Old presses

My Italian Connections
By James Juszczyk

July 2010

Though it has been quite awhile since I was actually an “art student”, I feel that I will always owe a deep sense of gratitude to Piero Dorazio and Angelo Savelli. They were both important influences on my transition from an “art student” into, for better or worse, a “young artist”.

I met Piero Dorazio, a master painter and colorist, as that “art student” at the University of Pennsylvania. His intelligence, grace, and European sophistication were instrumental in helping to smooth out my rough, crude edges. His teaching philosophy was based on the premise that we, the students, were already artists and should be treated and dealt with as such. His professional attitude was a positive boost to my self-confidence and growing commitment to my work.

Piero’s teaching method also included an occasional scotch at a bar across from school along with a field trip or two. On one such trip, he took a friend, John and myself up to New York for an opening at a 57th street gallery. We followed Piero into the gallery and after he spotted the artist, he introduced us. He said,”Mark, this is Jim and John, two painters from Philadelphia.” The “Mark” was Rothko.

A special deep bow and thank you is offered to the memory of Angelo Savelli. He was a truly an original artist, a creator of pure, “White”, spiritual objects and environments that emitted unique, subtle vibrations in contrast to a hard, materialistic world.

My connection with ”Savelli” continued and deepened after graduation from Penn. For several summers during the early 1970’s, I traveled to his beautiful Pennsylvania country home and studio were I worked as his assistant on embossing hand-cut prints. What I still appreciate most, more than the technical experience was the privilege to intimately live and work in a true master/apprentice relationship. The insights I gained during that time, watching and learning as a master artist produced his art, became an integral part of my studio work habits and mind-set.

Osmosis – a gradual process of absorption and assimilation, I think is still a valid way to learn one’s craft. I offer these few words of appreciation in memory of these special Gentlemen and Fine Artists, the epitome of a sensibility that sadly seems to be disappearing.