By Megan Sullivan
Assistant Circulation Editor
Dynamic color combinations and thick brushstrokes compose Dane Capo’s unique style of portrait painting.
An exquisite talent, Hermosa Beach local Capo uses vibrant colors, various textures and refreshing perspectives to produce his own innovative style of paintings that mix impressionism and untraditional art techniques.
Capo is unencumbered by his autism and hosted his most recent event in Manhattan Beach on Sept.18 at Lido Di Manhattan. Capo’s work is original and bold, but the event was too lively for the crowd to pay full attention to the actual art.
The event included a DJ, appetizers and even live music by young adults in the South Bay, such as Mira Costa’s own seniors Amber Manley and Joshua Johnson. The event also featured a raffle to raise money for local high school arts programs. Meanwhile, Capo scattered his art throughout the restaurant where it will remain until March 15.
Capo’s style is original, displaying his talents as an artist while also reflecting his creative intuition. Each painting featured famous figures such as Albert Einstein and John Lennon, created with thick lines and bold colors. Seeing such well-known faces in a new style and perspective makes a memorable impression on the viewer.
Even though Capo focuses on similar subject matter through his pieces, each is differentiated from the others in that all used various canvases, colors and perspectives, which helped make all the works bold and exciting and displayed Capo’s love for art and the effort he puts into it.
Although the paintings were impressive, they did not appear to be the main focus of the display; instead, the event gravitated around the audience. The paintings hung on the walls over tables where people sat eating their meals, making it difficult to call attention to them. The layout of the event did not compliment Capo’s talents and instead overwhelmed the viewer with the amount of activities planned, diminishing the overall experience and quality of Capo’s art.
There was a small crowd of energetic people moving throughout the event, establishing a feeling of community that added to the lively atmosphere of the restaurant. Families ate dinner at the surrounding tables, while a large group of people gathered in the middle to view the art. There was an intense feeling of support for Capo, which showed the impact his art has made on his community.
Even though the event lost focus on the main artist and did not give his paintings the proper attention, it was still entertaining and supportive of local arts as a whole. If it had not been for Capo’s bold and attention-grabbing pieces, the art would have been lost in the loud music and swarm of dancing people.
Capo’s artwork will be on display in Lido de Manhattan (1550 Rosecrans Avenue, Manhattan Beach) until March 15.
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