carson Park Building
CARSON, CALIF., July 28, 2016 – Southern California artist Alexey Steele will display two works from his My Neighbors series, a passionate portrayal of select residents from the city of Carson, at the Wells Fargo Carson
Town Center Branch located at 506 W. Torrance Blvd. through August 22.
Steele’s
studio is located in the heart of Carson, and he is a proponent of the
transformative nature of art. He also believes that the answer to many
of the difficult issues currently facing society is to get to know and
love one’s
neighbor, as inspired by the cherished phrase “love thy neighbor.” With his My Neighbors
series, which currently totals five portraits of ordinary, everyday
people, he spotlights community members who represent the strength and
soul of Carson
in an effort to inspire social change. The artist hopes that his My Neighbors
series will also encourage visitors to see their own neighbors from a
new perspective and take the message of love for one’s neighbor back to
their own streets.
“I
cannot think of a better message to spread in the wake of the current
happenings in our country,” said David DiCristofaro, Wells Fargo lead
region president for Greater Los Angeles. “In times of tragedy, it is
important to come
together and focus on the things that unite us. At Wells Fargo that
includes respect for every individual, a spirit of community, and a
focus on caring deeply for one another. I believe those values are now
more important than ever, and that is exactly what
we are hoping to demonstrate with this art exhibit.”
“Every
street and every neighborhood has their own widely loved neighbors, and
I want everyone to look around and say ‘Love MY neighbor!’ just as I
do,” notes Steele. “With the My Neighbors series, I have
focused on individuals
who are overlooked as the true heroes of our society, as these special
people form the bedrock of the community and provide something real and
solid to hold onto during our troubled times,” he adds.
Steele was awarded a grant by The City of Carson Cultural Arts Commission for 2015-16 to develop the My Neighbors
series. In this inaugural collaboration between the City and an artist,
Steele showcases three residents of the
city of Carson, each special in their own right. Sharing in the
neighborly spirit of diversity, Wells Fargo joined this important
socially engaged artist–city–community collaboration as an exhibition
partner. While two paintings from the series will be on view
at the bank branch, three additional works will be displayed
concurrently at the Carson Park Building.
With this body of work, Steele is following in
the footsteps of his late father, the noted Ukrainian artist Leonid
Steele. A hallmark of Leonid Steele's oeuvre was to travel to remote
villages of the Ukraine to capture the expression
of ordinary people in paint and to present the finished works to the
very muses themselves. The younger Steele's homage to his father's work
intends to build upon the legacy of shared strength, as a counterpoint
to troublesome events.
Steele’s art is traditionally shown in
galleries and museums, but this time the artist is presenting his new
works in settings that he shares with his fellow community members to
ensure the widest engagement of local residents in this
city public art program. Alexey Steele is represented by American
Legacy Fine Arts, a private art gallery in Pasadena, Calif.
Wells Fargo has a long history of supporting
diversity and inclusion, and the company’s Vision and Values states “The
spirit of diversity and inclusion lives in our hearts and minds and
most importantly in our behaviors – the way we
interact with each other and conduct our business.” Additionally, Wells
Fargo was ranked #12 on Diversity Inc.'s “Top 50 Companies for Diversity” list for 2016.
*Digital images of artwork in the exhibition are available upon request.*
About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a
diversified, community-based financial services company with
$1.8 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San
Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments,
mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through 8,800 locations,
13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has
offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the
global economy. With approximately 269,000
team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United
States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 27 on Fortune’s 2016
rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to
satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them
succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives are also available at Wells Fargo Blogs and Wells Fargo Stories.
About American Legacy Fine Arts, LLC
American Legacy Fine Arts
(americanlegacyfinearts.com) was founded by art industry veteran Elaine
Adams to assist collectors in their acquisitions of traditional fine art
by today’s premier American artists. Built on the philosophy
that artists should be encouraged to exercise artistic freedom, ALFA
provides art enthusiasts with the opportunity to expand their
collections with exceptional works that have truly inspired the
artists. Open by appointment Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m.
to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., ALFA is located in a
tranquil neighborhood of Pasadena, Calif., near the world-famous Rose
Bowl Stadium. Contact the gallery at (626) 577-7733 or email at info@americanlegacyfinearts.com
for the gallery address.
Media Contacts:
Wells Fargo:
Ann Penn
213-503-6397
Artist:
Olga Vlasova
310-710-7845
