Tuesday, March 31, 2009

LONG LIVE THE ARTIST

"I have a lot of imagination. Imagination is useless if you cannot put it on something. What's the use of imagination in your brain? It's not doing anything in there. You have to put (your imagination) on a sculpture, a drawing or painting, or whatever, you have to put it down so people can see it." - Benjamin A. Resella

REPRINTED This post was published last May 14,2007 as a tribute to Benjamin Resella ( father-in-law and great artist) on his 90th birthday celebration. He passed away last Tuesday, March 24,2009. There are few changes from the original and some additions.

ARTISTS HAVE LONG LIVES Do you believe that most artists have long lives? Well, I do. Why? Because art is a good stress buster. Today in the medical field, many doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists used art as therapy to heal people, who couldn't cope with stresses in life. Art heals. Art gives pleasure. Art like love, makes the world go round. That's why most artists are easy going. With relax attitude, there is little possibility of having high blood pressure. Well, I know one artist who has a long life and I am related to him. He is my father-in-law. His name is Benjamin Resella. He just turned 90 years old on May 14, 2007. Wow! What a long life! At ninety, although he has high blood pressure, he is still healthy and walk without the aid of a cane.
PHOTO OF THE YOUNG RESELLA FAMILY
Here's an antique and treasured heirloom photo. Ben was standing on the left side. When I married his first born son, Rhod ( the young boy on the right side), Ben became my father-in-law. Before he immigrated to the United States, he was the former art director of Sampaguita Pictures (a movie production in the Philippines). He was a noted Filipino scenic artist who arrived on the Hollywood scene in the 60's. Without any fanfare, gimmicks, connections or heavy promotions. He has firmly established himself among the giants of MGM Studios and Century Fox Studios. He is the only Filipino scenic artist who made it to Hollywood. A sensitive artist, he painted with passion and understanding. His work is eloquent, excellent and very, very realistic. He was very good with perspective. Among his most notable achievements were designing realistic movie backgrounds for "EARTHQUAKE" and "HELLO DOLLY ". I have seen the movie "EARTHQUAKE", and believe me, the many different backgrounds were so realistic. I am an artist too, but I couldn't tell they were giants painted scenarios. Although his entry into the circle of Hollywood giants is relatively low key, his imagery and background scenarios are loud and lasting. We are all proud of his many achievements. He was a retired artist and lived at the Motion Picture Compound in Calabasas, California until his death.
FOUR GENERATIONS OF THE RESELLA FIRST BORN
BEN (GRAND FATHER) in blue jacket (May 14,1917-March 24,2009)
RHOD (FIRST BORN SON) left side
RODNEY (FIRST BORN GRANDSON) on the right side
SIMON (FIRST BORN GREAT GRANDSON) center
Ben's greatest legacy to our family was his artistic talents. Gifts our
children inherited. Art runs in our blood. Our sons, Rodney and Robin are both
successful computer graphic artists. Our grandson (Simon) is a promising artist
at the age of eleven.
BEST WATERCOLOR PAINTING OF BENJAMIN RESELLA
TITLE: "LIMAHONG" SIZE: APPROXIMATELY 30" x 40"
This painting was inspired by the legend of the Chinese pirate named Limahong.It is now on display in their bedroom in the the Motion Picture Compound. It's a beautiful, realistic painting, and full of life. Ben wrote a screenplay about Limahong. Last year, he had the chance to meet the president of Columbia Pictures and presented his work. The meeting was promising. Someday we hope a movie will be made about Limahong.
FOR MORE NEWS About Benjamin Resella please visit the website of Ryan Resella:http://ryanresella.com/

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed your blog! I'm impressed at the fact that you give time to something that you can share with others.

Ebb Tide said...

Welcome back! Thanks for your comment.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the information. David appreciates the blog you created. I am sure you went to a lot of work on this.

Ebb Tide said...

Hi J! Thanks for visiting my blog. At first making a blog is not easy. But now, like painting, it get's easier with practice.

Mari said...

Obviously, art runs in both sides of the family. That Limahong painting is very impressive...it's an artwork for keeps. Please extend my birthday greeting to your pop-in-law.

Ebb Tide said...

Thanks Mari! I don't know who will inherit that Limahong painting. Everybody in the clan wanted it. I don't understand why Ben didn't do more painting. After retiring fr. the motion picture, he's crazy about computer.
The Ben Resella clan is so big, w/ 7 adult chidren and 13 grandchildren, all alive and living in California. The celebration was just for family members, selected relatives and friends. The highlight of the celebration was the showing of old movie "No Man Is an Island" starred by Jeffrey Hunter and Barbara Perez. Ben Resella designed the movie set which was made in the Philippines. If you have a chance get hold of that old movie. Everybody clapped when his name came up.

Anonymous said...

Good job. I enjoy reading about your firsts (the Resellas) and all your family stories- it is a relaxing break from my school work full of reading, research, and writing.

Anonymous said...

Hello! What an interesting web blog and thoughtful tribute to Grandpa!

Ebb Tide said...

Hi Angela! welcome to my blog. Thanks for visiting.

Anonymous said...

Hello! What an interesting web blog site and thoughtful tribute to Grandpa!

Anonymous said...

Good Job. I enjoy reading about your firsts (the Resellas) and all your family stories - it is a relaxing break from my school work full of reading,research, and writing. Keep up the good work - art work and blog.

Ebb Tide said...

Thanks Elsie for appreciating our family stories. It's true reading blogs are fun and relaxing.

Anonymous said...

hi! i really liked your blog. thank you very much for the nice tribute that you gave my dad. you know, I would love it if you could paint an ocean/beach scene for me. just something small. you and rhod should come over for the weekend. bring your paints.

Ebb Tide said...

Welcome to my blog dita. Someday, I'll paint your ocean/beach view.

Zony Gordon said...

WOW,just looked at Ben Resella's art, awesome!!!!

Ebb Tide said...

Zony-thanks for your comment.

Grammy said...

I am sorry for your loss of such a wonderful artist and Father in law. I was hear last week and forgot to leave you a comment sorry. I went to your sons blog and forgot to come back here. I know it is not easy to loose a family member. But it helps to remember all the blessings and good times you shared with them.

Ebb Tide said...

Grammy-thanks for those comforting words.

SandyCarlson said...

My heart goes out to you and your family. What a talented, lovely man. May he rest in peace.

Ebb Tide said...

Sandy-thanks for those soothing words.