Three victims of “The Potato Chip Phenomenon,” (can’t stop at buying only one Diego Voci artwork) emerged this year. 40 years ago I wrote in the June 1974 Guide to TV:
Dr. William M. Morton wrote from Muncie, Indiana that he has 15 DIEGOs. Robert Sholar in Washington D.C. has 30. A land developer in Colorado Springs has 24 [Dr. Ogden Brown]. Dr. Norman Ferland, with 6 DIEGOs has written from Great Falls, Montana to say, “I would not even begin to think of selling them no matter what the price would be. They are part of my house.” – Quoted from 2 page article on Diego.
We knew about the Colorado Springs Diego Collector, Dr. Ogden Brown, whose daughter Marsha became the USA agent for Diego. See her sitting before her favorite painting, “Nude in Yellow” for which a $20,000 reward has been announced (stolen about 1973). http://www.artifactcollectors.com/diego-voci-painting-of-the-week-5154118/Page8.html#237
But, it took until this year to re-locate the other three addicted Diego collectors, I met in 1974.
- Dr. William Morton lives in Indiana. He owns 15 DIEGOs; and typical of addicted Diego collectors, hoarded, and enjoyed them to this day. Bill’s wife Linda says “He changes where they hang often”. http://www.artifactcollectors.com/diego-voci-painting-of-the-week-5154118/Page9.html#247
- Robert Sholar, then in Washington, D.C. area, owned 30 DIEGOs. He still has 21 of the original 30. Here is one from the Sholar Collection used for Painting of the Week: http://www.artifactcollectors.com/diego-voci-painting-of-the-week-5154118/Page8.html#239
- Dr. Norman Ferland moved from Montana to Texas. Norm still has 3 of 6 DIEGOs and his ex-wife took the other half. To be published soon.
We continue to uncover collectors addicted to Diego. Colonel Snow (deceased) had many Diego’s, and we are trying to contact Col. Snow’s daughter in Colorado. Also, Joedy Lyng Riederer in Virgina. And we have other Diego collectors finding us online each day.
Google “Diego Voci” to learn more.
Coop Cooprider, Art Historian
Diego Voci Project
diegovociproject@gmail.com
AC DV History #189 12/27/2014
diegovociproject 