Marco Sassone: Santuario. Art exhibition at the Porziuncola Nuova

The Knights of Saint Francis of Assisi have announced the return of Marco Sassone to San Francisco for the exhibition Santuario (October 1 – 31, 2010) at the Porziuncola Nuova next to the National Shrine of Saint Francis (Vallejo @ Columbus Streets). The exhibition presents a synesthetic journey through the visions of the artist who hails from Tuscany and who lived in San Francisco for over 25 years.

Knighted in 1982 into The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, Sassone, from his earliest youth, has made an experience of reality on the streets of the world, through the gazes of the homeless, extracting from their faces and stories a large part of the extraordinary material for his artworks. He paints urban landscapes that are altogether physical and mental, where the vanishing point visually pulls the viewer into another dimension; or draws forms of life in decay, almost dissolved in the surroundings of a society that forgets and decomposes humanity.

“These paintings are a way for Sassone to plumb his psyche, mining seminal memories that he transduces onto canvas and paper in his personal telegraphic style, creating sanctuary for both himself and for his subject.” Koan Jeff Baysa, exhibition catalogue.

The Knights of Saint Francis of Assisi was founded in July 2008 to protect, serve and financially sustain the Porziuncola Nuova and the National Shrine of Saint Francis. The mission of the Archconfraternity of Knights is to fulfill the tenets of their patron, Saint Francis of Assisi; to feed the poor, care for the sick, promote peace, care for Mother Earth, and, of course, protect all creatures. Proceeds from the exhibition will go to benefit the Knights of Saint Francis of Assisi.

The Sassone exhibit will be at the Porziuncola Nuova, National Shrine of Saint Francis, Vallejo and Columbus, San Francisco until October 31st. Hours: Tuesday through Sunday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. www.knightsofsaintfrancis.com www.marcosassone.com