Jeffco and Denver-area art lovers will have a unique opportunity to discover the two bold painting styles of Joe Cauchi, on First Friday, September 6, 2024, at Artcentric, 7172 W.38th Ave, in Wheat Ridge from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Joe Cauchi’s early work is a visual tour of the 1930’s, depicting field workers, city workers from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and urban families — all striving to get by in the depths of the Great Depression. From his base in New York’s Greenwich Village, Joe carried his paints and easel by train to urban neighborhoods and then to farms in rural Pennsylvania, Virginia and upstate New York. His 1930’s art draws from a naturalistic, “Americana” style.
“My father captured farmers and urban workers in action — building subways, laying train tracks, baling hay and plowing fields,” explained Richard Cauchi, curator of the Joe Cauchi art collection and a 28-year resident of Wheat Ridge.
After a 20-year hiatus, Joe resumed painting from his Connecticut studio in a dramatically different style. In his “Microscopic to Cosmic” period, Joe moved sharply away from naturalism, inspired by images he saw from the electron microscope while working at Cornell Medical College in New York. Newly committed to modern art, his prolific work in this period features celestial-seeming themes, sharp geometric design and vibrant color, which continued until his death in 1987.
“Joe’s art shows such breadth, depth and imagination,” said Russell Wilbar, owner of Artcentric, “We’re excited to offer 16 paintings from both periods of Joe’s work, plus a hundred watercolors on paper from his travels during the Depression.”
After the First Friday opening, the “one-man show” will be at Artcentric from Tuesday to Saturday until September 27, 2024. Call the gallery at 303-325-2640 for the most current schedule.
For more information, contact Susan Motika, susanmotika9595@comcast.net or 303-523-7891.
