September Program - Joseph Coco
Joseph’s formal training as an artist started in San Francisco at the Art Institute in 1970. Driven by an insatiable desire to depict his dreams, he loves drawing from nature, working plen-aire. During his formative years, music and songwriting meshed with creating soundtracks for many painting and drawing series. These interests in naturalism and symbolism came together in Coco’s Master of Fine Arts degree, Rutgers University, New Jersey in 1986.
Such influences of nature, mythology and the archetypal themes can be seen in Coco’s painting series:
- SOUND IMAGE / FALLS RIVER concerning synesthesia. Joe combined his original instrumental music composed for the art into a soundtrack for his original video.
-SOLAR ECLIPSE AND A NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST, a drawing series, seeks to heal personal and societal fears of nuclear annihilation/isolation through dream imagery. SOLAR ECLIPSE toured the United States in ten solo exhibits from 1984 through 1994.
-THE LAST FULL MOON series is a continuing series of paintings. Each painting is started in December on the day the full moon rises. This is an autobiographical project that includes Joseph’s fascination with astronomy and astrology. With over 130 individual images created to date, Joe is planning a major exhibition of the series by the year 2020.
- FOLIAGE has been an on-going series for over thirty years. Capturing light on the surface of short-lived blossoms, Foliage started in Flagstaff, Arizona in 1975. Coco concentrates on particular times of day, and particular blossoming forms, often working in diptych formats, to canvases as large as 66”x42”, as triptych wall installations ten feet tall.
Over 550 paintings, drawings, prints, are collected in over 350 public and private collections. With 70 solo shows in America and Europe, Joe has exhibited in over 80 competitive and collective shows since 1970. His work is collected in museums: Gulbenkian - Lisbon; Kridel Securities - Paris; Gallaria Nazionale Di Contemporaneo - Rome; Institute of Contemporary Art - Boston. From 2014 to 2019 Coco exhibited various series from his oeuvre at the OLD SOUK GALLERY - Nadar Group in Hackettstown, New Jersey.
Currently Coco is teaching at Montclair State and Centenary University’s in New Jersey, as well as Delaware Valley University, Doylestown, PA.
Joseph will be on hand at the IAHCHC’s September 21st meeting to discuss his 4th International Exhibition of IF WALLS COULD SPEAK which took place in Geraci, Sicily the summer of 2006 in the village where his grandparents lived before immigrating to America in 1910. The exhibition premiered in December 1996 in Teatro Vittorio Emanuele, Messina, Sicily. This exhibit of 106 paintings and drawings was in five galleries of Italy’s second largest opera house. This show also includes a soundtrack of 13 instrumentals, composed and recorded for the series. IF WALLS COULD SPEAK, “redefines the image of Sicily”, and as a series includes two books of short stories, paintings, drawings and photographs, as well as eleven albums compiled during Coco’s five-year residence in Sicily and Portugal: Volume One – The Black & Blue Ink Series - 82 stories, and Volume Two – UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY –The Sepia Ink Series – 103 stories.
Such influences of nature, mythology and the archetypal themes can be seen in Coco’s painting series:
- SOUND IMAGE / FALLS RIVER concerning synesthesia. Joe combined his original instrumental music composed for the art into a soundtrack for his original video.
-SOLAR ECLIPSE AND A NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST, a drawing series, seeks to heal personal and societal fears of nuclear annihilation/isolation through dream imagery. SOLAR ECLIPSE toured the United States in ten solo exhibits from 1984 through 1994.
-THE LAST FULL MOON series is a continuing series of paintings. Each painting is started in December on the day the full moon rises. This is an autobiographical project that includes Joseph’s fascination with astronomy and astrology. With over 130 individual images created to date, Joe is planning a major exhibition of the series by the year 2020.
- FOLIAGE has been an on-going series for over thirty years. Capturing light on the surface of short-lived blossoms, Foliage started in Flagstaff, Arizona in 1975. Coco concentrates on particular times of day, and particular blossoming forms, often working in diptych formats, to canvases as large as 66”x42”, as triptych wall installations ten feet tall.
Over 550 paintings, drawings, prints, are collected in over 350 public and private collections. With 70 solo shows in America and Europe, Joe has exhibited in over 80 competitive and collective shows since 1970. His work is collected in museums: Gulbenkian - Lisbon; Kridel Securities - Paris; Gallaria Nazionale Di Contemporaneo - Rome; Institute of Contemporary Art - Boston. From 2014 to 2019 Coco exhibited various series from his oeuvre at the OLD SOUK GALLERY - Nadar Group in Hackettstown, New Jersey.
