Biography

Born in 1960 on Long Island, N.Y., Ralph Mindicino sacrificed his right leg to bone cancer at the age of 14. The prospect of a long recovery mired in pain and boredom had a transformational effect on his psyche. Creating imaginary worlds provided escape and relief from the harsh realities of the physical world. Mindicino’s journey of rehabilitation and psychic healing concluded with an outlook on life forever informed by the experience. He has continued to explore his art ever since.

Most recently, I was a winner of the 2009 Wynn Newhouse Award, and my paintings have recently shown in the 'Wounded In Action' art exhibition sponsored by The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and is currently on tour nationally in 2010 with locations including the Senate Rotunda in Washington DC and the National Museum at Walter Reed. In 2009 I took part in a round table discussion concerning the issue of being a handicapped artist at the School of Visual Arts in NYC.

I studied fine art at the State University of New York in Fredonia and Stonybrook, acquiring skills in bronze and steel sculpture, pottery and oil painting. In 1983, I worked for 18 months as a bronze finisher for Joel Meisner Co. (now Elliot Gantz & Co.). For the past 25 years, I have been working in the television broadcasting industry.




Photo © Maria Bernardo

Artist Statement

My figurative paintings are part of a series that explores the decline of ethical values in an increasingly corporate world. In a culture where greed is paramount, a subtle climate of bias slowly emerges as compassion and humanity wither away. I am attempting to convey a sense of isolation and sterility, using bold and brilliant colors depicting city streets contrasted with lone figures.

My other works utilize an organic approach and illustrate the molecular realm of the human body and the potential cohabitation of disease and infection. These meditations and the sudden loss of a sibling have inspired this series, which explores the theme of mortality intertwined with biology. This motif confronts the uncertainty and impermanence of life.

Being handicapped is comparable to living in sustained crisis. After almost 35 years as an amputee, I eventually came to the realization that in spite of the inherent stress accompanying my disability, my response to challenging circumstances has been decidedly focused towards formulating solutions. My ability to ignore most everything else and concentrate solely on the immediacy of the situation has served as an effective coping mechanism. However, my single-minded approach ignored the inevitable anxieties resulting from such experiences.

I rarely depict a direct allusion to my disability; however when I have, the style and intent of the artwork changes very little. I am very deliberate in the continuous use of the lone man. When I lost my leg, I consciously knew that my life had changed completely. I soon realized and accepted that my friends would grow distant and ultimately leave me behind.

My intention is to convey a more subliminal approach to the content of the work and I do not directly address my feeling regarding being a cancer survivor. My abstract series best represents my feeling on surviving cancer. For me it seems a total miracle that I am a survivor, yet I have also seen friends and family not survive cancer and this fact has both troubled and humbled me. I often think about how things could have turned out and most every day I am reminded of my anomalous survival.

The sentiments I instill into my art link directly to my subconscious and help reestablish a vital connection to my inner emotions. The end result is a deeper understanding of the path that has shaped my art, and ultimately, myself.