Meet Torenzo Gann | Visual Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Torenzo Gann and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Torenzo, how do you think about risk?
Living in our amazing world involves risk. And loss. Getting out of bed in the morning is risky. I might catch my toe on the corner of the bedpost. I’ve done that. “Ouch!” It hurts. Then other four letter words may fly. They have, while I was dancing the one legged cha-cha, 1-2 cha-cha-cha, “%&#@!” … etcetera.

So, I got out of bed, leaving the warm comfort of the blankets (first loss of the day-comfort and safety of my bed) and injured my foot.

Obviously, there are many things far more risky than getting out of bed.

However, I have a choice about how I’ll respond to that event. 1. “oh great! My day is ruined.” 2. “Well, I got that out of the way” and move on.

Attitude is everything!

I’ve taken risks in many ares of my life and failed. A lot. I’ve taken risks and triumphed.

“Success is an accumulation Failures”

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Please tell us more about your art.

I am compelled.
I am driven.
I must create!
I see art everywhere. On sidewalks, reflections in storefront windows, shadow designs falling on the ground or embracing the side of a building. I see clouds as moving sculptures.
I produce thousands of photographs. Some, to use as a reference for a painting… others because they tell a story or ask a question and invite me to create a painting.

As an artist, I believe I have a responsibility to also create works of art that bring attention to important societal issues such as chemicals as food additives, toxic chemicals used in the industrialized production of crops, and genetic engineering. I’m also concerned about the current trend in America to whitewash our history to appease
the politically correct community.

I feel a deep responsibility and calling to create works of art that reveal and contemplate the beauty in the everyday objects we all find around us in this amazing universe created by God.

Art is everywhere! If you look for it, you’ll see it!

I believe God has created an amazing universe! As God is the original Creator, He created EVERYONE with the ability to create…everyone! If you’re one of the millions of people who believe they cannot create or are not creative, I challenge your belief and encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and CREATE something. You can do it! We all start at the beginning. Let the fun begin! Soon…you’ll be seeing art everywhere.

We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about.

What sets me apart from others is a challenging question. For the most part I don’t think I’m all that different from other artists/people.

I was raised in a very challenging home environment that led to my becoming addicted to alcohol and other substances.

Eventually, I confronted and overcame the peril of drug addiction and mental illness. This process led me to abandon the artworld and become a certified alcohol and drug treatment counselor so that I could help other’s afflicted with addiction. Twenty years later I returned to my original passion of painting. One of my goals in painting is to comfort the disturbed by evoking a sense of hope as seen in the beauty of life, and then to disturb the comfortable by provoking feelings of urgency that sounds a call to action.
I’m not fond of the word, “proud” so I will say that I am very “grateful” to be alive and be an artist.
One of many exciting events was having one of my paintings juried into an international art fair in Palm Beach by Juror, Eric Weiss, The Picasso Museum, Barcelona, Spain.

How did you get to where you are today, professionally? Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way.

That’s an easy question.
It wasn’t easy.
Visualize success
Continue to learn; get out of your comfort zone.
Problems are opportunities.
Persistence is vital.
Success is an accumulation of failures.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

I love life. I love people. I love creating art. I love God.
In a world full of darkness, be the light!
Love your neighbor.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Day 1- 9:00-11am Head for the Atlantic Ocean on Stuart beach 12:30-2pm lunch on the water at Sailor’s Return restaurant
3:00-5pm napping in the hammock
6:00-? Burgers on the grill. Reminisce about past events
Day 2- all day. Visit historical Downtown Stuart. Lunch at the Osceola Street Cafe then gallery hop: Courthouse Cultural Gallery,
Elliott Museum, The Palm Room Gallery
Evening: dinner at The Gafford, then to the historical Lyric Theater for a concert.
Day 3- Spontaneity Day
Day 4- Full day catch and release big sport fishing charter. Stuart is the sailfish capitol of the world.
Evening: exhausted from fishing. order pizza delivery. apply more aloe lotion.
Day 5- Day: Tour Navy Seal Museum and the historical Gilbert’s Bar. Lunch at nearby waterfront cafe.
Evening: Attend Nouveau Honkies concert at Terra Fermata outdoor bar
Day 6-Full Beach day followed with a sun down dinner at the fabulous restaurant, Kyle G’s, on the beach, Hutchinson Island
Day 7- Call 911 because my friend refuses to leave my home and return to the freezing cold of Minnesota (just kidding).

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Fellow artist and mentor, Thomas Edward Spencer (1943-2007), My wife and business partner, Lyn. Robert Henri’s book, The Art Spirit. Alcoholic’s Anonymous, And most of all, Jesus the Christ.

Website: TorenzoArt.com

Instagram: I_am-torenzo-gann

Linkedin: Torenzo Gann

Facebook: Torenzo Gann

Image Credits
Torenzo Gann