Currently Coco is teaching at Montclair State and Centenary University’s in New Jersey, as well as Delaware Valley University, Doylestown, PA.
Joseph will be on hand at the IAHCHC’s September 21st meeting to discuss his 4th International Exhibition of IF WALLS COULD SPEAK which took place in Geraci, Sicily the summer of 2006 in the village where his grandparents lived before immigrating to America in 1910. The exhibition premiered in December 1996 in Teatro Vittorio Emanuele, Messina, Sicily. This exhibit of 106 paintings and drawings was in five galleries of Italy’s second largest opera house. This show also includes a soundtrack of 13 instrumentals, composed and recorded for the series. IF WALLS COULD SPEAK, “redefines the image of Sicily”, and as a series includes two books of short stories, paintings, drawings and photographs, as well as eleven albums compiled during Coco’s five-year residence in Sicily and Portugal: Volume One – The Black & Blue Ink Series - 82 stories, and Volume Two – UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY –The Sepia Ink Series – 103 stories.
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Past Meeting Programs
May 2021 - Anthony Scialla - "Tony Mangia" Social Media Personality
April 2021 - Elena Chiaravallo, Olive Oil
March 2021 - Alessandra Aiello, Food is Love
February 2021 - Mike De Sapio, Italian Dual Citizenship
January 2021 - Angela Franco, The Table Manners Coach
February 2020 - Arturo Spinetti, Singer
January 2020 - Sal De Sapio, Constantino Brumidi - the Michelangelo of America
November 2019 - Joe Quagliano and Mark Cardillo, Italian American Baseball Foundation
October 2019 - Constance Kyriacos and Paula Phillips, Folk Dancers and Singers
September 2019 - Gary Dee, Singer/Entertainer
June 2019 - Annual Scholarship Awards Night
May 2019 - Joe Mannino, Italian Bakery and Espresso Bar
April 2019 - Annual Foundation Gala honoring Paul and Norma Santella
March 2019 - Mary Lou and Jerome Bongiorno, Producers
February 2019 - Mike DeLucia: Author, Teacher
January 2019 - Dr. Ottavio Balena
November 2018 - Ray Guarini, Italian Enclaves
October 2018 - Salvatore DeSapio
September 2018 - Silvio Laccetti
June 2018 - Scholarship Awards Night!
May 2018- Luisa LoCasio Matarazo
April 2018 - 4th Annual Spring Gala
March 2018 - Robert D'Ambola
February 2018 - John Basilone Foundation
January 2018 - Italian Heritage Trivia Night
November 2017 - Dr. Ottavio Balena, Cultural Comparative Geography of Italy's Provinces.
October 2017 - Dr. William Connell
September 2017 - Susan LangSapora
June 2017 - Scholarship Awards Night!
May 2016 - Richard Muti
April 2017 - 3rd Annual Gala
March 2017 - Richard Stillman
February 2017 - Andrea' Cassar
January 2017 - Kevin Corcoran
November 2016 - Don Mammato
September 2016 - Anthony Rose
June 2016 - Scholarship Awards Night!
May 2016 - Lou Pompillo
April 2016 - Russ Martone
February 2016 - Kevin Corcoran
January 2016 - Mark Drabich
November 2015 - Chef Christine Ayers
October 2015 - Heritage Night – What is Your Ancestry or Ascendena?
September 2015 - Joseph DeFranco, Author
June 2015 - Jerry Castaldo, Entertainer; Scholarship Awards Night!
May 2015 - Dr. William J. Connell
April 2015 - John Richetta, Musician
February 2015 - Joseph R. Pucciatti & Sandra Milstein-Pucciatti, Founders of Boheme Opera NJ
January 2015 - Dr. Ottavio Balena, Italian History
November 2014 - Carol Barbieri
October 2014 - Chef Christine Ayers, Grand Colonial
September 2014 - Dr. Mary Ann Re, Director of the Coccia Institute
June 2014 - Lou Pompilio, Entertainer; Scholarship Awards Night!
May 2014 - Rosary Scacciaferro Gilheany, Author
April 2014 - Arthur J. Femenella, Stained Glass Artisan
March 2014 - Giuseppe Luisi, Banfi Vintners
February 2014 - Sal and Michael DeSapio, Viaggi Italiani
January 2014 - Catherine Sprague, Pianist, Author
November 2013 - Bill Deni, Sal and Michael DeSapio: Italian Travels
October 2013 - Sam Faiello: Public Relations Professional, Novelist
September 2013 - Andre' DiMino: A National Leader of the Italian American Community
June 2013 - Carmen Jon: Singer, Entertainer; Scholarship Awards Night
May 2013 - Charles Haas: Titanic Historian
April 2013 - Mike Manella,
March 2013 - Al Notabartolo: Engineer, Brick-Oven Pizza Guru
February 2013 - Anthony Del Aversano: Entrepreneur, Author: "It's Gravy, not Sauce!"
