Helga Voci, (widow of DIEGO Voci) shares the behind the scenes in these photos of DIEGO.
“These 2 photos were taken in Diego’s studio in Taunusstein, Germany sometime in the 80’s. This was his easel and the place where he spent most of his time.”
Versatility was Diego’s strength. Driven to experiment in every genre while remaining distinctly DIEGO.
Click on YouTube Diego Voci to view more behind the scenes of DIEGO!
Helga Voci, widow of Diego Voci shares;
“In the beginning of the seventies we moved to #Bavaria, where my parents lived and where they intended to build a house and Diego was supposed to help them. So, we rented an apartment in the same #village. At the same time Diego did not like doing business with Joy Naffouj anymore; and Liliane Dussard, a #French lady who had been working for Naffouj in her #gallery for a while, wanted to change also.
So, Diego and Liliane decided to work together (around 1972 for several years). Liliane came to our house and she started to take contacts with #Nürnberg Ladies Clubs and Officers’ Clubs and had soon several dates for #exhibits. Now we needed frames, as everything was an #experiment. In the village, we found a #wood joiner and Diego made models of frames, so he started to do a collection of frames in different sizes, then we got these frames and Diego`s atelier became a frame workshop. Diego painted on #canvases and Liliane and me painted and #gold-plated the frames under Diego`s instruction. We were almost working day and night, as everything had to be ready for our first exhibit.
And then we started our first exhibit in the Officers’ Club Fürth near Nürnberg and it was a very big success.”
(This history is a little fuzzy with dates): Liliane Dussard (deceased now) represented Diego beginning in 1972 and times throughout his years until 1985.
Liliane arranged art auctions at Officer’s Club, hosted Gallery exhibits for Diego and shared Holidays with Helga and Diego. (see Art Auction flyer below for 1985 “Dussard Art Studio” in Taunusstein). 
Lilian Dussard moved to the United States in 1973 and opened a gallery with her name: Dussard Art Gallery in Strafford, Virginia.
Diego Voci; “Retour du Travail” #451-260 oil on canvas
We know Liliane’s had this painting by Diego Voci in her own collection: “Retour du Travail” #451-260
Why would someone change their middle name to “Diego“? Google “Diego” and you get results for San Diego, Diego Rivera, Go Go Diego, children’s character. Antonio Diego Voci changed his middle name to Diego. Google Antonio Diego Voci, click on images and be amazed to view artworks by “Diego” Voci.
“#Diego” as he wanted the world to know him, rejected his birth middle name “Innocenzo”. Being the youngest of three boys by fifteen years, that sweet little newborn was the picture of innocence (Italian: innocenza). Diego wanted to be seen as anything but innocent. The family pet childhood name “Toto” was enough to bear. “Diego told me he never liked his middle name,” said Helga Drössler Voci, wife. “Innocenzo” is conspicuous by its official document absence in Diego’s life. Innocenzo was discovered only on his birth certificate (see below). After that it is “Antonio Voci” until 1976 when “Diego” is slipped into a government document.” – Antonio Diego Voci Wikipedia
“In 1976, the metamorphosis of Diego for his middle name was completed by Diego on at least one official document when he registered residence in Taunusstein (by Wiesbaden) at the time he and Helga purchased their first and last home and studio. The name is “Antonio Diego Voci”, finally official recognition of Diego on a government document” (see below)
(left) Träumender Harlekin D-3842537 50x60cm (20” x 24”), Tempera
(Right) Schiff 45x58cm (18” x 23”), Tempera
Both paintings (from the Diego Voci Estate) purchased by Jacqueline Risch, a collector in Germany. Jacqueline and her brother grew up knowing of Diego Voci as their father was a collector of Diego’s works. Jacqueline and her father visited regularly Wiesbaden, Germany when Jacqueline was still a child.
In Wiesbaden, Jacqueline and her father would visit Gallery Dahms where her father bought several painting from them (works by Diego Voci and other painters). During Jacqueline’s life, she visited Gallery Dahms by herself until the owner of Gallery Dahms passed away. Jacqueline’s brother found the Diego Voci Project on the Internet.
Jacqueline has visited Helga at her home recently in Taunusstein and since then has become friends.
Please visit www.diegovociproject.com to acquire works by Diego Voci and to learn more.
“I am always learning, always painting, to fill a need… to express.” Diego’s exact words. We want and need more quotes!
