Painter’s work reflects history
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News Sun – November 6, 2008
Cleveland.com/sun
Painter’s work reflects history
And those who influence it, from dictators to hurricane victims
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Caption: The mural depicts Alexandr Solzhenitsyn, left, and other influential movers and shakers. The Latin phrase on the wall translates as, “To risk one’s life for the truth; not for myself but for my country.”
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Visitors to Olmsted Falls City Hall will be treated to the realistic paintings of long-time Falls resident, Francesco Calco.
Calco painted an 8 by 5 ½ foot oil painting in tribute to Alexandr I. Solzhenitsyn, a Russian novelist whose books portrayed the tyrannies of the dictator Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Gulag. Solzhenitsyn died in Russia on August 3. Calco has read all of Solzhenitsyn’s novels and was heavily influenced by his stand against his government.
“All his books changed the whole concept of Russia,” said Calco.
“He was able to survive assassination by being so well known,” he added.
The painting at City Hall is a large landscape composed of Roman architecture and English countryside to make a very “tranquil setting.” Francesco added to the painting, other “people with similar philosophies” including: Roy Wilkins, a black Civil Rights leader before Martin Luther King, Jr., Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat who saved Jews from death trains in World War II, and the Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, among others.
“What I liked about the painting was the representation of an independent voice trying to give his opinion to the government,” said Mayor Robert Blomquist.
“People think government doesn’t listen or you can’t fight City Hall. Well, this painting shows you can,” he added.
This large painting is being displayed in addition to another portrait of Solzhenitsyn after he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970. This portrait shows scenes of novels swirling around Solzhenitsyn’s head as if it were a dream.
Calco’s paintings are interesting enough, but also interesting is the man behind the art.
Calco has been painting since his childhood living in tenements in Cleveland. He took classes at the Cleveland Institute of Art and was taught privately. In 1942 he was drafted and served in the 8th Air Force in Europe. His life during World War II was that of movies, meeting his future wife, Christina Walker, a nurse, at a dance while in London. They were married after VE Day. Francesco became a freelance artist when he returned from the war. He has four children plus grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His late wife was something of a muse to him, as he painted many portraits of her.
“A lot of the paintings I did because my wife liked them,” he said.
Calco worked at NASA for 32 years in the engineering design field. He has several U.S. patents on designs used in the space program, which was taking off in 1962, when he first started working there.
Calco paints in a very realistic style reminiscent of Renaissance painters. He finds newspaper photos, photos from magazines and landscapes that grab a certain emotional appeal from him. One recent painting is that of a mother holding her child after the aftermath cleanup of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
“I paint stuff that appeals to me no matter what it is,” he said, “if it has some character to it.”
Calco’s work is available to view online at designfrancesco.com. His Solzhenitsyn paintings are hanging in the long hallway in City Hall. Other local artists have been added to the collection.
“I encourage all residents to enjoy the talents of our fellow residents at City Hall,” said Blomquist.
Cleveland.com/sun
Painter’s work reflects history
And those who influence it, from dictators to hurricane victims
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caption: The mural depicts Alexandr Solzhenitsyn, left, and other influential movers and shakers. The Latin phrase on the wall translates as, “To risk one’s life for the truth; not for myself but for my country.”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visitors to Olmsted Falls City Hall will be treated to the realistic paintings of long-time Falls resident, Francesco Calco.
Calco painted an 8 by 5 ½ foot oil painting in tribute to Alexandr I. Solzhenitsyn, a Russian novelist whose books portrayed the tyrannies of the dictator Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Gulag. Solzhenitsyn died in Russia on August 3. Calco has read all of Solzhenitsyn’s novels and was heavily influenced by his stand against his government.
“All his books changed the whole concept of Russia,” said Calco.
“He was able to survive assassination by being so well known,” he added.
The painting at City Hall is a large landscape composed of Roman architecture and English countryside to make a very “tranquil setting.” Francesco added to the painting, other “people with similar philosophies” including: Roy Wilkins, a black Civil Rights leader before Martin Luther King, Jr., Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat who saved Jews from death trains in World War II, and the Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, among others.
“What I liked about the painting was the representation of an independent voice trying to give his opinion to the government,” said Mayor Robert Blomquist.
“People think government doesn’t listen or you can’t fight City Hall. Well, this painting shows you can,” he added.
This large painting is being displayed in addition to another portrait of Solzhenitsyn after he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970. This portrait shows scenes of novels swirling around Solzhenitsyn’s head as if it were a dream.
Calco’s paintings are interesting enough, but also interesting is the man behind the art.
Calco has been painting since his childhood living in tenements in Cleveland. He took classes at the Cleveland Institute of Art and was taught privately. In 1942 he was drafted and served in the 8th Air Force in Europe. His life during World War II was that of movies, meeting his future wife, Christina Walker, a nurse, at a dance while in London. They were married after VE Day. Francesco became a freelance artist when he returned from the war. He has four children plus grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His late wife was something of a muse to him, as he painted many portraits of her.
“A lot of the paintings I did because my wife liked them,” he said.
Calco worked at NASA for 32 years in the engineering design field. He has several U.S. patents on designs used in the space program, which was taking off in 1962, when he first started working there.
Calco paints in a very realistic style reminiscent of Renaissance painters. He finds newspaper photos, photos from magazines and landscapes that grab a certain emotional appeal from him. One recent painting is that of a mother holding her child after the aftermath cleanup of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
“I paint stuff that appeals to me no matter what it is,” he said, “if it has some character to it.”
Calco’s work is available to view online at designfrancesco.com. His Solzhenitsyn paintings are hanging in the long hallway in City Hall. Other local artists have been added to the collection.
“I encourage all residents to enjoy the talents of our fellow residents at City Hall,” said Blomquist.
