“Landscapes Through Time”, a solo exhibit of paintings by Roselle Park resident and high school art teacher Nicholas J. Florio will be on display through April 19, 2013. There will be a reception to meet the artist on Wednesday April 3, 2013 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m at the Casano community Center located at 314 Chestnut Street.
The seven paintings in this exhibit represent a 43 year retrospective of Florio’s work. It is also a reflection of his dedication to teaching his craft to a new generation of artists over those years. He began his teaching career at Roselle Catholic High School and in 1976 then became art teacher at Roselle Park High School, where currently he teaches art classes in oil, acrylic, and watercolor.
Florio is a lifelong resident of Roselle Park. He formally studied art at the DuCret School of Art and then earned a BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He holds an MA (Master in Arts) from Kean University. Florio has had exhibitions at Fairleigh Dickinson University and at Montclair State University.
His interest in art started when – as a preschooler – his next-door neighbor told his mother that he was going to be an artist. Since back in the 50s there was no day care or pre-school, Nick would visit his next door neighbor each morning where she would give him scrap paper and he would spend hours drawing away. This lasted until Kindergarten at where he discovered he couldn’t draw all day.
Florio’s community centered background also includes being a member of the Roselle Park Fire Department. To round out his life, he still coaches tennis and is the Union County Tennis Tournament Director.