First, thanks to Mara, Lars and Stephen for your comments that inspired by the life and art of our hero, Antonio Diego Voci (1920-1985).
Lars, we are so grateful you found Artifact Collector’s (see link http://www.artifactcollectors.com/diego-voci-antonio-diego-voci-3984818/Page17.html#115141 ) and shared your story with the history your parents have in collecting Diego Voci’s works of art.
ACTION FOR HELP:
Lars, and everyone who knew Diego, we would like to know much more about your personal experiences with Diego every detail to include in the Diego Voci Archive™. One thing we treasure is the exact words as Diego would express his thoughts from the mundane to the worldly view of the great philosophers; everything in his broken Italian accented English. We are gathering such quotes to publish on Wikiquotes.
What would Diego say when he was smoking a cigarette? (2 packs a day, unfiltered)
Would Diego say anything after a first sip of wine?
What would Diego say when he was frustrated with a painting? What would he do? Would he stop and say something or did he gesture a frustration?
What were the first words out of Diego’s mouth when a potential collector came thru the door?
What were the first words out of Diego’s mouth when Diego put down his paint brush and knew a painting was done?
What were the first words out of Diego’s mouth when he sold a painting?
What would Diego say over and over and over again to Alessandra?
Helga, what slipped thru Diego’s voice to keep you calm, “quote” in his words?
Lars, we hope you receive the message on Artifact Collectors “Antonio Diego Voci” thread. When you sign in on a “Guest” post without registering with AC (it’s free to register when you do) we are unable to respond to you directly and you will not be notified when we respond back to you.*
We” is in reference to the all-volunteer Diego Voci Project to assist the Diego Voci Estate in cataloging all of Diego works of art and creating awareness for the Diego Voci Legacy™. Helga is still living in Taunusstein, Germany near Wiesbaden.
*NOTE: To all Artifact Collector readers, please sign in. 90% of “Guest” entries get lost in cyberspace of the website, preventing further person to person communication. Signing in allows use of AC personal messaging system (not available as a “Guest”).
John and Kathryn Marchi share their soulful story about how they met #Diego and acquired their two Diego works of art.
Kathryn Marchi reached out to the Diego Voci #Facebook page from a post yesterday title
“I LIKE DIEGO’S WORK BECAUSE…” . Stephen Max, Canadian Diego Voci Project Team member asked Diego Collectors in the most recent Christmas Diego Voci Newsletter, what they like about Diego’s work. And the responses are coming in. Please share yours!
“We are very excited about your Diego project!
Our Diego painting has been a centerpiece in our homes and admired by guests for over 40 years. We’ve loved telling the story about how we met Diego and our visit to his studio in the Taunus in 1976.
We were a military family, stationed in Frankfurt, Germany from 1975-1977. At that time, Diego was exhibiting and selling his paintings in the Frankfurt Officers’ Club. We met him there and admired his work.
In March, 1976, we received an invitation to attend an open house at Diego and Helga’s studio/home in Taunusstein-Neuhof near Wiesbaden, Germany. We were greeted at the door by Helga, dressed in black slacks and a sheer off-white blouse- a truly stunning woman. Upon arrival, each guest was given a number and were told that later on in the day, a drawing would be held for a special prize, not further identified. The home was small, cozy and decorated like one would expect from an artist…and quite charming. Paintings were displayed everywhere. Shortly after this, I noticed that Diego was sitting on a stool before an easel at the rear of his home, where I suspected he did all of his sketches and painting. I stood nearby and watched the sketch of a gypsy woman unfold. He created the picture, using one color and shades thereof. Once completed with his brush, he took a black magic marker and put in appropriate highlights. To my recollection, this beautiful sketch was created in less than 5 minutes. I was truly astounded. You can guess how we came by our sketch! Yes, our number was drawn and we were the thrilled recipients of the Gypsy Woman prize. Diego continued at the easel throughout the day and numbers were drawn periodically for the various sketches.
As we browsed throughout the studio, we were also told that Diego had begun to paint landscapes and there were many being displayed. However, my wife and I preferred what we considered Diego’s trademark; paintings of soulful female faces. “Venus in the Springtime” caught our eye and we purchased the painting that day. Unfortunately we have forgotten the price we paid; however, the enjoyment of this painting has been priceless.”
