L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015 www.italoamericano.org 11 L'Italo-Americano Native Son Makes Large Donation to Support Italian Culture J o h n A s a r o , a n a t i v e Californian of Sicilian descent has a special place in his heart f o r L i t t l e I t a l y ' s P i a z z a Famiglia, so much so that he w i l l b e d o n a t i n g 5 0 % o f a l l sales from his latest art exhibit being held at Meyer Fine Art t h r o u g h A u g u s t 1 s t . H i s largesse is also reflected in the huge amount of time, effort and work that he has put into this s h o w . A c c o r d i n g t o g a l l e r y owner, Perry Meyer, 104 hang- ings were initially hung with special prominence given to Asaro's special interpretation of The Last Supper, a huge 7x12 feet art piece on canvas. While speaking of this work, Asaro stated, "This is my idea of how Michelangelo might have paint- ed The Last Supper." " S i x p a i n t i n g s w e r e s o l d already, by walk-in customers, on the first day," remarked an excited Meyer, who still had nail and hammer in his hand for the last hanging. Piazza Famiglia, the recipi- ent of Asaro's generous 50% d o n a t i o n , i s a c o l l a b o r a t i v e development between the Little Italy Association and developer H.G.Fenton and is based on the traditional piazzas of Italy. The site is being built at an enor- mous cost, but with great enthu- s i a s m b y t h e L i t t l e I t a l y Association. It will contain pub- lic seating areas, a large, central fountain and shops for market vendors will surround the area. "The work is coming along, and is bigger and better than we thought it would be," comment- e d D a n n y M o c e r i n a t i v e o f L i t t l e I t a l y a n d m a n a g e r o f Filippi's Italian Restaurant. I n A s a r o ' s b o o k , A N e w Romanticism, also available at the exhibit he features approxi- mately 100 pieces of his work which are mostly oils. Here the artist is featured with much of his work as Illustrator, Teacher, W e s t e r n e r , F a m i l y M a n a n d Traveler. The book also depicts a r t i s t i c a l l y r e n d e r e d p h o - tographs of his eclectic work including paintings and render- i n g s f r o m h i s t r a v e l s i n a n d a r o u n d S a n D i e g o b e a c h e s , Italy (mostly Venice and Sicily) and several dancers. " M y p a r e n t s w e r e f r o m Sicily, but I was born in the USA," said Asaro, adding "I go back there often to visit rela- tives and friends. The artist says he has been drawing and paint- ing ever since he can remember, and according to his book, "the young artist poses with his oeu- vre and his Schwinn [in] July 1947. While growing up in San D i e g o h e t w i c e w o n t h e Optimist Prize at San Diego's County fair in 1947 and 1948. "I'm having more fun now than I ever did," stated Asaro, recall- i n g t h a t a l t h o u g h g a i n f u l l y e m p l o y e d i n m a j o r c i t i e s o f N e w Y o r k , D e t r o i t a n d L o s Angeles, "I didn't like the work I was doing back then." At that time the artist was employed doing ads, book and record cov- ROBERT GALLO ers. "I remember that I always feared fine art and galleries, but I hated commercial art enough to make the move," recalled the artist. "I got a job at the Art Center College in Pasadena in the 1950s and later taught in the 1970s, and got married there," recalled Asaro. "If you've ever l i v e d h e r e , y o u k n o w w h y I came back to San Diego. Asaro l i v e s w i t h h i s w i f e a n d t w o d a u g h t e r s i n h i s C a r l s b a d S t u d i o a n d h o m e , b a r e l y 2 0 miles from his boyhood neigh- borhood. Although teaching provided a n i n c o m e , t h e a r t i s t s a i d " Y o u ' v e g o t t o k e e p t h e m h a p p y , a n d t e a c h i n g c a n b e very stressful. You've also got to be an entertainer," he recalls. While teaching, Asaro devel- oped teaching material that is still online and in bookstores. "That's where I am now," said Asaro who has also had a book published of more traditional materials, "a bigger book work with more contemporary art," and is currently "involved with an out of state gallery." On a more nostalgic note, Asaro recalled the paintings he did of recently deceased song- w r i t e r a n d s i n g e r A m y W i n e h o u s e . " I d i d a b o u t 2 0 paintings of her singing. They were put together like two short movies, each about four min- utes long." Not having ever met Winehouse, he had his daughter m o d e l f o r h i m . " S h e [Winehouse] used to wear The S t a r o f D a v i d t o p l e a s e h e r Jewish family and viewers," he recalled. Current and future goals for the native son of San Diego include his exhibit at the Meyer Art Gallery and aspirations to get into "major contemporary galleries." John Asaro at the Meyer Art Gallery

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