Artist Joe Corsello displays more than six decades of work

MORRIS – For 59 years, Joe Corsello has taught art to the children of Morris.

He spent 33 years as an art teacher at Morris Community High School and 26 years as a teacher at Immaculate Conception Church. He also gave private lessons to up-and-coming artists, like Ray Grossi.

Grossi, who is part of The Exhibit Fine Arts Center & Gallery in Morris, thought it would be a great way to honor his former teacher and mentor by hosting a fine art exhibit of Costello’s work.

“The art has been stored with the family and some of it has never been seen before,” Grossi said. “There is artwork back to high school and college.”

The art, which spans 63 years from the 1950s until 2013, was first seen on Sunday night, opening night of the weeklong gallery series.

Diana Daggett, also with the gallery, said it’s amazing to think that, for some families, Corsello has taught at least three generations of children.

Joe feels honored that his former students want to show his art.

“I was never an art person, I’d go to small shows, take six paintings and bring home six paintings. Never sold one,” he said. “Then miniature painting became a big thing and I made and sold many of them.”

When asked why now? Why show the world more than six decades of his work?

His answer was simple.

“I’m ready for the bucket,” he said. “I’ve had a good life and God has blessed me in so many ways.”

He said he’s received awards he never could have imagined, nor can he figure out why he was chosen.

But talk to any of his former students and they all understand the significance he made in their life.

When asked what his favorite thing is to paint, he said he loves trees. They are graceful or tell stories and there is something about them that brings him peace as he creates them, he said.

Corsello has sold many of his tree paintings and a few of his flower paintings, but that wasn’t what it was about, it was about the children, he said.

If it were not for the children, artist Corsello may not have existed. He originally wanted to be a chef and then he wanted to purchase and run his own florist shop, but said it was too cost-prohibitive for him.

When he moved to the area, he worked at a florist shop owned by the Johnson family and he knew that’s what he wanted to do, create art out of flowers.

After realizing his dream of owning his own shop came clear, he went to teach, and that’s when he realized he loved the kids, from young through high school. It didn’t matter.

In fact, he said, Grossi’s father showed up at this door with Ray in tow and asked Corsello to give Ray private lessons, which he did until Grossi no longer needed him.

Today, Grossi is known for his local murals and artwork he creates at Midwest Signworks.

For Grossi, it was important for others to know Corsello, the artist, the way he did.

“Everyone knows him as ‘Santa’s local helper’ and as a teacher. But they don’t know him as an artist,” Grossi said. “A lot of people have left the show knowing Joe a lot better seeing stuff that has never been seen before.”

Corsello’s artwork will be on display from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday at The Exhibit Fine Arts Center & Gallery, 307 Bedford Road in Morris.