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Article Excerpts
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Independent
Journal Nov. 3, 1965- Sausalitan nominated
for award
“Sausalito artist Pat Cucaro, long considered by many as California’s leading artist, has been nominated for the Presidential Medal of Freedom for ‘exceptionally meritorious contributions to the quality of American life.’…His works have been exhibited in Marin art galleries. ‘And his paintings enrich hundreds of homes in California and elsewhere,’ said Clayton Janicki (owner of a local gallery). |
Pacific
Sun- June 4, 1966- For Oscar of the art world
by Godfrey Lehman- “What makes an artist great? First of all, he has to be controversial…Such a man as one of these has been living quietly in Marin County for the past six years. He is Pat Cucaro of Sausalito…Pat is collected by many critics and art lovers of high standing…a second factor is time…he is a man who likes nothing so much as either to paint, be in love and be left alone. He cares not so much for honors except insofar as the recognition there from widens his market and provides a large enough outlet so that he can keep on painting. He does not care to be typed or classified as being a member of any one school. ‘I am my own school,’ he says. ‘I paint Cucaro style.’ He does add a third contributory factor to the definition of ‘Great master’. The master has to paint and keep on painting- a single work by itself is not enough or even a handful. He has to have a large number of works completed so that he is known and his paintings have to be expressions of his personality and emotion, and what the artist feels...Despite the quality or amount of his output, the Cucaro studio is an interior decorator’s nightmare. His work bench is an old studio couch he used during his bachelor days. Lumpy, paint splatter and awkward, the couch serves to hold his most needed utensils and is, to him, like a soldier’s aging, battle scarred Jeep. Paint spills on the floor do as much to relieve the monotony of the 40 year old torn linoleum pad of hideous pattern as they do to compound the visual confusion of the studio. Stacked in complete disarray in both the inner studio and back porch (I find what I want when I need it) are partially complete paintings (he works on several at a time, scrap canvas, old books, magazines and a miscellaneous assortment of odd papers… Captions read- A candid closeup of Cucaro at work in his tiny studio showing his studio couch work bench and a mixed assortment of painter’s materials.” |
The
Sun Reporter- Aug 20, 1966- Pat Cucaro- Profile: Famed
local artist
Robertson- “Pat Cucaro of Sausalito, regarded by many art experts and critics as the Bay Area’s most brilliant artist, is frequently referred to as ‘America’s Picasso’…Pat Cucaro’s work has won both national and international acclaim and is exhibited exclusively by the Cory Gallery. In addition to numerous socialites, internationally known celebrities and other art collectors who have purchased Cucaro’s paintings, there is an impressive list of American museums and galleries that have added Cucaro’s to their collections since Jan. 1964.” |
San
Francisco Greeters Guide Jan 20-Feb 5, 1967- An American
Giant?
“Pascal Cucaro, called
Pat, is being called on of America’s most exiting
artists. He was recently nominated for the Presidential
Medal of Freedom, one of the nations highest civilian
awards for his outstanding achievement in art. To
see him
with his sunned complexion, his Basque beret cocked
over one ear, his chin and his note, one would easily
take him for a child of the Basque country or Bern….it
was likewise this Latin blood that drove him to travel
in France and Spain. From his Parisian sojourn, from
his studies in private studios, his long strolls
the length of
the Seine or across the French countryside, he has
brought back pictures which some feel vibrate with
some of
the magic of his masters: Cezanne, Lautrec, Utrillo
and Dufy. The walls of his studio smile at you when
the sun
envelops them with its dust-laden light. They are
hung with scenes evocative of the picturesque Paris
discovered
by the painter- hidden spots, fountains forgotten
by the tourist agencies, places where artists, painters
and musicians dream again. This is the world of Pat
Cucaro. Some
of the scenes are of nightspots painted with humor
and nostalgia a little in the manner of Lautrec while
others are abstract creations that are smoothly executed.
Cucaro
talks about only tow things, painting and love. Those,
he says, are his only interests. ‘I paint all the
time, day and nights. I have no television, no radio
and I
only sometimes read the headlines of the newspapers.’ With
dark, piercing eyes, a mobile face and expressive
hands always on
the move, the artist has been paintings for 20 years-
since he moved here to study at the California School
of Fine Arts. From the beginning, his work sold. ‘I
was lucky,’ he says, ‘…I didn’t have to push hard
to sell, and because of this, I was able to work
in peace. San Francisco
has been good to me. I owe it to a woman who had
faith in me from the beginning and believed in my
talent. She bought my paintings as fast as I could
make them
and helped to get my name known.’” Pictured is photo
with Enrico Banducci with caption- Pat Cucaro (kneeling),
noted artist and Enrico Banducci, curator of San
Francisco’s famous bistro, the hungry I, discuss
Angelique, the painting under Cucaro’s arm, a recent
award winning creation.
|
Independent
Journal March 11, 1967 and Oakland Tribune April 9, 1967-
He’s Called the Picasso of America- Marin painter
is as prolific at the master-“
…Cucaro
is pleased at the widespread acceptance his paintings
are enjoying…he sees each canvas as holding and
exposing a bit of his own soul. And he keeps on painting.
