Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Mexican indepence


That was title under which this picture of a double multi media drawing came to me. It is a pity I can't read the text, nor the date. It is a lovely piece, done in Antwerp, with oil and pastels on the typical heavy German paper he loved to use and of course a landscape in the background. There is one other oil on canvas with pyramids. You'll find it on the blog under pigs and pyramids.
Who knows more, I wrote yesterday and see, I was send a better picture and a tentative reading of the text.: So they sent there war and the venrion???? on our dislove. Lay next to lovers as the sky bled...

See the green snake of envy?

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Matter and no matter


I have seen similar etchings by Tony Mafia, etchings probably done early seventies in LA. He would moisten the etching paper and imprint the forms he needed to complete the etching on the plates, thus combining figurative art and abstract art. I always liked that technique. These etchings too can be acquired through:


Jeannie Ott, located in Las Vegas
jott777@cox.net
702-450-3288
I hope all the work finds a loving home.


^

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Antwerp Jews

These two etchings are from Antwerp when Tony Mafia lived in the Korte Herentalse straat in the Jewish quarter, in 1969, leaving Antwerp with his then wife Anna and their two children half of January. Tony Mafia was fascinated by the different appearances. I seem to remember there were four different etchings in all. I saw the smallest one, not included here, being priced at $ 125 in 1979 in his Gallery in Los Angeles. Sorry I forgot the name of the Gallery.
If you're interested contact: jott777@cox.net
702-450-3288
She is located in Las Vegas

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

A Las Vegas offer

 This lighthearted watercolor drawing is from the late sixties and has spend its life in Las Vegas
 This mother and child, pen and ink drawing was made in 1977. Tony often depicted these intimate scenes. here it is a young Mexican boy.
Two lovers in pen and ink...
The lady who contacted me wrote:
Hi, I hope you can help me sell my terrific Tony Mafia art work, If you know anyone collecting Tony Mafia please pass on my message and pictures. I'll send sizes if there is interest. Trusting the pictures arrive open as I'm sending them.  I must down size, and sell now.
 Thank you for your time and consideration .
sincerely Jeannie Ott

jott777@cox.net
702-450-3288
I'm located in Las Vegas

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Some one is selling a Tony Mafia at Campo en Campo

auction lot : 175


MAFIA TONY

De cyclus van het leven.
Le cycle de la vie
Gemengde techniek. Technique mixte/papier. .
Get. Sig. 1983 3 x 106 x 77 cm

5000/6000




previous lot These tree drawings are called the Cycle of life.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Aldo's Memory


 The attached picture sets the clock back with 27 years and takes us to – probably-  the most favorite place in the world of any 5-year-old; the city fair.
Seated in Tony Maffia’s neck, I stare at yellow, plastic ducklings which are swimming in a water bassin of one of Antwerp’s “finest” carnival stands.
The prices, which we can gain by catching as many ducklings as possible, are extremely big and colorful , almost disproportional to what we are asked to do in exchange for receiving such a trophee.  
The ducklings have challenged us. We both feel the adrenaline rushing through our vains and, as we take a deep breath, we know which adventure lies ahead of us.
I guess this best gives words to what I thought of Tony. In my eyes he was never the person I see on the picture today; a white-haired man at least fifty years older than I was.
Rather, I saw him as a contemporary and an accomplice who was ready to discover the world with me. At the time, I was too young to relate my fellow adventurer Tony to ‘Tony Mafia’, the painter. He was extremely young at heart and always ready to share both my happiness and sorrow.
 As I grew older, I realized that Tony had captured our mutual spirit for discovery in his paintings.
To this day, every painting of Tony remains a discovery to me; in color, in pattern and story. Every time I look at one of Tony’s works, I notice something different. Every time I stare at his paintings, I see something new.
And, like the picture attached,  such a painting takes me back 27 years in time. Back to being that 5-year-old boy, ready to catch as many fair ducklings as he can.    

Aldo de Pape
Thank you so much Aldo!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Ken Post's Tony song

TONY MAFIA



HE WAS PAINTING                      
ON THE STREETS OF PARIS 
HENRI MATISSE PASSED HIS 
WAY IF YOU KEEP ON PAINTING 
LIKE THAT YOU LL BECOME A 
MASTER ONE DAY

AND HE DID BECOME A MASTER 
BUT  YOU ’ VE NEVER HEARD HIS
NAME HE MUST HAVE BEEN BORN
UNDER AN OBSCURE STAR
 BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE HE 
STAYED

WIH THE INTENSITY OF   A 
TOREADOR POISED WITH 
PALETTE AND BRUSH  DANCING 
IN FRONT OF THE CANVAS 
PAINTING WITH A LUSH TOUCH

MIGHT BE A LYRICAL PORTRAIT 
OR A COMPLEX STORY              
ONE DAY HE SPUN AROUND     
AND HE TOLD ANNMARIE 
REMEMBER ME 
BY MY BRUSH STROKES

HE LOVED A ROLLICKING DIRTY 
DITTY AND A PASSIONATE 
SPANISH STRUM 
IF YOU TOLD HIM
YOU LIKED HIS SHIRT HE’ D TAKE 
IT OFF AND GET A NEW ONE

I’ M IN THE COLLECTIONS OF 
SINATRA AND THE ENGLISH 
QUEEN HE’ D SAY THEN GO OUT
AND SING FOR HIS  SUPPER , 
BUSKING IN THE
REMAINS OF THE DAY