January 2013 - Donna Arold: Inn Keeper, Entrepreneur
November 2012 - Andrea Dente: Search & Rescue Dog Trainer/Handler
October 2012 - Santi Buscemi: Author, Translator, Professor
September 2012 - Mark Di Ionno: Award-winning Columnist
Update 04-16-2013: Star-Ledger Columnist Mark Di Ionno named a Pulitzer Finalist
June 2012 - Introducing Honorary Members: Carmen S. Paterniti and Sal Lazzarroti;
Scholarship Awards Night
May 2012 - Dr. Mary Ann Re: Receives Special Honor
April 2012 - Barbara-Jo Cruczek: Trumpeter
March 2012 - Marlene Iaciofano: Gourmet Getaways
February 2012 - Donna Longo Reynolds: Herbalist
January 2012 - AnnaMarie Prinsloo: Manager at Livingston Farms
November 2011 - Andrea Barbaria: Italian Consul
June 2011 - Bob Marino: Singer/Entertainer; Scholarship Awards Night
May 2011 - Vicki Vasilopoulos: Director/Producer
April 2011 - Jonathan Yalenti of Benfatto Coffee
March 2011 - Dr. Felice Caldarella: MD, FACE, MDE, FACP
February 2011 - Guy DeSapio: Author, Poet: "I Have His Letters Still"
June 2010 - Dan Torrone, aka "Dr. D"; Scholarship Awards Night
May 2010 - John Paolini: Paolini Cast Stone, Inc.
April 2010 - Vincenzo Sagari: Vias Imports
March 2010 - Spencer Peck: Coinage of the Roman Republic
February 2010 - Carl Carabelli: President, Italian American National Hall of Fame
May 2009 - Dan Torrone, aka "Dr. D"
April 2009 - Sam Faiello:- The Rocky Road to a Novel
March 2009 - Tenor James Valenti
November 2008 - Wines from Italy
June 2006 - Scholarship Awards Night
May 2006 - Greg Napolitan: Chainsaw Artist
April 2006 - Anthony Carabelli, Jr.: Director and Public Relations for NJ State Italian Commission
March 2006 - What Does it Mean to be a Second or Third Generation Italian-American?
February 2006 - Biography of Bishop John Smith
January 2006 - NJ's Treasure Trove of Italian and Italian-American History
November 2005 - Our Own Sal Megna!
October 2005 - Teresa D'Errico of Colavita, USA
May 2021 - Anthony Scialla - "Tony Mangia" Social Media Personality
April 2021 - Elena Chiaravallo, Olive Oil
March 2021 - Alessandra Aiello, Food is Love
February 2021 - Mike De Sapio, Italian Dual Citizenship
January 2021 - Angela Franco, The Table Manners Coach
February 2020 - Arturo Spinetti, Singer
January 2020 - Sal De Sapio, Constantino Brumidi - the Michelangelo of America
November 2019 - Joe Quagliano and Mark Cardillo, Italian American Baseball Foundation
October 2019 - Constance Kyriacos and Paula Phillips, Folk Dancers and Singers
September 2019 - Gary Dee, Singer/Entertainer
June 2019 - Annual Scholarship Awards Night
May 2019 - Joe Mannino, Italian Bakery and Espresso Bar
April 2019 - Annual Foundation Gala honoring Paul and Norma Santella
March 2019 - Mary Lou and Jerome Bongiorno, Producers
February 2019 - Mike DeLucia: Author, Teacher
January 2019 - Dr. Ottavio Balena
November 2018 - Ray Guarini, Italian Enclaves
October 2018 - Salvatore DeSapio
September 2018 - Silvio Laccetti
June 2018 - Scholarship Awards Night!
May 2018- Luisa LoCasio Matarazo
April 2018 - 4th Annual Spring Gala
March 2018 - Robert D'Ambola
February 2018 - John Basilone Foundation
January 2018 - Italian Heritage Trivia Night
November 2017 - Dr. Ottavio Balena, Cultural Comparative Geography of Italy's Provinces.
October 2017 - Dr. William Connell
September 2017 - Susan LangSapora
June 2017 - Scholarship Awards Night!
May 2016 - Richard Muti
April 2017 - 3rd Annual Gala
March 2017 - Richard Stillman
February 2017 - Andrea' Cassar
January 2017 - Kevin Corcoran
November 2016 - Don Mammato
September 2016 - Anthony Rose
June 2016 - Scholarship Awards Night!