Cucaro’s entire energy and waking time are devoted
to painting….for he says he feels ‘that
every hour I do not paint, every day lost because of
illness, is time never to be recaptured to create.’…Pat
Cucaro is one of those rare and fortunate artists who
has been able to support himself from the time he first
began painting. His existence then after study at the
California School of Fine Arts was a modest one. His
needs remain as modest today…What makes Cucaro
exciting to some and annoying to a few is his willingness
to experiment. He attempts paintings of all different
and unconventional sizes including those in which
most artists could not hope to capture a design.
He is forceful
and imaginative in his use of color- all colors.
And he will paint on almost any material including
Chinese
language newspapers. Still Cucaro wisely leaves
a little bit to the imagination of the viewers.
He
wants them
to think and to participate in his paintings, to
share his ideas and creativity.”
|
Youngstown
Vindicator April 23, 1967- Pat Cucaro, former East
Sider, is
called ‘Picasso of America’
by
Esther Hamilton- “Pascal (Pat) Cucaro, a former
East Side boy, is achieving success in the art world
in California and gaining recognition and stature at
the international level. Cucaro received most of his
early art training in classes in the Youngstown schools
and Butler Art Institute…Cucaro live and breathes
painting. His face comes alive discussing is work.
Only two other subjects can bring the same reaction-
mention of his wife Kitty and his baby daughter. Recently,
Cucaro was nominated for the Presidential Medal of
Freedom for his contribution ‘to the quality
of American life’ through his art. Since the
institution of the nation’s highest peacetime
civil honor, only two other artists have been recipients
of the Freedom Medal- Andrew Wyeth and Wilhelm DeKrooning….a
painting entitled ‘Cucaro: A self portrait…will
be auction at the Parke-Bernet Galleries in Manhattan
for the benefit of the Committee to Rescue Italian
Art (CRIA) and the noted Bay Area artist has bee requested
to be present for the proceedings. CRIA is close to
Cucaro’s heart which is why he consented to be
named to the honorary committee to the San Francisco
chapter of the organization, upset at the loss of priceless
art in Florence and Venice… In discussing women
he said artists did not have to take time out to court
women because the musician, artist and writer have
many lovers who are intrigued and want to be your inspiration.
They feel there is something elusive about you and
they want to capture it. ‘A creative personality
must be greatly loved.’ As he began to achieve
fame, he established several studios in hideaway places
to avoid the curious and he could paint in peace. Until
his marriage five years ago, he did not have a telephone,
contacted only his gallery and his agent….He
works with tremendous energy, applying paint with brush,
palette knife or fingers as the mood strikes him…”
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Waikiki
Beach Press Jan 31-Feb 3, 1972- Cucaro works evoke
feelings
by Ella Chun- “Fame and fortune have not changed
Pascal Cucaro of Sausalito and San Francisco, one
of America’s master artist whose paintings
are in more than 50 museums and galleries throughout
the United States and abroad. He’s still humble
and has a deep understanding for mankind. He’s
concerned about the human race. He cares about people,
is stimulated by them and has that urge to create
people-people paintings. Cucaro was in Honolulu for
a special showing of his works at the Cory Gallery,
Ala Moana Center Mall….Cucaro is one of those
beautiful people with glamour that artist’s
sensitivity, a quiet warmth that radiated and an
intelligent, philosophical sympathy with the troubled
world of today. He’s gentle in his speech and
he inspires. He said painting is a lonely life. It’s
a world of its own. It’s demanding and often
the dedicated artist is separated from his fellow
man as he is devoting full concentration and his
full personality to express his understanding of
nature and life. Yet Cucaro is fully aware of the
problems of the outside world. He’s concerned
about peace, violence, ecology, pollution and drugs.
In his hotel suite, Cucaro faced his chair to the
window, drinking in Hawaii-soaking in the atmosphere
of Hawaii, what he calls a ‘pure’ state.
