Give David Garibaldi a black canvas, a few cans of latex paint, some brushes and music and watch him dance and dazzle as he creates a portrait of someone famous — in about seven minutes.

His colorful portrayals include Michael Jackson, Bono, Rihanna, Jesus, John Lennon, Jay-Z, Albert Einstein and Marilyn Monroe.

“It can take anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks learning a portrait,” Garibaldi said. “I start by finding a really, really distinctive image of the person and then trying to bring it to life. And then I put those together and sort of figure out if I can make it entertaining.”

Millions across the country have been entertained by his high energy and enthusiasm on “America’s Got Talent.” He’s a semifinalist with his act, David Garibaldi and His CMYK’s.

David Garibaldi

Garibaldi will bring his “Rhythm and Hue” show to the SeaGate Centre on Aug. 7 at 6 p.m. for the Hollywood Casino Gala Dinner and Show, which will also feature comedian Tom Dreesen. Tickets to the charity fundraiser are $235 and available by calling the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic tournament office at (419) 531-3277.

“I have to credit Mr. [Shawn] Sullivan, my animation teacher at Sheldon High School [in Sacramento], for coming up with [‘Rhythm and Hue,’]” Garibaldi said. “It just described everything, like who I am and where I was, where I’m going with the show — it’s music and color.”

It was 2003 when the former graffiti artist saw a painting of Jimi Hendrix by Denny Dent, known for his “two-fisted art attack” while capturing rock stars on canvas.

“I was inspired because I could see what was possible, what I could do with all these life passions,” Garibaldi said of art, music and dance. “So literally the next day, I started trying to figure out, OK, how do I do this now?”

Since putting it all together, the 30-year-old has opened for Snoop Dogg and the Blue Man Group. While music plays by the subjects of his paintings, he also is accompanied by DJ Joseph ONE and drummer Walt Williams.

During a phone interview from Minneapolis, Garibaldi said he’s heard from some of the artists he’s painted, including Kanye West, Rihanna and Carlos Santana.

“Some of them have shared videos of me creating their portrait on Twitter, on Facebook or they’ve at least sent their acknowledgement over social media. It’s definitely been cool to get those responses,” he said.

Garibaldi is also known for giving. In the past 10 years, he has raised more than $1 million for several organizations, including the Special Olympics, Echoes of Hope and World Vision.

“Art and music are powerful because as artists, we can take materials that are only a few hundred dollars in value and we can create something on them or with them and turn them into something with thousands of dollars of value, and that money can go and help a lot of different people that can use it, that really need it,” he said.

“My passion is painting, and I think you can change painting in that phrase with anything, whether it’s teaching, writing, whether it’s working at the local grocery store — whatever you do, you can do with passion. And when you apply a purpose behind it, I think that’s when it becomes something more than, to me, just painting — I’m helping change lives.”

For more information, visit the website garibaldiarts.com.

Tags: "America's Got Talent", Albert Einstein, Blue Man Group, Bono, Carlos Santana, David Garibaldi, Hollywood Casino Toledo, Jay-Z, Jesus, John Lennon, Kanye West, Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, Rihanna, SeaGate Centre, Snoop Dogg

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 31st, 2012 at 9:56 am and is filed under Jamie Farr Classic, Star.
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“Strippers, Midgets and Porn Stars … Oh My” seems to be the rallying cry from the Parents Television Council. The PTC sent 91 sponsors of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” a warning letter of the upcoming “filth” from the soon-to-air seventh season, which premieres Monday. It seems that hiring of Howard Stern as a judge, replacing Piers Morgan has their perverbial panties in a bunch. I am here to tell the good parents of Toledo, the only thing to fear about Howard Stern on “AGT” is that you may fall in love with him.

Self-proclaimed “King of All Media” Howard Stern announced in December that he would be joining NBC’s “AGT” as a judge, a deal insiders estimate will pay him $20 million for the upcoming season. “AGT” executive producer Simon Cowell, who hired Howard, told the LA Times “It’s all gotten a little too safe, too predictable,” and that “it needed a shakeup.” If the show needed a shakeup they hired the right man.

The term “shock jock” was rightfully created for Howard Stern, whose daily radio morning show reinvented the medium. Howard saw an audience in males that were being ignored/insulted by the current radio content. He pushed the line of decency, brought adult entertainment to the breakfast table and in the process was fined millions of dollars by the FCC. The fines forced his show to move to satellite radio, where his name and brand help broker one of the biggest media mergers of all time between Sirius and XM. If there were a perverted media version of King Midas with his “golden touch,” his name would surely be Howard Stern.

Stern’s “Hall of Fame” radio career can be credited with inspiring many TV reality and game shows, like MTV’s “The Osbournes,” “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader,” and Jay Leno’s “Jaywalking,” etc. What does this mean? Why would I point out ideas stolen/inspired by Howard’s radio show? The answer is simple: Howard is not always dirty. In fact, I would guess that 20 percent or less is dedicated to pushing the line of decency. The other 80 percent shows the true talent and genius that Howard Stern possesses. The rare ability to decipher what makes great content made his hiring as a judge genius.

The letter from the PTC to sponsors of “America’s Got Talent” states that “Stern’s reputation for sleaze and misogyny is well known; and to our knowledge his only previous judging experience consisted of looking at insecure, naked young women and telling them whether or not they were hot enough to pose for Playboy.” They are trying desperately to pressure advertisers into pulling their commercials and the season premiere has yet to be on the air. This blatant publicity stunt will fuel curiosity more than put out the fire, meaning they are sending more viewers than dissuading business. The PTC is afraid America may actually like Howard, so it is best to dissuade you before it begins.

If you love Simon Cowell, then you will love Howard Stern; if you allowed your children to watch “American Idol” and “X-Factor” then “America’s Got Talent” is safe as well. Howard is only a judge, this is not his show, this is not his idea. He has been hired for his hype, opinion and audience. Your children will not be exposed to anything any different than if you took them to a circus; there will probably be little people and exotic dancers but not the same that has filled his radio show for nearly three decades.

They hired Howard Stern to save a failing show on a floundering network and Howard agreed because he is ready to shave his “Shock Jock” persona. It is definitely not about the money as Stern’s current and last contract pushed his net worth presumably around $1 billion. This is another challenge for Howard to demonstrate to the world his talent; it’s another medium to conquer.

I promise you that if you allow your 8-year-old daughter to watch “AGT,” she will not want to be a stripper, she will not be requesting a chrome pole for her ninth birthday, your 10-year-old son will not suddenly be evaluating girls with a laser pointer, pointing out obvious flaws. I can also promise that if you watch “America’s Got Talent” as a family, there might be something for everyone in the hour-long broadcast, and if you watch with an open mind, you may see what I have heard for the last 20 years … Howard’s Got Talent.

Baba Booey.

Did you know: Howard’s loyal fan base includes the biggest names in entertainment today? Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Judd Apatow, Jimmy Kimmel, Natalie Maines, John Favreau and Jeff Probst all listen daily and some even participate in a “Celebrity Superfan Roundtable” show that airs on SiriusXm.

Jeremy Baumhower can be followed on Twitter @JeremyTheProduc.

Tags: "America's Got Talent", Howard Stern, Jeremy Baumhower, Media Watch, Parents Television Council

This entry was posted on Friday, May 11th, 2012 at 3:00 pm and is filed under Community, Media Watch.
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