John D. Marchi
LTC (ret) US Army
Visit www.diegovociproject.com
After a seven year search, The Diego Voci Project recently received an email from a Diego Voci art collector that owns 9 originals. Here are a few words Stan Wilcox shares about his experience with collecting Diego Voci works of art:
“Dear Coop, the repetitive hoarding phenomenon pattern we hear about is mysterious, but no surprise given the fact that his (Diego Voci) work speaks to the soul and you couldn’t settle for just one! My wife and I were fortunate to have met the #master (Diego Voci) with an invite to his home in #Wiesbaden Taunusstein for #wine, #cheese, #piano music and a pen and ink sketch created for us by Diego unfolding before our very eyes that I now have displayed in my sitting room that is a scene that I believe is poking fun at #Dali.”
Here is one of paintings from the Wilcox collection of Diego’s. This piece title “Femme fille en train de faine ses devoirs” is an oil of a young girl at her desk doing her homework. On the back of the canvas is numbered #11802-111.
We thank Stan Wilcox for sharing his story and one of his Diego Voci paintings with us with the rest of the Diego Voci collectors. One by one we are locating all of Diego’s works of art to archive with the Diego Voci Estate. Enter Diego Voci on Google, click images on bar at top to see the Google gallery of Diego Voci works.
Thank you and many blessings for a Happy Thanksgiving from the Diego Voci Project!
… Wiesbaden, Germany is a city of #culture and beauty. #Tourists from all corners of the #world can be found walking and shopping on the #famous Wilhemsstrasse. It is there that Siegfried #Dahms displayed magnificent works by #DIEGO in his luxurious #gallery.
See 2 pages (below) from a catalog designed by Adolph #Merkt from #Taunusstein (the town where DIEGO’s widow Helga continues to live in the home where she and DIEGO lived and worked). The words are those of Herr Dahms. The 1st is in #English. The 2nd in Dahms’ native #German.
“#DIEGO creates works of art which are full of expression and timeless beauty, which deeply impress and fascinate people with its exceptional appeal, and instill the desire to possess.
#DIEGO is one of the few artistic personalities whose paintings really appeal to people. They understand, they get excited about, and they really enjoy living with DIEGO’s art. The beauty of his paintings and the desire of possession are often so immense that people gradually acquire more and more of his work. DIEGO buyers soon become DIEGO collectors.”
Highest price for #DIEGO at Galerie Dahms
We believe the highest known recorded price for a #DIEGO artwork in his lifetime was at #Galerie Dahms in Wiesbaden; a very large work for DM 14,000 in the late 70’s. Using only time value of money alone would place the value today of $30,000 or more.
Purchase an original DiegoVoci™ painting on www.diegovociproject.com
AC History 9/2010 #48
One third of my 76 years were spent with the love of my life, artist DIEGOVOCI™ (1920-1985).
That is me above in 1970 where this chapter of my life with DIEGO begins.
“Diego was preparing an art show in Ravenna, Italy which was organized by Galleria Cairoli from October 30th to November 10th in 1970. We had a beautiful season, Italian lifestyle, sunshine, beach, and good Italian food. After this exhibit we moved back to Germany in December of that year.
My parents were then building a house in Bavaria. Diego was drawing the plans and helped with the interior decoration. So we rented an apartment there from December 1970 until June 1972. At that time Diego still sent paintings to Naffouj, but he was not so happy anymore with the agreement, so we stopped and started doing the business ourselves.
For several years we worked together with Liliane Dussard, a French lady who had been working in Naffouj Gallery before and later on. I think in 1974 or 75 Christine Khan took over. I am still in contact with Christine.
In the meantime we moved from Bavaria to Schwetzingen near Heidelberg. There we had a little daughter, Alessandra (you can view a portrait Diego made of her in of the previous post). In 1976 we moved to Taunusstein near Wiesbaden, where we bought a house and where Diego lived and worked until his death in 1985. This house is where I still live today.
During that time, in 1973, we made our first trip to the United States. We bought a car in New York and we drove across the U.S. from N.Y. to San Francisco. We went to places like New Orleans and Albuquerque. We visited several Indian pueblos, where Diego started to make sketches of the Indians, because he thought they had very interesting faces.”
Courtesy of the Diego Voci Project www.diegovociproject.com
Diego Voci on YouTube and Google.
AC 8/5/2010 #42
The Diego Voci Project never received an image for the Diego Voci Archive Database. Please contact the diegovociproject@gmail.com with any information on “Jerry O” or the image.
diegovociproject 