tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37470108354771565822024-03-13T21:09:24.982-07:00Tony Mafia, the painterTumbleweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867259940208471963noreply@blogger.comBlogger361125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-32340533518566789772015-11-30T02:28:00.000-08:002015-12-24T01:55:55.452-08:00A 1972 whimsical painting by Tony Mafia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Once in while small miracles happen like with this painting. A friend of Iris bought a closed storage shed and upon opening they found this painting by Tony Mafia. Iris fell in love with it and bought it. I am glad I can show this earlier work which must have been painted when his kids were still small. Probably this is a Los Angeles painting. If anybody knows more, please e-mail me at 4th-plum@skynet.be All information is welcome.<br />
After a call for more information Anne, Soren and Rike's mother, once married to Tony, wrote that the painting was done at their home. Thanks for that information.<br />
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<br />Tumbleweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867259940208471963noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-70251754758118822412015-01-19T00:34:00.000-08:002015-01-19T00:34:06.501-08:00A new brief testimony by Bonnie KarlyleI met Tony in the early 60's when I was helping out another Tony, one of the owner's at Martoni's Restaurant in Hollywood. Tony had painted a mural on the wall. We hung out for a few months. At the time I was a model and inspiring actress and Tony wanted to paint my pictures but after many tries he wasn't happy with what he came up with and we gave up with my sittings. I remember a very soulful, sweet tortured man. I never did keep any of his tries at my painting.<br />RIP Tony.<br />Karen Conrad aka Bonnie Karlyle Tumbleweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867259940208471963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-76700702964932888572014-08-04T00:26:00.000-07:002014-08-04T00:26:30.244-07:00August 4 1931<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vVcvozHbe5Y/U980dcd3EvI/AAAAAAAAEgk/UKidV9hf36w/s1600/P1050727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vVcvozHbe5Y/U980dcd3EvI/AAAAAAAAEgk/UKidV9hf36w/s1600/P1050727.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a>Yes, today is Tony's birthday. born August 4th, 1931 in Chicago. He is still missed by many, thanks to this blog some old friends contact me and tell their stories, share their memories.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wxj-X1J_R7M/U980g864zzI/AAAAAAAAEgs/lv6Rub1gH4Y/s1600/P1050735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wxj-X1J_R7M/U980g864zzI/AAAAAAAAEgs/lv6Rub1gH4Y/s1600/P1050735.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a> These two painting are in Sharon's house, in Chloride,Arizona: a tear running down a cheek and a rusted pan with with some harlequins. Tony sometimes just needed to paint and then what ever material he found he would paint on it. I am glad these works are still around. Tumbleweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867259940208471963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-1696505102513600172014-06-12T01:53:00.000-07:002014-06-12T01:53:07.225-07:00Hospital - heart trouble<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H1G13TGL5ZQ/Sbq4PbAMm4I/AAAAAAAACEo/EQ4teGLCMY8/s1600-h/hospital2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H1G13TGL5ZQ/Sbq4PbAMm4I/AAAAAAAACEo/EQ4teGLCMY8/s320/hospital2.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312761285523053442" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 212px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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Tony had heart trouble, it seems since 1981 in my memory. So he regularly ended up in hospital. there are several pen and ink drawings he made portraying nurses. Probably he gave away most of these portraits to the nurses who were kind to him. So just a little drawing, unsigned and not dated.Tumbleweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867259940208471963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-72424066666631961042014-06-12T01:07:00.000-07:002014-06-12T01:07:38.766-07:00The medicine circle and the bike<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Tony had a hard time doing nothing, in 1992 he had build a swimming pool in a wooden coral. it turned out that as soon as when we went shopping kids would jump into it, unsupervised obviously. As a consequence we had to tear it down, gave the pool to a neighbor with kids and used the coral to fence in my two griffons. The pool left this wonderful impression in the dust and Tony decided to make a medicine circle out of it. He put all kinds of good stuff under the cement: salt, corn and such. The bike project was probably in 1995. He gave this bike to a dear friend Dale who unfortunately crashed with rather severe consequences for himself. Bill Hamilton found Dale in the desert and got him and the bike home. <br />
