DiegoVoci™ 1967 COMMISSION FOR YOUNG LOVERS IN GERMANY PART II

The DiegoVoci™ “Still life” finds a new home and a #NewGeneration  

In June of this year, nearly 50 years after John and Helen Barnhart first met Diego, they decided to move to Alabama from Florida to be close to their girls Rebecca and Sarah and their families. Before they moved Denise and Kent Findley, their neighbors across the street in Florida, inquired about their art collection since they were downsizing. Denise had often admired their Diego “Mother and Child” and asked if they planned to part with all of their art. John and Helen so loved their “Mother and Child”, but John mentioned they might sell their Diego “Still Life”, as it was quite large.

“STILL LIFE” by DIEGO, 1968, Oil and Sand on Canvas, 23″ x 46″

John told Denise and Kent about the story of their experience commissioning two oil paintings by Diego in 1967 in Germany. It included the both “Mother and Child” (seen in the previous DVP posts:  https://diegovociproject.wordpress.com/2015/11/26/diegovoci-1967-commission-for-young-lovers-in-germany-part-i/)                                   and the “Still life” they were considering to purchase.

“When Helen and I were invited to Diego’s home and art studio in Wiesbaden to see the progress Diego was making on the still life Helen had ordered, she remembered exactly where the pears were in the preliminary sketch Diego had made for us at the exhibit in Bitburg, . . . and the coffee grinder was missing altogether. Helen wanted it just like she’d ordered. One doesn’t tell an artist what to do, but Diego agreed. He also told us “I am going to mix sand in your paintings.”  We agreed to the sand not knowing sure what Diego’s intents were. Later we found out that Diego applied this technique which is known in the art world.

When we came back to pick it up, Diego said  ‘It’s done, stays just like this.’ Diego was noted for his ‘No changes.  No retouch.’ and said ‘When I sign, painting is finished.’  Diego proceeded to sign both oil paintings “Mother and Child” and the “Still life” in our presence. We were very pleased.”

Watch for SIGNATURE STORY in PART III to follow

Denise asked to see it – and immediately wanted to buy it. John suggested a price and Denise agreed. It now hangs in the Findley home. Before Helen and John moved to Alabama, Helen saw the “Still Life” hanging in its new home and confided to John, “Oh I wish I could have it back.”  The DiegoVoci™ hopes to hear more from Denise and Kent Findley about how they are enjoying their wonderful Diego and that they send images for the DiegoVoci™Archive of the back of that canvas. More to come from the Findley’s and how they, part of a “New Generation” of Diego Aficionados are enjoying their “Still Life“. See DIEGO “Still Life” artworks at one of our many Pinterest Boards:  https://www.pinterest.com/diegovoci

 An update on John and Helen Barnhart:

As of today, Diego Aficionados, the Barnharts have not only bought and received their deluxe coffee table book, “The Beauty of Diego” from author Stephen Max. Published by Blurb at Printer’s cost you can order today!

“The Beauty of Diego“, by Stephen Max, . . . more than 100 DIEGO images

http://www.blurb.com/books/5419805-the-beauty-of-diego

John and Helen have also selected at least 2 more Diego oil paintings for possible purchase from Helga and the DiegoVoci™ Estate to add to their art collection….though they are smaller than the “Still Life”.

Check out the remaining DiegoVoci™ original artworks available for purchase: http://www.diegovociproject.com/#!acquire-originals/c1d4p

The internationally collected artist DiegoVoci™ impacted hundreds of art lovers this way.

See PART III to Follow “DiegoVoci™ Signatures”

 

DINING WITH DIEGO (PART 3) FIVE YEAR MYSTERY CONTINUES

 THE QUESTION IS:

Who controls the 11 artworks by Diego Voci (1920-1985) that took us 3 years to learn they belonged to Ciccio Barchetti, owner of Ciccio’s Ristorante in Pirmasens, #Germany, who passed away in September of 2013.   And, where are they now?

I am Kami #Cooprider, DIEGO VOCI PROJECT Research Assistant, who was raised in Germany by Patti and Coop Cooprider and I like to solve mysteries. My German, which had been out of practice came in handy.

Since March of 2010, the DIEGO VOCI PROJECT (#DVP) has received 11 identical images three separate times from three separate people, each wanting to sell the same 11 paintings. We, the DVP, were excited about a find of 11 DIEGOs at one time! Here are two of the large paintings.

“La Trattoria”  and  “Dorf auf Menorca”   by Antonio DIEGO Voci (1920-1985)

1. When Ursula and Peter Puehler contacted DVP in 2010 via German e-mail to sell the 11 DIEGO paintings, we believed they were the owners. We responded. DVP never heard back from them. 3 years went by.

2. In 2013, Marisa Barchetti, sent images of the same 11 DIEGOs. These DIEGOs were the identical images the Puehler’s had sent to DVP. Marisa only spoke Italian (lives in Rome). She informed us the paintings belonged to her brother Ciccio who had a restaurant in Pirmasens, Germany, but had passed away of cancer. She did not know the Puehlers, or how they got the same 11 DIEGO images. We attempted through various means to communicate. Marisa finally explained she did not have the paintings, but was looking for them herself. We hit only dead ends. More silence.

3. I intensified my search to find the DIEGOs. I found a dated reference to Ciccio online as owner of the restaurant; but, it was now in the ownership of Mario Augurusa. It was re-named Da Mario Ristorante-Pizzeria. I called Mario. He revealed he bought the establishment from Ciccio. He also revealed quite firmly that he knew nothing about 11 DIEGOs and did not know the Puehlers. But, Mario said, “I have a few of my own.” My sister Kendra visited Mario. We featured only 3 of the DIEGOs as his others are in storage, which we have not seen.      https://diegovociproject.wordpress.com/2015/06/18/dining-with-diego-part-2/

4. THE LATEST: In April of this year, DVP again received the same 11 DIEGO images that Puehlers sent 5 years earlier; this time from a Johannes Volkemer also from Pirmasens. We were awestruck. With a bit of finesse and some luck we communicated in German. Johannes replied to DVP and told us he was Ciccio’s son – and that Marisa was his aunt living in Rome, Italy. He did not know the Puehlers. He was wanting to sell the DIEGOs. We asked that he provide us with backs of the artworks and the measurements, but he said he personally did not have them – Johannes’ sister did. Does she or doesn’t she? We requested the information again on 20 June 2015.

“Il Ponte”                                   “Clown Francesco”                       “Stillleben mit Weinflasche”

SO WHERE ARE THEY?

GOOGLE:  “Diego Voci”  and  check  out DVP www.diegovociproject.com