Artist Of The Month

59K to Westport Ireland.

Parma is home to a great many talented individuals, artists and craftsmen, both professional and amateur, who specialize in variety of mediums. This article is the fourth in a series which will showcase a Parma area artist and introduce you to many of your talented neighbors.

Anthony DeMarco

Tony DeMarco is very well known in the Parma area. He moved to Parma in 1949 with his parents, attended Parma Schools, Thoreau Park, Schaaf Jr. High, and Parma High, and went to college at Kent State University, where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Art Education and Master of Arts Degree in Art Education. The year 1966 was a very special year for Tony, as he not only married his high school sweetheart, Darlene Wendel, but began teaching at Parma High School, his alma mater. Darlene and Tony have three children all born and raised in Parma, who also attended Parma schools. The City of Parma has played a huge role in his life. 

Tony taught art classes at PHS for 31 years, serving as department chair for 11 years. Many Parma Alumni fondly remember his classes in enameling, jewelry, crafts, drawing, painting, humanities and photography. He retired in 1997, but has continued to actively pursue his artistic passions, concentrating on photography but occasionally doing commission pieces of jewelry or enamel. 

Both Tony and his wife are very active in the Parma community and are volunteers in many Parma groups that promote the City of Parma and its residents. I am sure you have seen them in the community, working tirelessly at various events. 

When questioned on his artistic philosophy with regards to photography he said, “First I look for interesting subject matter and interesting views of the subject. I use traditional artistic compositional techniques to try and catch the viewer's attention. The composition is key. I draw subject matter from nature and architectural structures. I approach my subject matter from a cinematic perspective. I have always been interested in how the director of photography selects the first shot of every movie. The first shot is called the establishing shot. It is the most important and gives a great deal of information to the viewer.” He also said that he strives to have a “tranquil quality to his photographs, which allows you, the viewer, to focus on the image and let your imagination take over, and finish the story.” 

When asked about his enameling and jewelry pieces, Tony said he worked with William Harper in enameling and the art of cloisonne. Cloisonne is an ancient technique. The process involves fine silver wire designs and transparent or opaque enamel on copper or fine silver surfaces. Tony's work is made of silver or gold. He does hand built or lost wax castings in gold or fine silver. His designs come from nature and non-objective forms and shapes. The castings are first made in wax, then a cast of the wax model is filled with gold or silver burned out. His rings, pendants and bracelets are made from sheets of gold or silver wire, perhaps with precious stones added. His designs are stylized, simplifications of objects and scenes. The subject matter may be from historical material, social commentary or whimsical. 

Tony has participated in numerous shows and exhibitions, won awards for his Jewelry/Enameling and Photography, and acted as a Juried Judge at many venues. He has shown at Baycrafters, Baldwin Wallace, Jewish Community Federation, Columbia Station, Parma Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, Art At The Powerhouse, Art Metro, ArtSpace Cleveland, and Parma Area Fine Arts Council to name a few. He has appeared in articles published by the Sun News, Plain Dealer, NEA Journal, and Ohio educational publications on art. 

To view more of his work, please visit his web page at DeMarcoFineArts.com.

If you are an amateur or professional artist, living in the Parma area, or know of someone who is, and would like to be featured as an artist of the month, please contact me by email at kathrynmabin@att.net. 

Kathryn Mabin

Board Secretary of Parma Area Fine Arts Council, Inc, or PAFAC, and Artist/Jewlery Designer, Owner Aire of Oppulence.

Read More on News
Volume 6, Issue 10, Posted 9:25 AM, 10.02.2014