<br />Tumbleweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867259940208471963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-77756547103546875642014-06-09T23:58:00.000-07:002014-06-12T01:09:17.261-07:00The pondTHE POND<br />
<br />
<br />
Morning in Hoboken. Light meets me again, the light<br />
of long languid days at the pond near Lawrence Hall.<br />
Oh, eight again in the orphanage of Chicago!<br />
(My Cherokee daddy took a deadly drink of acid,<br />
run-down by the taunting sneers about his lineage.)<br />
<br />
All the time of the world. I and the boys never plan,<br />
it all happens to us of itself, like one day<br />
just being dropped here of itself. It is a tacit covenant:<br />
misery we drown together in this secret pond<br />
in the middle of the woods. All our senses sharp.<br />
<br />
All gradations of green circle the glade where clouds<br />
touch water, pink veils brought in by the wind.<br />
I hear yesteryear’s sounds: the song of redwing and hummingbird<br />
blending with our high voices of boys and the diving,<br />
the breaking and splashing of water. We looking for water turtles.<br />
<br />
Briefly eight again in the orphanage, but the screeching<br />
of the seagulls brings me back. Winter in Hoboken.<br />
Fog collars me now. Singularly touches me,<br />
mutes colors and sounds. People hurry by, numbed and lost <br />
deep in themselves. It is the restraint that strikes me here: <br />
<br />
of the light hardly showing color, of the pigeon on the branch in the mist,<br />
of nothing still stirring, of sound we gave a name but continues<br />
to stutter strangely in the ears and, if at last the sun breaks through,<br />
the shifting of shadow and light. It is my heart that is touched here.<br />
Years and years beyond words.<br />
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<br />Tumbleweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867259940208471963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-69623015915780955832014-06-09T03:59:00.000-07:002014-06-09T03:59:01.933-07:00Painting a clown on a trapeze in Chloride<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This painting was done in 1998 in the front room of the gas station. The first beginning is at the top left, the second phase, botom left near the end when the light was getting low. For good measure sake also look at the smaller pallet he used and the freshness of the colors on it. He always used oil paint never acrylic. It sadly was Tony's last summer in Arizona... If you click on the picture it should get bigger.<br /><br />Tumbleweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867259940208471963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-87584863336106505582013-11-15T08:47:00.002-08:002013-11-15T08:51:04.928-08:00A painted door<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In Chloride, Sharon shared her paintings she had from Tony Mafia. She loves horses and thus when Tony did the painting on her door he portrayed her on a galloping horse in the left top corner. In the full length portrait she is holding two dolls.<br />
Tony wrote: How beautiful she rides and signed it. The painting was done in 1990. <br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BFIMSfTGrcY/UoZO711t2QI/AAAAAAAAEL8/g-2m72yRdt0/s1600/P1050710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BFIMSfTGrcY/UoZO711t2QI/AAAAAAAAEL8/g-2m72yRdt0/s320/P1050710.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<br />Tumbleweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867259940208471963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-24017705453966486422013-08-07T09:26:00.001-07:002013-11-15T08:49:33.338-08:00Picture by Barbara.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here is a photo of the drawing which I purchased while a student at the University of Miami in 1969.<br />
I love it and have cherished it all these years. It's a mother with her two babies. Was this his wife and <br />
children?<br />
Enjoy,<br />
Barb P<br />
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Thank you Barbara. By the way: did you ever meet Tony? If you did, do you have any memories. I like the drawing you send. It looks like a pen and ink drawing. In 1969 his little son Sören was a couple of month's old. When Tony and Anna Mors left for the USA on January 14, they left a lot of the bigger items for me to use for my daughter: I remember a plastic bath tub and some bits and pieces. It did help because nobody among us had money in those days. I don't know when Anna got pregnant with their daughter. I seem to remember she was born in autumn in 1970. So Tony may have anticipated his daughter in this drawing. To me this drawing looks like a child with two dolls... See, art is always open to different readings. I have been told that the family has lived for a while in Miami. I think he did teach art there for a while. Not sure.<br />