He was looking at the waters of the calm Pacific-
water that reflect, at the foliage and green tropical
palms and the blue skies. He said, ‘I like
to look at nature; I like trees and skies- there’s
truth there. This is the ideal paradise- they moved
it here,’ the artist continued. ‘Sure,
it has problems, but it has problems with a scenic
view. Hawaii’s got to teach the nation and
the rest of the world how to behave- how to get along.’ Cucaro
was referring to love and respect- the family tradition,
which is still preserved by many islanders. He said
people are important here; there is togetherness
in the Islands. ‘The people can rub elbows-their
eyes meet- they reach each other-there’s a
feeling of contact. There’s warmth. They don’t
growl. The Hawaiian people must have a recipe on
how to make friends. These are the happy islands.
Maybe it’s poi. Islanders have to teach the
world how to love,’ Cucaro reiterated. ‘The
melting pot is here. Which state is there with aloha?’ Cucaro
has been in Hawaii four times…He said it was
a fight convincing his wife that he couldn’t
settle here permanently. He said he would get too
content and lose his drive…Cucaro said he can
never say a painting is the best for he feels one
could do better. It’s a challenge. ‘The
more you do, the more you have to do,’ he stated…Discussing
on peace, Cucaro expressed his abhorrence of war.
Cucaro was in England with the U.S. Army during the
World War II bombings (it was then he haunted the
museums there). He said that wars are bad and are
useless. He said, ‘We can’t afford to
lose Michelangelos.’…He spoke about giving.
When you give with heart, there’s always return.
Cucaro loves people. He’s a devoted husband
and father. He believes in family and makes it a
point to visit his own folks in Youngstown, Ohio… It
was a privilege to be given an interview by Cucaro.
And it’s an honor to be allowed to call him ‘Pat.” Photo
of Pat Cucaro, Ed Cory and Margaret Keane- caption
reads- “In Cucaro room- at the special showing
of Pascal Cucaro paintings at the Cory Gallery, Ala
Moana Center Mall, were from left, artist Margaret
Keane, famous for her creations of wide-eyed children,
Cucaro and Edward J. Cory of San Francisco, owner
of Cory Galleries in Honolulu, San Francisco, Los
Angeles and Paris. Keane and Cucaro are good friends,
having started their careers, exhibiting at San Francisco’s
famed nightclub, ‘hungry i.’”
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The
Jambar (of Youngstown)- July 13, 1978- Youngstown artist
gains recognition
Triumphs outnumber struggles
by Stacey Savka- “The life of an artist is
not an easy one. It is filled with constant struggles
and strivings to obtain recognition from the public.
Pascal (Pat) Cucaro has led such a life….His
earliest works date back to 1920 when Cucaro was
five years old. This artwork is done on such rarities
as ‘backs of boxes, cardboard and sidewalks,’ said
Kathleen Windsor who is head of public relations
for Cucaro’s upcoming exhibit…From the
beginning of his career to the present, his motifs
and images have changed. ‘He has painted in
just about every medium’ said Thomas Cuccaro,
his brother…he added, ‘…he doesn’t
copy anyone’s particular style. He has style
all his own and people copy him.’ ‘The
masses of people painting by Cucaro are the ‘people-people
paintings.’ But Cucaro has done just about
everything including florals’ said Windsor…”
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San
Francisco Symphony Program- March 1991
New and Unusual Music Series- Entwinement: A musical
tapestry for electronic violin and orchestra- Abstracts,
Clowns, Processional- composed and performed by Daniel
Kobialka March 22, 1991 at Cowell Theatre in San
Francisco- “Daniel Kobialka, the San Francisco’s
Symphony’s Principal Second Violinist since
1975…began to plan his Musical Tapestry for
Electronic Violin and Orchestra about two years ago…The
work…was inspired by the paintings of Pascal
Cucaro, is getting its first performance at this
concert…For some years now, Kobialka has been
fascinated- and more than fascinated, profoundly
touched- by the paintings of Pascal Cucaro, born
in Youngstown, Ohio, but long a resident of Sausalito
and now 75 years old. Struck by the work, Kobialka
sought out the man, and for some time now, the two
have been friends. All three movements of Kobialka’s
concerto are translations, so to speak, of paintings-
groups and categories more than individual canvases-
by Cucaro. The first movement is called ‘Abstracts’…Cucaro
is most famous for his paintings of clowns. He himself
had worked for a circus for six summers as a boy. ‘Clowns’ is
the title of the concerto’s second movement…The
finale is titled ‘Processional’…Kobialka
remarks that in his music he has hoped to reflect
some sense of peace.”
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