No matter how you feel about what is contained in the recently-proposed state budget, practically everyone agrees that the document itself looks terrific.
That's because this year's budget contains cover art by Rhode Island artist John Pitocco of Chepacet, part of an annual collaboration between the State Budget Office and the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts to feature original works of art by Rhode Island artists on the state budget document.
The cover of the State FY2015 budget books features a winter view of the Rhode Island State House. The work was chosen by Governor Chafee from dozens of images gathered by the State Arts Council for his review.
Randall Rosenbaum, Executive Director of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, said that such collaborations are important. "The State Budget represents the life and livelihood of all Rhode Islanders. It's not a sterile set of charts and numbers. Art helps to humanize this important document."
Thomas Mullaney, Budget Officer for the State of Rhode Island, agrees. "We value our relationship with the Council on the Arts," said Mullaney. "We appreciate their help in finding artwork from Rhode Island artists for the cover of our annual budget documents, and we particularly thank John Pitocco for allowing us to use his photograph."
Pitocco, a Chepacet-based photographer, works full time for Citizens Bank, and also has a part-time photography business focusing on portraits and events. He was the photographer for "Station Ink", a photo tribute for the 10th Anniversary of the Station Night Club Fire. His work can be seen at http://www.johnpitocco.com.
In describing Governor Chafee's selection of his photograph, Pitocco said, "We frequently see and hear about the beauty of Rhode Island during the warm summer months, but I find it most beautiful in the winter, when we've had a storm blanket the state with its quiet splendor."
About the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts
The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts is a state agency supported by appropriations from the Rhode Island General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. RISCA provides grants, technical assistance and staff support to arts organizations and artists, schools, community centers, social service organizations and local governments to bring the arts into the lives of Rhode Islanders.