May 2016 - Lou Pompillo
April 2016 - Russ Martone
February 2016 - Kevin Corcoran
January 2016 - Mark Drabich
November 2015 - Chef Christine Ayers
October 2015 - Heritage Night – What is Your Ancestry or Ascendena?
September 2015 - Joseph DeFranco, Author
June 2015 - Jerry Castaldo, Entertainer; Scholarship Awards Night!
May 2015 - Dr. William J. Connell
April 2015 - John Richetta, Musician
February 2015 - Joseph R. Pucciatti & Sandra Milstein-Pucciatti, Founders of Boheme Opera NJ
January 2015 - Dr. Ottavio Balena, Italian History
November 2014 - Carol Barbieri
October 2014 - Chef Christine Ayers, Grand Colonial
September 2014 - Dr. Mary Ann Re, Director of the Coccia Institute
June 2014 - Lou Pompilio, Entertainer; Scholarship Awards Night!
May 2014 - Rosary Scacciaferro Gilheany, Author
April 2014 - Arthur J. Femenella, Stained Glass Artisan
March 2014 - Giuseppe Luisi, Banfi Vintners
February 2014 - Sal and Michael DeSapio, Viaggi Italiani
January 2014 - Catherine Sprague, Pianist, Author
November 2013 - Bill Deni, Sal and Michael DeSapio: Italian Travels
October 2013 - Sam Faiello: Public Relations Professional, Novelist
September 2013 - Andre' DiMino: A National Leader of the Italian American Community
June 2013 - Carmen Jon: Singer, Entertainer; Scholarship Awards Night
May 2013 - Charles Haas: Titanic Historian
April 2013 - Mike Manella,
March 2013 - Al Notabartolo: Engineer, Brick-Oven Pizza Guru
February 2013 - Anthony Del Aversano: Entrepreneur, Author: "It's Gravy, not Sauce!"
January 2013 - Donna Arold: Inn Keeper, Entrepreneur
November 2012 - Andrea Dente: Search & Rescue Dog Trainer/Handler
October 2012 - Santi Buscemi: Author, Translator, Professor
September 2012 - Mark Di Ionno: Award-winning Columnist
Update 04-16-2013: Star-Ledger Columnist Mark Di Ionno named a Pulitzer Finalist
June 2012 - Introducing Honorary Members: Carmen S. Paterniti and Sal Lazzarroti;
Scholarship Awards Night
May 2012 - Dr. Mary Ann Re: Receives Special Honor
April 2012 - Barbara-Jo Cruczek: Trumpeter
March 2012 - Marlene Iaciofano: Gourmet Getaways
February 2012 - Donna Longo Reynolds: Herbalist
January 2012 - AnnaMarie Prinsloo: Manager at Livingston Farms
November 2011 - Andrea Barbaria: Italian Consul
June 2011 - Bob Marino: Singer/Entertainer; Scholarship Awards Night
May 2011 - Vicki Vasilopoulos: Director/Producer
April 2011 - Jonathan Yalenti of Benfatto Coffee
March 2011 - Dr. Felice Caldarella: MD, FACE, MDE, FACP
February 2011 - Guy DeSapio: Author, Poet: "I Have His Letters Still"
June 2010 - Dan Torrone, aka "Dr. D"; Scholarship Awards Night
May 2010 - John Paolini: Paolini Cast Stone, Inc.
April 2010 - Vincenzo Sagari: Vias Imports
March 2010 - Spencer Peck: Coinage of the Roman Republic
February 2010 - Carl Carabelli: President, Italian American National Hall of Fame
May 2009 - Dan Torrone, aka "Dr. D"
April 2009 - Sam Faiello:- The Rocky Road to a Novel
March 2009 - Tenor James Valenti
November 2008 - Wines from Italy
June 2006 - Scholarship Awards Night
May 2006 - Greg Napolitan: Chainsaw Artist
April 2006 - Anthony Carabelli, Jr.: Director and Public Relations for NJ State Italian Commission
March 2006 - What Does it Mean to be a Second or Third Generation Italian-American?
February 2006 - Biography of Bishop John Smith
January 2006 - NJ's Treasure Trove of Italian and Italian-American History
November 2005 - Our Own Sal Megna!
October 2005 - Teresa D'Errico of Colavita, USA
About our logo
During Sal Lazzarotti's tenure as President of the IAHC, he skillfully created our Club logo. If you look closely, not only does it contain the Italian and American flag colors, it also contains the letters "I" and "A" further denoting pride for our Italian and American heritages. )
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Italian American Heritage Club of Hunterdon County PO Box 2466 Flemington, NJ 08822 |
Keeping our Pride, Celebrating our Culture, Remembering our Past