Frangiosa’s art honors the “castaways of society”

Jersey-born Joy Frangiosa is the featured artist at the October Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) First Thursday opening and monthly showcase.

Joy was born in New Jersey during the “good old days” era. She spent her early childhood in Catholic schools. Her life experiences are manifested in her art - the use of shrine like boxes has become her signature.

She is a visual artist using collage/assemblage as her medium. Found objects and her personal photography are placed in settings to tell a story and expose a truth. Thousands of hours have been spent perfecting her techniques - each creation frees a part of her inner self, lessening her imposing sensitivity towards life. She is a chronicler of time, places and people.

Her goal is to honor, through her art, the nameless and dispossessed…the castaways of society - and reverse the neglect; replacing it with hope and recognition.

Joy says, “I am also continuing to learn and advance my craft. I use photos as graphic art to reveal the beauty in the banal and forgotten. This entails layering of photos to present the same visual experience found in my collage/assemblage.”

Her objectives are to continue to promote awareness of societal issues through exhibits and to remain involved with her community by giving to and supporting agencies that bring hope and recognition to our most vulnerable people and places.

“I want to inspire those I meet to embrace their hardships. As an artist I endeavor to aide in helping others to find their strengths and abilities through the arts.”

The show begins with a reception on Thursday, October 6 from 6-9 p.m. at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center (621 E. 4th Street in downtown Tulsa). There will be a door prize drawn of the artists’ work; the show continues throughout the month.

Oklahomans for Equality/OkEq is Oklahoma’s oldest gay rights organization. OkEq works for social justice and full inclusion for Oklahoma’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) citizens and their allies. For more information, see www.okeq.org.

Copyright The Gayly – September 26, 2016 @ 11:20 a.m.