Dan's Papers - June 13, 2008 - Honoring the Artist: Joe Chierchio

Cover artist Joe Chierchio cares deeply about the past and present all at the same time. He also cares deeply about "vanishing America," the Main Streets and landscapes that are slowly disappearing. This week's image on Dan's Papers, "The Green Tractor," certainly delivers such a message, reminding people that the past still exists, but is nonetheless struggling against progress.

Q: It's obvious you love nostalgia. What contributes to that, do you think? What do you remember about growing up?

A: I grew up in Brooklyn, near the Brooklyn Navy Yard. My father worked for the Navy Yard. I have a lot to remember about life there; for example, every Sunday, the whole family would get together for dinner. People would also go to diners to get together, read the paper; it was a waterhole, like Starbucks is now.

Q: Besides diners, what about other things that are vanishing?

A: There was always a Main Street, even in a place like Toledo, Ohio, for example. But now Main Streets are very lonely and quiet.

Q: How do you depict those diners in your work even if they are "lonely" in real life?

A: People say what I do reminds them of Hopper; to me his work is somber and moody. Mine aren't. I keep away from loneliness.

Q: What kind of art training did you have?

A: I went to Pratt Institute and the School of Visual Arts. I taught "Ideas and Concepts" at SVA.

Q: That course related to your being in advertising.

A: Yes. I was an art director for agencies like Grey and Saatchi and Saatchi. I would work during the day and teach at night. I taught the class like it was an ad agency, teaching some improvisational techniques to sell ideas.

Q: How did improvisation play a part in your profession?

A: At some point, I got bored with advertising and would audition for acting parts during my lunch hour. I became part of an improvisational group. I realized that acting was a cruel business, and that I was lucky to be making good money. I brought in an actor from the group to the ad agency to show how to present ideas to clients. I leaned how to exhibit my work in a more exciting way.

Q: What other ways did you improve your techniques?

A: We were trained in art school to carry a sketchbook. I would sit on the subway and sketch people. I would go to Central Park and watch people. I could spend my life painting in Central Park. I would never, never leave Manhattan; there's a story, a visual image going on all the time.

Q: Let's get back to the beginning. Did your parents encourage you to become an artist?

A: My mother was an artist. She said I had talent and should go to art school. She was so proud of me when I came home and showed her three of my ads in Life Magazine. My father was a plumber, and I would go with him to work. I remember working in some really dark basements. He would say,"Joey, go home. Do your art."

Q: Maybe you inherited your father's manual dexterity.

A: Yes, when I left the ad business I did sculpture, stone carving. Then I went back to drawing, pastels.

Q: But your real passion is nostalgia.

A: Yes, I still remember growing up, seeing the milkman delivering milk in Brooklyn. Milkmen will always do that in my paintings.(Figuratively-speaking, that is. )

- Marion Wolbery Weiss

Mr. Chierchio can be reached via his email at jchierchio@gmail.com. His works are available for viewing at The Gallery, 125 Main Street, Sag Harbor.