Magnetism of Diego Never Loses Power

In this case it was quiet power of women, who make the world hold together.  The words of collector Stanley & Sibylle Wilcox follow this Diego image.

Stanley Wilcox shares with the Diego Voci Project:

“The title of this next piece is titled “Bauer bei der Ernte” (Farmers at Harvest). It measures 60 x 80 centimeters without the frame. When we first saw this large oil, my wife Sibylle and I were deeply moved by the labored facial expression of the woman standing in the foreground holding what appears to be a grain basket, and the other woman bending over a large half barrel basket with a cloth grain sack. It depicts honor and respect to hard working women in what I believe to be a childhood memory in a rural setting near to where Diego was born in Gasperina, Calabria, Italy.

Hand harvesting wheat was and still is practiced on small family farms in this region. (See interesting reference article and 1950’s/60’s photo posted at Scordo.com – Italian Food Recipes and Lifestyle: “The Wheat Harvest and Memory: Returning to Calabria”.)

Note that an almost identical scene is depicted in the background, strengthening the paintings depth and visually balancing the piece. The men are outnumbered 2 to 1 and are merely serving the role of overseeing the harvest in what I interpret as diminished supervisory capacity influenced by the overwhelming endurance of these women.”

Visit the Diego Voci Project at www.diegovociproject.com to learn more about Diego.

WHEN DID #INNOCENZO BECOME #DIEGO?

On this day on 10 August (1920) in Gasperina, Italy, Giuseppe Antonio Voci and Arcangela Messina Voci welcomed their second son, Antonio Innocenzo Voci  into this world… nicknamed “Toto” as a kid.  Antonio Voci never liked his middle name Innnocenzo.  It does not appear again in official documents other than the birth certificate on file in Gasperina.  He took the nickname “Diego”.

Tony Voci, nephew to Diego recalls traveling in Europe with his artist Uncle and about every hour they would stop at a café for a smoke and espresso.  To the surprise of Tony Voci, Diego was greeted as “Diego” everywhere.   “Diego” was his own celebrity.

Diego Voci and Tony Voci

The name “Diego” signed on his artwork didn’t come into play until 1966.  At encouragement of Naffouj Gallery he began signing his paintings “Diego”.  Prior to that it was some form of VOCI.  See signature section on #Wikipedia:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Diego_Voci#Gallery

The last known official document during Diego’s life was his 1976 Taunusstein Germany residence registration (see below) where “Diego” is listed as his middle name.

The December 10, 1985 Death Certificate ignores the birth middle name.

Some have wondered if Diego would have been more famous keeping the more unique name “Innocenzo” as his signature, rather than get lost in a swelling sea of Diegos, “Diego who?” .

Here’s a rewarding way to wish Antonio Diego Voci Happy Birthday.  Go to YouTube, click https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Diego+Voci and take a wonderful museum tour, a 20 year Diego retrospective covering two floors.  Or go to #Google, search “Diego  Voci” and click “Images”.

P.S. The mayor of #Gasperina, Gregorio #Gallello, just friended us on our Diego Voci Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/diego.voci Come and Join us!