#ARTIST OF A THOUSAND FACES!

Antonio Diego Voci; August 10, 1920 – December 10 1985

Stephen Max is creating a 3rd publication featuring the works of DIEGO is #celebrating the 100th anniversary of his birth. A modern rethinking of the career and vision of one of the #greatest artists of the 20th Century.

Stephen Max expresses; “The towering #genius of Antonio DIEGO Voci (1920 – 1985) has been celebrated and remains undisputed. Now, this essential addition to Diego’s history, this groundbreaking publication Artist of a Thousand Faces continues his legacy while simultaneously re-examining the multifaceted artist’s life and work from the ground up. This authoritative study marks the 100th anniversary of the great master’s birth with a sweeping, up-to-date portrait of Diego as he has never been seen before.”

View Diego Collection by Coop Cooprider, Diego Voci Art Historian; https://www.artworkarchive.com/…/collect…/antonio-diego-voci

#DIEGO #FACES SERIES – PART FOUR

Once again we want you to see Antonio DIEGO Voci’s versatility in our part four of the #Faces series. Note the drama of the #Pierrot to the calmness of the #Mother and Child. Note also the sense of young versus old.  Best is how Diego could render the surreal with tenderness and beauty in  “Mädchen mit #Mandoline” owned by Barbara W.

Examples of old and faded #polaroids or photos kept by Helga Voci since mid 70’s….they were in the basement of their home in Taunusstein, #Germany

Face of a Young Woman (Oil on Canvas 40x30cm)

 

Shown above is a very similar surreal young woman absent the mandolin, owned by Stephen and Wendy Max of Edmonton, Alberta.

Read more about the close relationship Stephen and Wendy had with Diego and Helga in the 80’s before Diego passed away from cancer. The Diego Voci Project honored the couple who used to represent Diego in Canada in a 4 Part Series. Here is part ONE:

https://diegovociproject.wordpress.com/2016/02/10/diegovoci-in-canada-part-one/

Without the Max team, we would not have our “The Beauty of Diego” coffee table book or our YouTube videos! And of course our monthly Free Newsletter via email. Have you signed up yet? Do it here: https://www.diegovociproject.com/contact

Diego on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ1OiZr7a94H0H1NC9aJCFuUapeLROTKh

View the book for free here: http://www.blurb.com/books/5419805-the-beauty-of-diego

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diego.voci

Dining with Diego in #Germany PART #1

The elegant Ristorante “Da Sandro’s” in the Karslruhe Area in Weingarten owned by Sandro is a one of the many restaurants that were close to DIEGO’s heart and stomach that to this day still display his artworks. Diego often went into regions of Germany to have exhibitions at #Italian Restaurants where guests would explore the cuisine as well as the art! #Da Sandro’s still displays this #DIEGO oil painting on the wall of one of the private rooms and believe it to be approx. 31 x 39 inches. His family and friends have more to share with us … look for us at                            www.diegovociproject.com

http://www.ristorante-da-sandro.de/Galerie.html

Take a look at the rest of Da Sandro’s!  https://www.facebook.com/ristorante.sandro?fref=ts

            When you land in the Frankfurt Airport, it’s a scenic and comfortable drive…

AC DV History #201 6/19/2015

#ART BASEL #2014 – A ROARING SUCCESS

    “The first idea… the first few lines decide the whole work.” Antonio DIEGO Voci (what would DIEGO think of Art today……)

Doug Aitken, Exit (large) (2014) at Regen Projects
Photo: Ben Davis

http://news.artnet.com/market/art-basel-in-miami-beach-2014-is-a-rip-roaring-success-18934

ONE OF THE WORLD’s BIGGEST ART FAIRS #ArtBasel

For more:  http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/1066010/the-definitive-top-11-booths-at-art-basel-miami-beach?utm_source=BLOUIN+ARTINFO+Newsletters&utm_campaign=a1276bbfda-Daily+Digest+DEC.4.2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_df23dbd3c6-a1276bbfda-83386813

WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO MAKING #DIEGO VOCI ( VOH-chee) … A #CELEBRITY!

The world is infatuated with #celebrities.

But, don’t tell #DIEGO, we’re making him a #celebrity.  Diego said,

“You want to make me something in the sky with wings…go ahead.

You want to make me famous…go ahead.  But, this is  not my life.” -1974

#Vincent_Van_Gogh whose works were rejected during the #artist’s troubled lifetime would have gladly traded places with Antonio DIEGO Voci who in his lifetime (1920 – 1985) sold thousands of #paintings.

In 1973, Siegfried Dahms owner of #Galerie Dahms on the prestigious #Wilhelmsstrasse in #Wiesbaden said,

“ We cannot get enough DIEGOs for our collectors. 

He is exactly the taste

of the #German people.”