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Thanks for sharing.<br />
<br />Tumbleweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867259940208471963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-2369364810098048012013-08-06T10:32:00.000-07:002013-08-06T10:33:45.230-07:00A comment by Christopher Vipond DaviesHe writes: I knew Tony back in 1965 in Paris. We played and sang together in a would be cowboy bar. I had left Britain a few months before to "find myself" and in St Tropez I had found I could make a basic living singing in the cafes. After moving north to work in the champagne harvest I gravitated to Paris. At that time, I didn't have a large repertoire and probably wasn't so good, especially at handling people who requested songs I didn't know. The boss like Tony but had reservations about me, but Tony insisted we were a pair. "I’m Just a Country Boy" - Music by Fred Brooks, Lyrics by Marshall Barer - written for Harry Belafonte and now associated most with Don Williams was a favourite song of his, he played in with a rising chord sequence. He wanted to go to Spain, I wasn't sure, and we parted, shortly later I went to Italy. I've always remembered him, also his great art, in those days I remember mainly ink drawings with colour was, a very immediate impression of a moment a place. I was very sad when I Googled him some time ago to find he'd passed on, but happy to find him so comprehensively remembered. I was reminded of him again last Saturday: I was singing n the street in Amsterdam, where I live, not far from the Rembrandthuis and an artist stopped to chat, and mentioned he'd known Deroll Adams who I read had known Tony, and all the memories came flooding back. Am working on finishing a song about him, based on Country Boy, wanna sing it on Tuesday at a meeting celebrating the UN Day of Friendship.<br />
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Thank you Christopher for this nice testimony. Tumbleweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867259940208471963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-45923979715210350462013-05-20T05:58:00.001-07:002013-05-20T05:58:44.592-07:00An other Tony Mafia painting on e-bay<br />
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This painting by Tony is currently for sale on e-bay I guess it is late sixties, early seventies and typical for the way he painted in thouse years. And yes he loved his guitars and pretty girls. I do like the background and the suggestion of choppy stones, the iron bars for the window and the women in red in the back... Charming.</div>
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It is signed but I find no date on it and yes it is oil on canvas.</div>
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Tumbleweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867259940208471963noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-87622075508076853362013-04-02T03:10:00.001-07:002013-04-27T03:42:21.177-07:00Bullshit Cowboy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cGwQ-XiLt-Q/UVqtN2hMCZI/AAAAAAAAD-E/gOx_qdLVLyo/s1600/IMG_0088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cGwQ-XiLt-Q/UVqtN2hMCZI/AAAAAAAAD-E/gOx_qdLVLyo/s320/IMG_0088.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Here is a photo of Ben's Tony Mafia he wants to sell. My suggestion would be to post one of them with the accompanying message, that 'Here is a Tony Mafia painting that is being offered for sale. The owner is a friend of Tony's who is himself an artist/craftsman, and helped us considerably in the renovation of our US residence. He is facing severe medical problems, and is being forced 'to liquidate some of my treasures', as he said. He is asking 700 U$, which is a very fair price. I agreed to put it up for sale here on Tony's site, and handle the details for him. I will offer it for sale until 1 July, at which time the highest bidder over $700, will be the new owner. This is one of Tony's whimsical painting that everybody loves. He loved to hate the painting, hence the title. It stood in the Tennessee Saloon for a long time and yes one day Tony gave it to Ben. It is not the best picture but in enlarging it you'll recognize Tony's strokes and landscape. And by the way, Tony did have red boots... By the way in the meantime Ben Herbst sold the painting. May the new owner be happy with it.Tumbleweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867259940208471963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-47189548867975729382013-02-28T11:04:00.000-08:002013-02-28T11:05:27.409-08:00Clowns in Amsterdam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AneuMYuPQzA/US-oOzoVpBI/AAAAAAAAD8c/qnlYVqVRDlc/s1600/Mafia+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AneuMYuPQzA/US-oOzoVpBI/AAAAAAAAD8c/qnlYVqVRDlc/s320/Mafia+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I was contacted through a comment on this blog and asked to send a picture and some extra information. