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Vardi Art at Waikiki Café |
(North Bend, WA – May 4, 2009) – The art of musicians and painters Lenore and Emanuel Vardi will be featured in a solo show at Waikiki’s ING DIRECT Café on May
15th. “We like to feature artists that have a unique story,” says Café Manager Cleo Brown. “And the Vardis’ story encompasses nearly a century of love, politics, art and music,” continues Lenn Howard, the Vardis’ Hawaiian Islands representative.
Some of Emanuel’s historic Cembal D’amour viola series will be playing during the art exhibit on the café’s second floor, so visitors can see and “hear” the art. Explains Howard, “As musicians the Vardis have the unique ability to interpret visually how musicians feel while playing. They capture on canvas a musician’s relationship to instruments and sound, so a viewer can see it.”
Both the Vardis have been surrounded by the arts their entire lives. Lenore has a history in dance, music and fine arts. Emanuel entered Juilliard as a violin student, but earned his first pay check playing the viola in the NBC Symphony. During World War II, he was invited to join the Navy Orchestra as a viola soloist. “One evening we played at the White House for President and Mrs. Roosevelt,” remembers Emanuel. “When I left the Navy, I used my G-I bill to pay for art school in Italy.” One of his paintings from that era won an art competition and hangs in the Bordeghera Museum.
When Emanuel returned to New York, he became acquainted with another well-known musician, violinist Lenore Weinstock. Before and after their marriage 25 years ago, the Vardis worked together and separately in prominent orchestras and symphonies, scoring movies and commercials, as well as, on stage and in studio with famed musicians that include names as diverse as Placido Domingo, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Sarah Vaughan and Itzhak Perlman.
Emanuel’s artistic life took an unexpected turn in 1993 when he fell. Repeated surgeries to repair his injured wrist were failing when he slipped on some ice. Not wanting to fall on the wrist he was nursing, he let his shoulder bear the brunt, seriously injuring it. Left unable to perform, Emanuel began painting more. Eventually, Lenore joined him in that studio, as well, completing what she calls “our marriage of art and music.”
The Vardis left New York eight years ago and have been auditioning new home towns along the way. Not until they had nearly hit the Pacific Ocean did they find the right place to settle. They have just put down roots in North Bend, Washington – a town in the Cascade Mountain foothills near Seattle. “One of the reasons we moved here is the dynamic Pacific Rim arts scene,” explains Lenore. “We want to participate fully as performers, teachers and patrons.”
• More on the Vardis work and life can be obtained online at www.vardiart.com
• The Vardis are on permanent display at Revolution Gallery in Issaquah, WA &
The Laurel Tree in Duvall, WA
Contact: Lenore and Emanuel Vardi at (206) 947-9694 or 947-9350
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