#ARTIST & #COLLECTOR “EMPATHY FOR FACES”

Diego Voci; “Three Faces” oil on canvas

The Diego Voci Project Team received a letter from Diego Collector; Dan Wilking with one of his internationally collected artist Diego Voci (1920-1985) works of art titled “Three Faces“. Here are the words from Dan to Coop Cooprider; Diego Voci Art Historian

“During the period 1970-1973, I was stationed at the 10th Med Lab in Landstuhl (Germany). We purchased several paintings at the Naffouj Gallery in Landstuhl. Yes, Joy Naffouj introduced me to Diego. He was dark of complexion, had shoulder length hair, and wore a neat leather jacket. We exchanged greetings and that was that. The empathy on the faces of the pictured men drew me to it. The Berlin Wall and Russian episode of that time perhaps were an influence. – Dan Wilking”

Stephen Max, Creative Genius with Diego Voci Project Team is working the latest publication titled “Diego, Artist of a Thousand Faces“. Due out August 10, 2020 the 100th year celebration of Diego’s birth.

4 DIEGO VOCI TREASURES FOUND AT ESTATE SALE – NUMBER 4

”GROUPING” shown below represents faces of the working man, old and young. Faces from memory were an incredible ‘group’ of paintings, drawings, and sketches Diego graced the world with. Diego demonstrated his ability to vicariously experience feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of others. His empathy was great!

“GROUPING”, like many of the faces Diego rendered are hard-working regular people in small towns across Italy, like his birthplace of Gasperina here wrapping up the end of the day. Diego had two brothers, Vincent and Guiseppe. Their father Guiseppe Antonio hoped the boys would all continue in the Tailoring trade. DIEGO did learn to tailor and throughout his life designed and made some of his own suit jackets and dresses for the ladies. We have shared stories with Diego fans about his talents in sculpting, designing clothes, painting murals, even sculpting a  copper door for his wife Helga Voci’s parents: https://diegovociproject.wordpress.com/2017/05/17/diego-frontdoors-bavaria/

The “GROUPING” is Tom Catron’s last of the 4 treasures he found at auction in Marien, South Dakota, from the Estate Auction of Beverly Cowan’s family. She had collected while living in Europe and while there Beverly became a teacher in #Schwäbisch Gemünd, #Germany from 1973-1978. In her obituary last year a principal said, “she offered a great deal of important services to children and will be sorely missed.” A friend writes “we enjoyed travel for arts, theatre and historic places – the lady was on form.” One can see why she liked DIEGO and his art. Beverly was a hardworking, compassionate and worldly for sure. Beverly, the new owner Tom thanks you!

See more “FACES” in our 1^st deluxe coffee table book: http://www.blurb.com/books/5419805-the-beauty-of-diego and on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/diegovoci/faces-diegovocitm/

DIEGO VOCI EMPATHIZES WITH POOR PEOPLE

Human beings are drawn to emotions in a form of expression that Diego did so well in his portrayal of people on canvas.  Diego empathized with people of lesser means and told their stories with his brushes.  No holding back, Diego captured the raw human face in his works to share the beauty of all walks of life.

The Silvers Family of Colorado shares their “Girl with Pitcher” with the Diego Voci Team, a painting completed during the Joy (Gibson) Naffouj time period.  Joy Naffouj in conversation with Diego one day said “Everyone knows you as Diego… you need to be signing your paintings Diego”.  That was the beginning of the Diego Voci Legacy (1965).

“Girl with Pitcher”, 31 ½” x 24”, oil on linen

Also see Diego’s “Supper” from the Silvers’ collection: http://www.artifactcollectors.com/diego-voci-painting-of-the-week-5154118/Page9.html#263

AC P of W #263 3/30/2015