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">So <span style="font-size: small;">Hans wrote</span>: <span style="font-size: small;">H</span>ereby a picture of the Clown. I haven't got a photo of<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>Winnie the Pooh, as it is currently with my daughter in the UK. I did not<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>meet <span style="font-size: small;">Tony</span> personally, but a friend of mine met him in a bar in Amsterdam and<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>I bought these two works via him in 63/64. He seemed a bit down and out at<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>the time, so I heard. I am prepared to sell. Kind regards, Hans.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I think this is a pastel drawing. I would be interested to<span style="font-size: small;"> know it's size and whether it is be<span style="font-size: small;">ind glass. Tony was in love with the circus and did several drawings and large oils about that theme.</span></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">So if you are <span style="font-size: small;">interested</span> in <span style="font-size: small;">acquiring</span> this piece, send a comment and <span style="font-size: small;">I</span>'ll get you in touch with Hans. </span><br />
<br />Tumbleweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867259940208471963noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-7509104657050992762012-08-11T00:36:00.001-07:002012-08-11T00:38:35.517-07:00The Whiskey A Go Go and Tony MafiaThank you John for the additional information provided by your mam. I gladly post it here:<br />
<br />
"Your Dad does seem to remember buying this painting from him because he really needed to eat, and was willing to sell them for about $100. Knowing your dad, it's hard for me to believe in the 1950's or 60's he would spend $100 for a painting. A hundred dollars was a LOT of money then. But on the other hand, he had just done Al Capone, so maybe he was. He members Tony was at Schwabs Drug Store, on Sunset and Laurel, where everyone in the industry went for breakfast or lunch to maybe make a connection or be "discovered." He thinks Tony was there because he was sort of an actor. But reading about the Whisky, I think Dad's story made sense because Schwabs was the day-time place, and the Whisky was at night. "<br />
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This information corroborates Tony's stories about that period of his life. Dale Root also remembers <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisky_a_Go_Go">Tony doing the first Go Go cage</a>s at the Whiskey A Go Go. And yes he was kind of an actor being in a few Perry Mason issues. At the Whiskey there was supposedly also a painting hung with the back of the painting to the front and only one way of seeing it when one went to the bathroom. Also it should be repeated here that Tony did present many of the hootenannies at the Troubadour in the sixties and was part of the group "The men". I sat in a conversation when <a href="http://www.achromatopsia.info/john-kay-achromatopsia/">Steppenwolf</a> came to Laughlin, Nevada between Danny and Tony remembering the Doug Weston and Troubadour days. Tony used to tell me that John Kay always lost his glasses on stage, glasses he absolutely needed.<br />
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John,I thank you for your efforts and I am afraid I learned more from you than you learned from the blog...Tumbleweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867259940208471963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-78294437697618087302012-08-09T13:19:00.000-07:002012-08-09T13:23:46.368-07:00A girl from the sixties<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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John wrote: I've attached a photo of the painting. I'm trying to get in touch with my Dad to see if he remembers Tony or how he acquired the painting. He used to barter with a lot of the artists in Venice Beach and Santa Monica in the 50s and 60s. If he has any stories, I'll be sure to pass them on.<br />
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The painting itself was either in my parent's home or one of their friends I stayed with as a young child. It used to scare my sister and me a LOT! When I grew older, it had a very nostalgic feel to it and when I saw it in storage I HAD to have it. I always thought it should have been -- or maybe even was -- used in Rod Serling's "Night Gallery" TV series.<br />
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I would LOVE to know more about this painting. If you have any information, I would be very appreciative.<br />
Dear John, it really looks like a nice sixties painting.<br />
