Check out Thanassi Gallery at 234 Commercial Street in Provincetown - (508) 487-0233

Feature Article on Thanassi Gallery - INNEWSWEEKLY.COM

Tony Giampetruzzi

PROVINCETOWN 2002
Boys of summer
Thanassi Gallery highlights two artists concerned with Provincetown


"Beach Boy" by Michael Thomas Smith
From the very beginning, Provincetown (and, indeed, its little sister Ogunquit) has been known as a so-called artist's colony. Some people like to think that that is merely code for a "gay enclave," but, unless you have blinders on, it's hard to miss the scores and scores of galleries that dot the landscape.

They house practically everything imaginable (and for every imaginable budget) and prove that the tip of the Cape is a breeding ground for local artists and a welcome retail destination for artists from away. We wish we had the time and the space to detail the many offerings in P'town this summer.

But, alas, we don't.

Nonetheless, you can see for yourself the many object d'art that could potentially empty your wallet by taking a stroll down Commercial Street and checking out storefronts that display something other than 2xist models in their windows.

I will recommend the Thanassi Gallery at 234 Commercial Street however. It's there that you'll find the work of Michael Thomas Smith. Last year, I was introduced to this Connecticut artist whose oil colors are still available at the Thanassi. Thirty-years-old, and a native of the Cape, Smith went to school in Florida, but has been painting in Connecticut for the last eight years. His pieces, such as "Fury," portray an emotional depth and a unique use of bold color that are unusual to homoerotic art. In fact, it may even be a misnomer to categorize his work as homoerotic as the eroticism is subtle and marked more by movement and expression than by flesh.

Such was the case with "Fury" which is still available at the Thanassi. This year, Smith offers several new pieces including "Beach Boy," "High Tide," "Envy," "Ethereal," "Reveal" and "The Kiss."

"Beach Boy," says gallery owner, Thanassi, is "either a self-portrait or something very similar."

"I think that [Smith] has evolved a little bit during the past year. Take "Envy." It's practically an abstract piece that merges with impressionism , whereas with "High Tide" there are shades of modernism with impressionism," says Thanassi. "They are complex and beautiful."

This year, Thanassi, who is well-known for his deco-style oils, will launch an impressive collection titled "The Boys of Summer." Like Smith's works, "The Boys of Summer" is an insightful collection detailing the many facets of life among men in Provincetown.

"I was trying to capture the feeling of Provincetown from a male perspective, and what I found to be really interesting is that no one had ever painted men in Provincetown without incorporating eroticism," said Thanassi. "I think that the town and the people here are really beautiful. There's a lot of motion. People are going places, there are a lot of bikes, a lot of walking, that's a big piece of life down here."

So, Thanassi set out to capture that part of Provincetown life. One of his favorites is entitled "T-Dance." "People really, really like this one because it really reflects the community here."

The painting portrays two male couples walking toward T-Dance. "They are a little nervous, their hands are in their pockets," said Thanassi. Walking out of T-Dance, however, are two men in an embrace. "And, that's just how it is."