THIS IS NOT WHO I AM

NYCwalk

David Arruda, Jr.
NYC Walk

The Art and Design of David Arruda, Jr.
September 12 - December 1

A STRIKING AND THOUGHTFUL COMBINATION  of commercial high-tech adverting, jazz concert posters, music CD package designs, and a wide range of photographs make up this deep dive into the work of David Arruda, Jr. The title expresses David’s antipathy to being in the spotlight. “I do not believe (my work) warranted any more recognition that anybody else who does whatever it is THEY do,” he says in his artist statement.

The full-page, full color advertisements appeared in fiber optic print trade magazines in the 2000s, at a time when comparable ads were extremely dry and consisted of a photo of a product, often a box, along with technical specifications. Dave’s work used humor at times, and on others, spoke directly to the user on terms that were not then common. 

The other items speak for themselves. Taken together, the exhibition surveys the output of a thinker and designer, and a photographer who shared his eye with a varied audience, sometimes practical, offbeat or quirky, and sometimes just himself.     

Curated by Neal Weiss, Founder of Fiber Optic Center, Inc. and President of Whaling City Sound
Presented by Fiber Optic Center and Whaling City Sound

Artist Bio
Artist Bio

For the past 25 years, David has created Visual Marketing materials, such as logos, advertisements, trade-show and web graphics, as well as product and advertising photography for Fiber Optic Center (FOC), based in the historic district of downtown New Bedford. He also works closely with Neal Weiss, founder of FOC, designing CD packages, concert posters and creating other photos and graphics relative to Neal’s other business, jazz CD label Whaling City Sound.

Self-taught as both a photographer, and now as a graphic designer, David started his career in 1986 as a photojournalist doing freelance work for The Standard Times and the Providence Journal. In 1988, he was hired as a staff photographer for the Fall River Herald News, where he worked for 10-years. In 1998, he left the Herald News for a staff photographer position at The Standard Times in his home town of New Bedford, where he worked for the next two and a half years, before being offered a position as a graphic designer for Neal Weiss at Fiber Optic Center, where he has worked for nearly 25 years.

David lives in Southeastern MA with his wife Ana and two sons, David & Ryan.
Artist Statement
Artist Statement

When Neal Weiss first approached me with the idea of arranging an exhibit of my work at the New Bedford Art Museum, I immediately balked at the idea, and when asked why, I stated "...because this is not who I am..." The ever persistent Neal, of course, didn't give up on the idea, nor did stubborn ME (just ask those who know me) on my position. Through a period of back and forth on the subject along with repeated uttering of the phrase "this is not who I am," this all morphed into the comical (to us) acronym "TINWIA," which was used by us from that point forward in discussions of this project, and evidently has now become the title of this exhibit.

My reservations on being part of this — what I call "unnecessary exposure," are deep-rooted in my private and reclusive makeup. I do not believe that just because I chose a career in the creation of visual content, both as a longtime photojournalist and later as a graphic designer, that it warranted any more recognition than anybody else who does whatever it is THEY do for a living — whether it's a medical professional, a baker, a parking clerk or a carpenter, and so on. It's simply what I did for work; no more, no less and certainly not MUSEUM worthy...

But ultimately, who was I to say no to Neal? He has made a career of unselfishly exposing a multitude of artists (both recording and visual) who in many instances did not have much exposure. That said, ground rules between Neal and myself were created; I would willingly supply various materials for the exhibit, and Neal would curate the materials without obstruction from me. The artwork will be supplied and displayed, but I will not be there to wax on about the so-called 'artistic significance' of what I do.

My ambivalence aside, I do want to thank Neal immensely for nearly 25 years of believing in me, as I transitioned from a long career in news photography to my "second career" in graphic design at Neal's company, Fiber Optic Center. This was very important to me for a couple of reasons: first, it was fresh new ground I had not yet traversed, and second, it diverted my artistic focus in new, more expansive directions which I could not explore during my news photog days. This new ground acted as a conduit towards not becoming "burnt out," which is commonplace amongst those who make a career of doing the same job for decades. Fortunately, I have been largely spared that burnout due to my work with Neal at FOC, once I made the decision to segue there from my many years in news photography. So, while “this is not who I am,” I’d rather think of TINWIA as an acronym for “this is Neal Weiss in action.
[2-25-99] dave_in / febsnow / dbike.jpg ---------- William Taylor, who moved to Dartmouth two days ago from North Carolina, found out that bicycles were of little use in the snow, as he trekked westward along Route 6 in North Dartmouth. When asked how he liked the weather up here, he responded "It was OK a couple of days ago."

David Arruda, Jr.
Snow Walk

(7-13-00) dave_in / aha / ready.jpg Staff / DAVID ARRUDA, JR. --------- Framed by colorful skirts worn by traditional Azorean dancers, Joe Ponte of New Bedford offers some last minute pointers to his grandson Jason Ponte, 5, also of New Bedford, as their group, The Madeiran Folkloric Group of New Bedford, prepares to take the stage at Custom House Square.

David Arruda, Jr.
Folkloric

waterstreams (1)

David Arruda, Jr.
Waterstreams

harvesting

David Arruda, Jr.
Harvesting