John and Cindy Silvers were stationed at #Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany from 1965 to 1968. In October of 1966 the Silvers’ acquired two DIEGO’s they presently still own: “Supper” and “Girl with Pitcher.” Joy Gibson-Naffouj in Landstuhl, #Germany represented DIEGO at that time. Shown here is “Supper” (60×80 cm):
“Supper” (in German “#Abendessen”). The hot main meal of the day in Germany is usually eaten at lunchtime. In the early evening as the last meal of the day one dines on bread with cold cuts and cheese. Wine or hot tea often accompany this typical dinner or “Supper”. In Diego’s rendition of the old man having ‘supper’ one observes the flame indicating it is evening, using the knife to perhaps cut some cheese or meat as his next bite, and a bread roll or “Brötchen” lies next to the plate. The glass of wine and the bottle are part of this old man’s meal. A very typical ‘supper’ in Germany in the day.
John adds, “The frames were made to look old and I don’t know who did that, but we like them. We wouldn’t sell the “Supper,” that will go to our youngest daughter Marni, who did a pencil drawing of it, which was quite good, so she loves the picture.”
An unfortunate health issue put Cindy in the Landstuhl Hospital in Germany – not far from where John worked at Ramstein AFB. She had a stroke at the young age of 29. John explained that Cindy was left with “whole right side paralyzed and she couldn’t speak, caused by aphasia. Her right leg came back about 85%; but above the waist, nothing. She was finally able to speak in speech therapy when she sneezed and the therapist quickly said, “What did you say, Cindy?” She said, “I love you John.” She is quite a fighter and never felt sorry for herself. Cindy raised their four children: John, Lori, Marni and Kevin to adulthood and was an antique dealer in an antique mall.” John retired from the Air Force as a Major in 1972 and then again in 1999 from the Insurance business. business. Cindy and John now reside in Colorado.
John added in a later e-mail to us here at the Diego Voci Project, “Actually, I just recalled that we purchased three paintings. The other was of a Arab man with very dark eyes. The man was just shown as a head and shoulder image. The size of the canvas would be the same and the frame also the same as the two pictured above. When we returned from Germany, a Doctor saw the painting and wanted to have it for his office, so we sold it to him. That’s all I can recall about the third painting.”
Tell us your story. When and where did you purchase your DIEGO? Did you meet Diego? What did he say in his words? What did he do? Tell us your stories! Write us at: diegovociproject@gmail.com
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AC P of W #262 3/25/2015
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