 #Diego died at home December 10, 1985. Diego’s studio/residence was nearby to Galerie Dahms in Taunusstein where his widow #Helga #Voci still lives today.

Google “Diego Voci” to see more. Prepare to be amazed.

#CRAFTBEER #TATOOS AND NO SMOKING

…are a runaway trend in today’s “#New_Generation”…

Does the artwork of a long-dead artist fit into the lives of the “New Generation”?  Tastes change with time. For example, the constant smoking of internationally collected artist Antonio “Diego” Voci (VOH-chee, 1920-1985) would not be welcome in today’s trendy gathering places where no smoking is allowed.  40 cigarettes a day shortened Diego’s life when his lungs gave up.  45 years ago, at the La Gondola in Ramstein, Germany smoking was accepted. That’s where I dined with Diego on several occasions.

A good red wine, a tablecloth with an ash tray would be Diego’s setting as he perused Italian fare on Gigi’s menu.  Diego was most comfortable with extraordinary people in an ordinary setting, playing cards on the Mediterranean with fishermen in some poor village.  Diego’s specialty was portrayal of people.

As Victoria Williams wrote in 1974: “In the South, DIEGO says, people live their lives more openly.  They are more observable.  They gather in groups to talk on the street, they play games in their yards; they sit in the parks, – lovers, strangers, the poor, the rich, mothers, fathers, children, happy people, sad people, – people who have experienced – who are experiencing.  PEOPLE … living, feeling, being… these are the subjects of DIEGO.  He interprets freely on canvas what he has experienced.”

“An Italian under the rule of the Sun DIEGO paints richly.  He is drawn to living colors – warm, bright, dramatic.  His paintings radiate.  Like DIEGO, they dominate the space around them.  They demand attention.”  

One thing has not changed.  Art remains very much in the lives of our current generation.  Tattoos today are a fine art, very personal and proudly displayed on the aficionado’s skin rather than a canvas on a wall.  (Notice on The New Yorker cover the small of the lady’s back above the belt line).

The “New Generation” is not blind to quality and value. There are about 4,000 oil paintings signed “Diego” on 2 continents and some of them are appearing at absolute bargains. So be on the lookout.

GOOGLE, “Diego Voci” for more!

Happy Holidays!

Coop Cooprider, DIEGO Historian

DIEGO VOCI PROJECT

FESTIVITES BEGIN WITH “MÄDCHEN MIT MANDOLINE”!

This gallery contains 2 photos.

“Mӓdchen Mit Mandoline” #1241-183, oil on canvas As the holiday season is upon us, the Diego Voci Project is delighted to share from the collection of Barbara Warner her favorite Diego painting titled “Mӓdchen Mit Mandoline”.  Barbara Warner purchased her … Continue reading →

DIEGO INSPIRES THE NEW GENERATION

Recollections of DIEGO VOCI by Susan Max, daughter of Stephen and Wendy Max follow below. Susan is the proud owner of “Jeune fille avec chapeau fleuri”

“As a young girl living in Germany I had the rare treat of going to meet a REAL artist. I was so excited! His name was Diego Voci and at first sight I recognized Diego’s charisma. My nervousness subsided as he drew us into his world with his exceptional interest in each of us. He was very interested in the fact that both my middle brother and I read and played instruments. Diego upon learning or our musical training removed a napkin and drew a treble clef on it asking us to explain what the clef symbol was and a sheet of music he had.

What struck me was that during this visit the house he lived in was a cornucopia for the imagination. He graciously took us through the living and working areas and I seem to recall an easel with unfinished work set up in the studio.

I remember DIEGO as a man that displayed so much interest in the world around him. I also remember him saying that you could paint with color, light and canvas. He had the ability to instantly draw you into his world and to include you into it. Much of my memories are that of an observer being let into a brilliant artists life.

I remember how he also mentioned that I reminded him of a young girl and how my face shape was so similar. I remember being transfixed at the beautiful colors and the huge easels with work yet to be finished.

On asking him when he painted, he responded then that he never knew when the urge would present itself and then as we were leaving Diego left and went into the studio where he started to paint.

I am so lucky to be influenced by such a brilliant and still current REAL artist.”

Susan Max, Toronto, Canada                                                         (https://www.facebook.com/zenphotocafe)

For more images of DIEGO’s artwork and his masterpieces see Stephen Max’ newly published book The Beauty of Diego : http://www.blurb.com/books/5419805-the-beauty-of-diego

AC DV History #187 11/29/2014

ATTENTION: LOOK FOR “VOCI” NOT “DIEGO” IN ZÜRICH

This gallery contains 3 photos.

On October 7, 2014 an ad appeared on Craigslist in Zürich in search of “Diego” artwork. Great idea! If they do find some, it will be quite a treasure! One is not likely to find a “Diego“, a signature not used … Continue reading →