By Sally Deering

 

A year ago, artist Fermin Mendoza of West New York decided he would paint a portrait every day of people he reached out to in person and on the Internet. Taking their pictures or having them email their pics, Mendoza used the photos as the basis for a series of portraits – 183 to be exact – in the project he calls “artists/models/others” opening this week at LITM Bar, Restaurant, Art & Video Gallery on Newark Avenue in Jersey City.

“I started the ‘artists/models/others’ project in January of 2012 and I originally planned on meeting one person and then painting their portrait for each day of the year,” Mendoza says.

“It turned out 2012 was a leap year so that meant the magic number was 366. Well, somehow life got in the way and I was only able to complete 183, exactly half.”

Mendoza completed one painting every 48 hours and many artists he knows personally are represented in the show like Peter. S. Bill of Jersey City and Greg Stone of Ridgefield Park. There’s even a portrait of me, Sally Deering – yes, that’s me – painted from a photograph he took after we shared coffee and conversation at Dunkin’ Donuts.  People he met on Linkedin.com and other social media websites were also invited to participate.

“Some of those people that will be at the opening, I’ll be meeting in person for the first time,” Mendoza says.

 IF YOU GO:

Through June 30th

Fermin Mendoza’s Solo Show: “Artists/Models/Others”

LITM – Bar, Restaurant, Art & Video Gallery

140 Newark Ave

Jersey City

(201) 536-5557

www.litm.com