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Rod Sterling's name was mentioned by Tony. he also said that many paintings were used on sets for TV or films. If you have a chance to see 'Story of a hit man' with Jack Palance, you would see many paintings from that period. And banter on the beach seems just right. There was a family in the seventies who paid for his ticket from Antwerp to LA on the occasion of their 300st painting by Tony... That too would be a story to follow up on.<br />
<br />
<br />Tumbleweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867259940208471963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-35053993288285453362012-05-31T22:19:00.000-07:002012-06-04T03:15:26.845-07:00Lady with a banjo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ikWbCRXKRaA/T8ejUgvgyvI/AAAAAAAADbQ/OcV32ZB6Fi4/s1600/IMG_0793.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ikWbCRXKRaA/T8ejUgvgyvI/AAAAAAAADbQ/OcV32ZB6Fi4/s320/IMG_0793.jpeg" width="223" /></a></div>
<br />
Laura was kind enough to send this picture and the following text:<br />
<br />
I grew up with this painting in my home. My father bought it and another similar one of a woman and baby years and years ago. We live in L.A., and it is in a similar style to the Torero painting on the blog. So, I'm assuming from the same time as that one? <br />
<br />
it is on canvas. 24" x 36". as is the other one.<br />
<br />
Dear Laura, thanks for sending this picture and your story with it. To my best knowledge I would place this painting at an early sixties. He was still in a rather decorative phase with big eyes. Yet the background already shows many characteristics of his later work: the abstract flowers, the small doll like figure and the red abstractions. It certainly is a nice piece. I am wondering however that on the picture I can't see a signature nor a date, which is rather unusual.<br />
<br />
PS. Laura send me the picture of the signature which she had cropped off and it certainly is his handwriting.Tumbleweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867259940208471963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-64308171699455390752012-05-25T00:55:00.001-07:002013-08-07T09:30:57.941-07:00The Circus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xR2xGt1A7GI/T782_XgFY_I/AAAAAAAAACA/TWiHwY400Qk/s1600/circus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" qba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xR2xGt1A7GI/T782_XgFY_I/AAAAAAAAACA/TWiHwY400Qk/s320/circus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Tony lived in the circus, saw the circus and was the circus.<br />
He was half cowboy and half Indian, a man from "Faraway"<br />
a creative creation of humanity.<br />
He lived under a tent of friendship with mainly poets, buskers,<br />
hearts with a message and clowns.<br />
He didn't like preachy people and politics and was not a man<br />
of compromises.<br />
He knew that grown-ups were nothing more than full grown children <br />
and he remained young until the end.<br />
<br />
Watercolor, Antwerp, 1983zonnepithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747154883928571918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-10366539973124423072012-05-17T07:14:00.001-07:002013-08-07T09:34:53.407-07:00Spain-Espania<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jngirKwMnUI/T7UFduzh5eI/AAAAAAAAAB0/GgaqaMixLZI/s1600/Spain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jngirKwMnUI/T7UFduzh5eI/AAAAAAAAAB0/GgaqaMixLZI/s400/Spain.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>
<br />
Tony was in love with Spain.<br />
He resonated with the vibrations of the duende of the flamenco.<br />
He felt the sorrow of the civil war in his heart.<br />
The bloody rain in this masterpiece is a witness of this sentiment.<br />
<br />
Yet there us a sheepherder with a staff, in Andalousia. Maybe it was also about caring. Dreaming about a kind woman. Missing Spain.<br />
He lived for half a year in Casares, Andalusia. A strange town, where the three witches in black still brew their potions...<br />
<br />
Antwerpen 1987zonnepithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747154883928571918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-53455185474158785472012-03-18T02:30:00.000-07:002012-03-18T02:30:58.452-07:00The Juggler<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lmht5KoMO3I/T2OCFX-b0_I/AAAAAAAAABs/zx2OervkXkw/s1600/The+Jugler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lmht5KoMO3I/T2OCFX-b0_I/AAAAAAAAABs/zx2OervkXkw/s320/The+Jugler.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I fear I hear the Juggler<br />
near the crying juggled<br />
and all the time my world<br />
is but a still yesterday<br />
<br />
Tony<br />
