HAPPY 98TH BIRTHDAY DIEGO

Antonio Diego Voci (VOH-chee) https://youtu.be/_WUYmz0Jkc0, the youngest of 3 brothers was born Antonio Innocenzo Voci on 10 August 1920 in the mountainous region near Catanzaro, Italy, in the small village of Gasperina, Born to be an artist.

“Diego” was the nickname in the artist’s adult life. He shunned his middle name “Innocenzo”. His family called him “Toto” as a child he signed his works VOCI through 1965. Thereafter “Diego”.

Diego lived up to the title of his 3-page biography “This Artist Is A Lion” that appeared in the May 1974 TV Guide. “His course mane of black hair jutting out drastically behind him, DIEGO is the image of his zodiac symbol – the lion.” https://www.artifactcollectors.com/diego-history-4330818.html#43393

Diego’s voices came thru his art and over the years became the “Artist of a Thousand Faces” and “Master of the Surreal”. To view the book, “Beauty of Diego” http://www.blurb.com/books/5419805-the-beauty-of-diego

Link to August Newsletter; Celebrate Diego’s Birthday. https://us3.campaign-archive.com/?u=cb3fa199216c4f48823999e03&id=3f77539409

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!