In 1975 when Sweetwater was founded, we had the honor of having Frank Dininno as one of our esteemed instructors. Dininno was a well-known personality in town and many who have been part of this community for years have a few stories to tell about their interactions with him, some are even lucky enough to have one of his colorful paintings on their wall. It is quite fitting that as we celebrate our 45th anniversary in 2020, we would kick off our gallery schedule with an exhibition of work by this historic, local artist.

Frank Dininno lived and worked in Sewickley from 1960 until his death in the early 1980s. He was a prolific artist, creating many paintings, drawings and prints throughout his career. His work, often described as surrealist-symbolist, offers robust shapes and brilliant colors. The strong use of personal imagery and a limited use of perspective characterize his canvases. This exhibition brings together a selection of Frank Dininno’s paintings from Sweetwater’s collection, as well as from personal collections of Sewickley community members who have admired his work for decades.