My friendship with Michael Bell began when I was looking for artists to participate in my annual art show, “Unnecessary Evil”, raising awareness about suicide prevention. His artwork is compelling; his stories accompanied by his art are exquisitely riveting. My friend is an extraordinary artist and a phenomenal screenwriter. I found an ally when he told me that he believes art can definitely be transformative. He has seen art help heal wounds that run deeper than most could ever imagine.
Michael was in one year into writing Dual Lives and just gave his first TED Talk when sat with me for his first interview. I beat USA TODAY publication interviewing this incredibly gifted, compassionate artist.
His book, Dual Lives: from the Streets to the Studio, 564 pages was released June 10, 2017. It is just as courageously vulnerable as the compelling narratives found within Michael’s paintings. Dual Lives is an inspiring and brutally candid memoir chronicling Michael’s meteoric rise to becoming one of the most highly decorated national award-winning educators in America, all the while, living out a storied and often controversial professional painting career as “Mob Artist” to America’s most infamous. His book is also backed by an impressive list of contributors, from the foreword by Peter J. Gotti to excerpts from John A. Gotti, Dominic Capone, world-renowned artist Eric Fischl and Senior Art Critic for the New York Magazine Jerry Saltz, New York Times best-selling authors Jay Mathews and Daniel Pink, Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer David J. Leeson, Sopranos star Joseph R. Gannascoli, two-time boxing world champion Paulie Malignaggi and celebrity chef Steve Martorano, to name a few.
Michael begins his east coast book-signing tour sharing stories from his memoir Dual Lives: from the Streets to the Studio on Saturday, September 16, 2017, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Gallery 50, located at 50 Wilmington Avenue. Author Michael Bell, along with longtime friend and Delmarva’s WRDE NBC Coast TV’s A&E and foodie personality Michael Sprouse, will be there to share their unique story with the audience and sign copies of Dual Lives. Admission is free to the public.
Get the book: tinyurl.com/DualLives
Connect with Michael on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbellart/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mbellartlive
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mbellart