A #MEMORY OF #JFK & #ARTIST DIEGO VOCI

Margaret Carrow shares memories of her Aunt’s memories of how she collected her two internationally collected artist Diego Voci (VOH-chee 1920-1985) paintings.

Margaret shares;

My Aunt lived most of her life in Europe working for the Air Force as an administrator of the Air Force schools, in Germany, France and Spain. She is 93 (in 2012) years old and I have moved her back to the states,along with her personal possessions including two of her paintings.She talked about the artist she knew while she was in Germany. The two oil paintings by Diego are signed on the front and the back. I have taken pictures of them and have included them with this letter. One of the paintings needs some repairs, and I didn’t know how I should have this done. My Aunt is living in a retirement home, and wanted her paintings to be with her. She told me that Diego was working on a painting for President Kennedy when she first met Diego.”

Diego Voci; Paessaggio 1966 32″ x 23 3/4″ oil on canvas

Diego Voci; Fiore 1966 23 3/4″ x 19 7/8″ oil on canvas

To see more: https://youtu.be/GG5Jl-2FuXM

Artist Diego Voci was a Man of the People

Helga Voci, Diego’s lover, wife and confidant from 1960 until his death from lung cancer (chain smoker), wrote in her biography, her memory;

“Diego played cards with the Fishermen”

Here is an example of Diego’s memory of 3 Fisherman we found in an old faded Polaroid from 1974.

“Fisherman” # 151-195 60x80cm purchased by Mr. Thomas

To learn more about the life of Helga and Diego: https://www.diegovociproject.com/helga-and-diego

LET’S GO TO THE FRENCH #RIVIERA

Diego Voci; 80 x 60cm, oil on canvas (polaroid image of original painting)

Antonio Diego Voci, master figurative painter (1920-1985) once claimed he only paints from memory.  Too bad he’s not here to share more about this provocative memory he captured here, titled:

“En Regardant La Mer” (Looking at the Sea)

Joseph Marasco, where are you now?  And do you still have this painting? Contact us at diegovociproject@gmail.com.

Joseph Marasco paid Diego in his Wiesbaden studio $890 to take this marvelous (80 x 60cm) painting home on 28 September 1980.  Joseph address then (in 1980) was:

61 Westfalen Apt.5 62 Weisbaden – Aukamm

DID #DIEGO COPY #CEZANNE?

Top: Diego (old faded Polaroid image) ; Bottom: Cezanne

“Diego never copied” said the widow, Helga of her internationally collected artist husband Antonio Diego Voci (1920-1985).  Others who knew Diego confirmed he did everything from either memory or pure creativity.  The experienced eye can spot Cezanne’s influence but, the work remains distinctly Diego.  (Check out the #pears).

Helga found this faded (the rich color is gone) Polaroid indicating Joseph Di Giacinto paid only $380 in Stuttgart, #Germany in 1975.   “Hey Joseph!” Contact us at diegovociproject.com.

POTENTIAL #DIEGOVOCI MODEL – KICKING HERSELF

Cheryl McCarra Fairchild and her husband Dan were stationed in Germany from 1974-1977 in the Karlsruhe area. Cheryl remembered to Kami (Diego Voci Project):

“I met Diego for the first time at an OWC (Officer’s Wives Club Luncheon).  I fell in love with Diego’s work and his personality. I wanted to buy an oil painting.  On a Lieutenant’s salary we eventually settled for 3 Diego lithographs which we bought over time from Lillian Dussard.”

“When our family retired to the US in Georgia years later, I started searching online for DIEGO paintings. I found our first oil painting: “Giovene Ragazza”.  The profile reminded me of my mother”.

Diego’s vibrant and bright colors in the scarves almost contradict the calm serene and fine features of her eyes and lips.

Cheryl recalls;

“Diego actually asked me to model for him.  At the time I had two small children and saw no way to do that. I’m kicking myself now!”

Though Helga Voci, Diego’s widow, states;

“Diego rarely used models, Diego painted from memory.” 

Helga was referring to studio models.  Evidence is frequent that out of the studio face to face in the moment, a face of a woman or man, young or old, would inspire Diego.  Example: http://www.artifactcollectors.com/diego-voci-painting-of-the-week-5154118/Page9.html#91027; an interesting story of a black beauty with intriguing eyes.

And stay tuned for more exciting news from the Fairchild’s and the “New Generation”. 

This is just one of many examples of the impact Diego had on people.  Please share your stories like these at www.diegovociproject.com or

                                    email us at diegovociproject@gmail.com.

Diego Voci is on Google and YouTube.

22 July 2015 AC ADV #472