“Charlie plays with color the way Muddy Waters plays the blues.” Jennifer Dunbar Dorn

Alterisio Charles DiJulio was born in 1941 in Philadelphia and lived in Upper Darby, PA until the age of 14. He and his family then moved to Fort Worth, TX. There he took up fishing, hunting, golf, guitar, pool and art (painting).

He has participated in avant-garde art organizations, experimental film making, teaching, retrospective shows, film production and artist panels. He has received numerous awards and a supporting grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. More than 15 publications have included his paintings, film work and participation with art associations. He continues to exhibit primarily in New York and Colorado.

In 1964, Charles made the transition from TCU to CU Boulder, Colorado. Exciting things were going on here, especially at the Armory, an old stone building just off the CU campus where the grad students and some committed undergrads hung out.

“For me the excitement was at the Armory where Mike Reardon and I shared a studio. Also at this time an Experimental Cinema group formed. Films were shown weekly by Anger, Mekas, McClaren, Kublelka, Conner, “the usual suspects” and Stan Brakhage who led discussions, or “talked.” After seeing quite a bit of that stuff Mike Reardon and I decided to make a film. It was a long haul but we got it done. (“Where’ve You Been?”) Reardon and I were assigned the same studio at the Armory. We became good pals, did some crazy things like paint stars on cars, took acid with Henderson, and got film fever.” Charles DiJulio

Then came the development of the now iconic artist commune “Drop City.” This caught DiJulio’s attention and in the spring of 1966 he made the trip to Trinidad, CO. Friendships with the artist residents Gene Bernofsky, JoAnn Bernofsky, Clark Richert and Richard Kallweit influenced both his painting and film making.

“Whatever project Charlie works on it is always with creative intensity of perfection. I loved playing chess with Charlie and when his creative intensity stormed over me on the board I could not beat him. Charlie mastered the intricacies of The Sicilian Defense and wielded that powerful opening like a native. Which of course he is. Someday, soon, it is my fondest hope to stifle him on the chessboard and with my new Strangulation Attack for which there is no defense.” Gene Bernofsky

After moving back to Boulder, CO Charlie helped found the artist collective “Criss-Cross Art Communications.” This group of artists emphasized patternized painting – non-decorated and loosely employing modernist ideas. Later on, the approach would be simply dubbed “Systematic Painting.” His first exhibition with the group was in 1974. The still active members reconvene from time to time and have compiled numerous shows across the nation.

“The art of Charlie DiJulio consists of an affable to-the-death battle between order and the elements thereof.” Jack Collum

In 1981 Charlie moved to New York City. He currently lives in Soho, Manhattan. His paintings during the 90s and up into the 2000s include a series of intimate portraits of family members and friends. The looser, more painterly style in the portraits has carried through into current paintings again dealing with pattern, movement and color.

His latest piece of work (2010) is a painting and series of prints titled “1326”. The work represents the thirteen hundred and twenty six 2-card combinations that are possible with a 52-card deck. The pairs are highlighted in blue and suited combos in yellow all arranged in the shape of a pyramid.

Charlie is also working on a new film after a 25 year hiatus in filmmaking.

“I have a beautiful painting by Charles. My perception of the painting: It’s carefully thought out and then it’s worked out with confidence and spontaneity.” Gloria Klein

1964

BFA Texas Christian University, TX

1966

Participated in building Drop City, an experimental artists’ commune. Trinidad, CO

1972

Instructor: Serigraphy, Blackhawk Mountain School of Art, Blackhawk, CO

1974 - 1976

Graduate Instructor: Painting and Drawing, University of Colorado

1974 - 1980

Produced ten 16mm experimental films. Screening in NYC, San Francisco, and Colorado.

1974 - 1981

Co–Editor, Criss-Cross Art Communications
(Art periodical based in Boulder, CO)

1976

Masters in Fine Art, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO

1978

Instructor: Film Studies, University of Colorado, Boulder CO

1980

Received the City of Boulder Arts Grant for his production “People on the Mall.”

1983. 1990

Two appearances on “Artists Talk on Art.” Panel Series.
1) “Criss –Cross Makes Waves: Systematic Painting Revisited”,
Soho 20 Gallery, NYC 1983
2) “Systematic – Metrical Patterning: In –Town and Out –Of –Town.
Landmark Gallery, NYC, 1990

2007

Publication in New York Times “Art and Design, Geometrics.”