mixed media on German etching paper 1988- definitely a distorted self portrait... Is it about a love lost, a mess up in his life or fear and thus fear of death... Beauty drinks from deep and dark sources sometimes.zonnepithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747154883928571918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-28980464667081202602012-02-27T01:29:00.001-08:002012-02-27T01:33:05.233-08:00Bieke's painting and memories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zm3XN5ajfyM/T0tMMat6RfI/AAAAAAAAC8g/YkdUCidZ8qA/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zm3XN5ajfyM/T0tMMat6RfI/AAAAAAAAC8g/YkdUCidZ8qA/s320/048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 43.2pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">When I was a young one, living in Antwerp, I fell in with a group of American expats. We all were drawn to The Folkcenter and The Matthijs, where Tony, Deroll Adams, and Norris held court. Those were the years when I took a little dip in the waters of folk singing myself but soon found out that I didn’t have the nerves to be a performer.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 43.2pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So, I crawled back into my pen. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 43.2pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Then I went and lived in England for a year. Tony went off somewhere. When I returned to Antwerp, he had come back as well. He would come and visit me and I would spend hours listening to his stories. He also played guitar for my baby son, who has grown into quite an accomplished guitarist. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 43.2pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">One day, talking to Tony, I told him I was looking for a gift for my parents. The next time we met, he presented me with this painting of a mother and child. When I wanted to pay him, he refused the money. That was Tony: a golden heart, a wonderful painter, and a great story teller both with his guitar and with words.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 43.2pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I left for Canada, after that. He went god knows where. One day, about thirty years ago, I happened upon him as he was busking somewhere in Antwerp. Still Tony, still doing the same thing, still true to his inner voice. We talked for a while. Then a good ten years later, I was visiting Antwerp again and there he was again, at the same spot, busking. It wasn’t as if he had been there all that time. No, he had just come back from the States and I was there, as usual, for a short visit and on a rare occasion when I was not being driven by a family member. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 43.2pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It was one of those wonderful twists of fate.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 43.2pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">This time he invited me to visit with him and, that evening, I reconnected with Annmarie, whom I hadn’t seen since those youthful days of the Folkcenter. I must say that I feel privileged to have known this man and to have called him my friend.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 43.2pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> And I am delighted to be able to visit with him on this blog.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 43.2pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 43.2pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Bieke Stengos (Cammaert)</span></div>Tumbleweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867259940208471963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-80350857507626050212012-02-20T10:29:00.001-08:002012-02-23T00:24:40.176-08:00Trail of tears<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h7EL74v-BEw/T0KI-hdrALI/AAAAAAAAABM/azuhMz1btrM/s1600/Trail+of+tears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h7EL74v-BEw/T0KI-hdrALI/AAAAAAAAABM/azuhMz1btrM/s320/Trail+of+tears.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nunna daul Isunyi</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">High mountans over the land of our fathers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">were good to die</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_LxvP635Qb8/T0KKhk49DHI/AAAAAAAAABc/LnVaPtjUYRc/s320/Tears+1838+2.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1838 Tears from my people</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Miv4N4We-k/T0KK94BSkWI/AAAAAAAAABk/viewkDwBIP0/s1600/Amazing+Grace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Miv4N4We-k/T0KK94BSkWI/AAAAAAAAABk/viewkDwBIP0/s320/Amazing+Grace.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Singing "Amazig Grace" untill the end.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mIgwSv9434E/T0KJ7eQVgwI/AAAAAAAAABU/4s4QR_z3uPM/s1600/native+future.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mIgwSv9434E/T0KJ7eQVgwI/AAAAAAAAABU/4s4QR_z3uPM/s320/native+future.