WHY SOME BECOME
RICH AND FAMOUS IS A 
CURIOUS THING TO SPECULATE 
WE ALL HAVE OUR INDIVIDUAL 
MAGNIFICENCE AND THEN
ITS UP TO FATE

SOME ARE BORN                         
IN THE BACK OF TAXI CABS 
OTHERS IN STABLES  
ON BALES OF HAY       
TONY WAS BORN              
ON A POOL TABLE IN LAS VEGAS 
WHEN HIS MAMA DROPPED HIM                        
BEHIND THE 8 BALL

BORN BETWEEN THE IRISH      
AND THE CHEROKEE              
LIVING BETWEEN THE DESERT 
OF ARIZONA AND THE SWAMP 
OF ANTWERPEN BELGIE

SCATTERING HIS SEED AND
SPATTERING HIS PAINTS 
 LIVING IN THE PRESENT 
WITHOUT RESTRAINTS

SO RUMORS OF TONY ’S  DEMISE 
CIRCULATED EVERY FEW YEARS 
BUT WHEN HE DIED IN ‘99 THE 
STORIES OF HIS EXPLOITS 
BROUGHT LAUGHTER AND TEARS

ANNMARIE TOOK HIM BACK TO
THE DESERT WHERE THEY 
LOWERED HIM INTO THE EARTH
THEN ALL WATCHED AS THE 
WIND PICKED UP , SWIRLED & 
CARRIED HIS SPIRIT BACK TO 
THE PLACE BEFORE HIS BIRTH


 Thank you Ken for your testimony.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Dan

I remember Tony talking about working with gold and silver. I never saw  one of the pieces he did. Dan wrote: Tony gave me silver and gold ring in 1968. I didn't have it long before some SOB stole it from me. I should have taken better care of my gift.

Please Dan tell me more  about what you remember and know about Tony. If you have pictures of his work or from himself please mail them to fourthandplum@hotmail.com

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Tony's jewelry


Melinda wrote me following comment on Tnry's blog: Hi, I purchased a wonderful huge unsigned chunky Sterling Silver ring that I was told was made by Tony Mafia. The people I purchased it from said that they personally knew him and that it was probably the only piece of jewelry that he made. It is cast and abstract. It has a man and woman's head on it. The man has a large mustache. Do you have any idea if this story could be true? If so, any idea of value? If you know anything or would like a picture do contact me. So I did because I truly believe it is a piece done by Tony. He used to have a metal box in which he had jewelry making tools. I have seen it. I don't know whether this is the only know piece or whether he made several pieces. He has done several sculptures and the style and dealing with the material really looks it could have been a piece Tony made.
As to value, I don't really know: he used to say for a handful of love or a bag of peanuts. It is a rare piece, so to someone  collecting Tony's work it might add something special to their collection.

I remember a story of two lawyers in California who in the 70's flew him over for a party because they had their 300 st piece of work by him, even a plaster cast he made as a child. I don't know the name of these good people. Maybe someone does... Maybe there are people out there who would like to see or own more Tony Mafia's. Maybe somewhere out there, there is a Tony Mafia foundation...

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Nello's dream


Tonight there is an other meeting of the Nello's dream society and Tony will once again be remembered by his friends... He has been gone for 12 years now and he still manages to touch people.
Here a picture of Indians dreaming of dancing...

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Tony's helpers

Ah, good taste, what a dreadful thing! Taste is the enemy of creativeness. -Pablo Picasso, painter and sculptor (1881-1973.

I start with this quote because it might be felt to be not  too elegant what I am about to write. A series of people have stood steadfast by Tony Mafia's side during his life which has known many down and out periods. I want with this post to honor these friends who provided him with a means of transportation, who kept him fed, whom he cajoled when his children came to Antwerp so that he could feed them and show them a good time.
In random order I honor: Anke and Sam Nassi, who traded a painting for a car, Dale Root who gave him a very good guitar when he didn't have one, Doug Lyon who let him have his Shell gas card. This is not publicity for the oil company but it was one of the brands where one could by milk and sandwiches before it became a normal thing. He kept Tony fed during a a long time. Doug would also slip him some money. Then in Belgium Paula and Wim van Hees who ended up with a nice collection of Tony's work.  Jim Van Leemput, Guy and Anne Sijssen, the dentist who did Tony's teeth in exchange for drawing and painting classes. Arnold De Paepe, the veterinarian who would give him prescriptions for his heart medication. I should not forget the people of Antwerp who threw a coin in his guitar case when he was busking in the street, often not even making enough money for a meal in 'Het Hofke'. Friends of friends who bought a drawing, the collector Harry Kegels who has a wonderful collection of Tony's work, sometimes being given the drawings or oil, other times when Tony really needed the money  paying a fair prize. The hookers of Antwerp who made their John's buy a drawing for them and thus kept Tony's rent paid. I am sure I am forgetting people, I am sure I don't know all the people who showed kindness toward him.  Yes, he was often a starving artist, living in the dumpiest places without heat... Or alone in a tiny trailer on top of a mountain because it was only 75 $ per month. And even then loosing the land for non-payment...

These are facts.  The story of Tony's life is his story, and he told it well, stylized and lighthearted. Were they lies? I think it was  the truth as he saw it.  Other people involved in his life may have a very different take on what happened, may have had other expectations of him. He was not an easy person, yet most people who met him, where touched and came out a better person with more beauty in their soul.