Original Hand-Painted Silk Art by Greg diPiazza
Greg diPiazza says hand-painting on silk is an intuitive art for which he is just a channel. "I don't know where these images come from," he says of the brilliantly colored, Hawaiian-symboled abstractions that sometimes resemble Picasso in their jumbled, startling appeal.
"I absorb the energy and let it flow through me,"he adds.
Hawaii, Los Angeles, and now Aspen are home bases for this artist, musician, and sometime actor. His parents are in the Italian restaurant business, which he worked at 10 years before deciding to follow his artistic dreams.
In Hawaii about three years ago a friend introduced him to silk painting and he became "addicted." Because of the energy in his work, he envisions his designs on activewear and is now working on ski wear prototypes incorporating his images.
"I paint like I write music," says diPiazza, now in Aspen to record an album with Cassandra Delaney. His music celebrates various indigenous, ethnic world beats such as African and Brazilian rhythms.
His hand-painted silk work is, he believes, a reflection of Hawaii itself. "It's my interpretation of the Hawaiian spirit. If you drive around Maui, these are the colors you see... this is the sky... this is the water..."
diPiazza says Hawaii is one of those rare places on earth where you can palpably feel an incredibly healing energy.
The artist intends for both his paintings and his music to have "a hook, so you can instantly relate, without thinking." His art invokes archetypal imagery, and often gives people the feeling of deja vu.
diPiazza travels frequently and paints wherever he goes. He plans an "Aspen series" of silk paintings and is "curious to see how Aspen influences the work," what colors, imagery, and energy will come out.
The aim of this artist is to "inspire people to see the creative powers inside of themselves, their potential to be creative, loving, aware."
He teaches silk painting techniques at the renowned visual arts center in Makawao, Hawaii, Hui No'eau, and plans to teach classes here in Aspen as well.
***Hand-painted silk artist Greg diPiazza is now showing his work at Pour la France restaurant in Aspen, 413 East Main Street, through January.