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Saving the native future on the way to Oklahoma</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tony was partial Cherokee on his fathers side and was interested in all things Native American. His brother Bill found in Blythe,California a bunch of black and white pottery shards, older than black and white shards known before. He often felt unaccepted by other Native Americans, being rather fair skinned. He cherished his history however. This painting is a mixed medium: oil and pastels. He has done many other paintings about The trail of Tears. This wonderful drawing is in Antwerp, other pieces are in the USA.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tony Mafia</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Antwerpen 1983</div>zonnepithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747154883928571918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-14739064682968464142012-02-19T00:57:00.000-08:002013-08-07T09:41:33.119-07:00Muziekdoos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nIoACITwWio/T0CxMMeht4I/AAAAAAAAABE/dzJ7aKTs2x0/s1600/Muziek+Doos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nIoACITwWio/T0CxMMeht4I/AAAAAAAAABE/dzJ7aKTs2x0/s400/Muziek+Doos.jpg" width="400" yda="true" /></a></div>
<br />
Zo lang geleden<br />
Tony was my friend,and has been my inspiration ever since we shared a life in Antwerp with Tommy<br />
and Sonja,Robin Rowley, Mieke and Eric, the two Ingrids,Vivien, Fidler John, Callum, Paddy Tinsley,<br />
Vera of the mural wall, Frederica and the kids......the nights at Etiene's "Muziekdoos", the Billekletser <br />
where I cooked, Dave Greerley, Scots Greg.......six memorable years on another planet, zo lang<br />
geleden...........<br />
<br />
As I now tell of that time to my teenage daughter, she finds that whacky world all hard to believe.<br />
She trawls the Internet and returns yelling "it's all true, I found Tony Mafia" I am indebted to her I.T.<br />
skills to help me with this blogpost.<br />
<br />
I heard of Derrols death on the radio just a couple of years ago, and of Tony's just last night.<br />
For those of you who are still out there - please contact me -<br />
<a href="mailto:mike@thegreatyokshiredragon.com">mike@thegreatyokshiredragon.com</a><br />
I am one of a team that run a mad venue in Hull, come visit <a href="http://www.facebook.com/hullboathouse">www.facebook.com/hullboathouse</a><br />
<br />
Mike Stone<br />
This nice drawing is from 1982, pen and ink, Antwerp<br />
It shows the buskers, with banjo, flute<br />
The text reads: Just a bit more shit, but I must start somewhere...<br />
<br />zonnepithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747154883928571918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-23688183772712753832012-02-17T08:13:00.000-08:002013-08-07T09:43:26.632-07:00Mother and child<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RAizX8Z0mlM/Tz58T7as6iI/AAAAAAAAAA8/4YYdHbsTc3A/s1600/mother+and+child.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RAizX8Z0mlM/Tz58T7as6iI/AAAAAAAAAA8/4YYdHbsTc3A/s320/mother+and+child.jpg" width="249" yda="true" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Watercolor, Antwerp, 1983<br />
Flowers and field... <br />
zonnepithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747154883928571918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-33928110744132848872012-02-13T11:14:00.001-08:002012-02-23T00:27:10.699-08:00Guapa de Anversa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AHNqVOi05BE/TzzMavyOWEI/AAAAAAAAAA0/r1cCEVMc_UA/s1600/Guapa+de+Anversa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AHNqVOi05BE/TzzMavyOWEI/AAAAAAAAAA0/r1cCEVMc_UA/s320/Guapa+de+Anversa.jpg" width="252" yda="true" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Found where she was lost<br />
Waiting for you<br />
in tenderness and blue<br />
<br />
<br />
Oil 1992, painted in the Kloosterstraat.zonnepithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747154883928571918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747010835477156582.post-58303724796276137982012-02-06T11:16:00.001-08:002012-02-23T00:30:11.861-08:00End of Romance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kBsP_k6A1ik/TzAkRFDLl7I/AAAAAAAAAAk/WB0zupxNzj0/s1600/SIMG0695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" sda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kBsP_k6A1ik/TzAkRFDLl7I/AAAAAAAAAAk/WB0zupxNzj0/s320/SIMG0695.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Tony was an artist with a restless soul.<br />
Whenever he was confronted with challenges and setbacks he found consolation in his home country.<br />
Every time he left he had to say goodbye to a lover and this was food for his creativity and work.<br />
This painting shows the unbearable pain and sorrow of saying goodbye.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Y2q_T0Kco4/TzAkFrDyCeI/AAAAAAAAAAc/sRdEXzEosmg/s1600/SIMG0694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Y2q_T0Kco4/TzAkFrDyCeI/AAAAAAAAAAc/sRdEXzEosmg/s320/SIMG0694.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>Oil painting 1983, Antwerp, in the distress of a break upzonnepithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747154883928571918noreply@blogger.com0