About the Artist

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I am an artist, born in Connecticut, rooted in Puerto Rico, primarily a painter and wood carver, although I have also created significant works in mosaic, ceramic sculpture, and serigraphs. I have primarily dedicated the gift I found to the needs and requirements of the church; in doing so, I have worked with materials that were readily available and affordable, fulfilling the budgetary needs and the necessary work.

I came to my art first as a tradesman, a skilled worker. My father was a carpenter, and as a teenager, I assisted him in building boats and houses. My brother was an ironworker, and I worked with him during my college years. I was also a union painter, AFL-CIO, on and off for 20 years.

I wandered a great deal as a young man (I’ve worked as a fisherman, ranch hand, carpenter, mechanic, longshoreman, merchant seaman, and sign-painter). And so, it was late that I came to formal education at the university. Although I thrived there, eventually earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with cum laude honors from the University of Hartford while also pursuing independent studies in Mexico, I knew college was but a shelter, a stopping-off place, and that the comfort it afforded was not for me. I needed the challenge, the risk, and even the uncertainty that drives artistic creation.

Early on, I was inspired by the great master Michelangelo. I’ve always been deeply moved by religious art ever since the first time I encountered it as a young child in our local church, St. Joseph’s in New London, Connecticut; the stained glass windows, the painted murals, the wood carvings of the Stations of the Cross, and the marble statues of Christ, His mother Mary, and His saints.

Since 1984, my wife and I have lived in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, where we have dedicated our lives and art to serving the needs of the Catholic Church, which has sustained us here for over 40 years.

In doing so, I have searched for the spiritual dimensions of human nature as well as God’s beauty revealed in Creation. Through my paintings, portraits, sculpture, serigraphs, and murals, I seek to reveal the Light within.

A defining work came in the year 2001 when the Archbishop of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Monsignor Roberto González Nieves, O.F.M., commissioned me to paint the official portrait of the first Blessed of Puerto Rico, Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago. It hangs in the Hall of Saints of the Pontifical North American College at the Vatican.

 

presentation of portrait of Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez by artist A.VonnHartung at Pontifical North American College 29 April 2001
Presentation of portrait at Pontifical North American College 29 April 2001

 

Artist’s Statement

Art defines for me the gateway to a deeper reality. In a world that moves too fast, it is my braking mechanism, the searchlight of my direction, the balance point of my stability. In a world of detached science and ephemeral technology, it is my intimate link with my Creator.

To state a beauty of whatever kind is to continue an action that has always been and will never cease as long as we hold the capacity to marvel, to be transported into that beauty which transcends the ordinary and gifts us with a glimpse of the divine.

I continue to marvel at how beauty happens as I work from the inspiration I receive from Miracles and Scripture. For me, art is an act of salvation.

To contact me:
avonnhartung7@gmail.com
787-587-9003
HC-01 Box 29030 PMB 558
Caguas, Puerto Rico 00725-8900

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Soy un artista, nacido en Connecticut, arraigado en Puerto Rico, principalmente pintor y tallador de madera, aunque también he creado obras importantes en mosaico, escultura cerámica y serigrafías. He dedicado principalmente el don que encontré a las necesidades y requerimientos de la iglesia; Para ello, he trabajado con materiales fácilmente disponibles y asequibles, satisfaciendo las necesidades presupuestarias y el trabajo necesario.

Llegué a mi arte inicialmente como artesano, como trabajador calificado. Mi padre era carpintero y, de adolescente, lo ayudaba a construir barcos y casas. Mi hermano era herrero y trabajé con él durante mis años universitarios. También fui pintor sindicalizado, afiliado a la AFL-CIO, de forma intermitente durante 20 años.

De joven, vagué mucho (trabajé como pescador, peón de rancho, carpintero, mecánico, estibador, marinero mercante y rotulista). Y así, llegó tarde cuando llegué a la educación formal en la universidad. Aunque prosperé allí y finalmente obtuve una licenciatura en Bellas Artes con honores cum laude de la Universidad de Hartford mientras también realizaba estudios independientes en México, sabía que la universidad era solo un refugio, una parada, y que la comodidad que brindaba no era para mí. Necesitaba el desafío, el riesgo e incluso la incertidumbre que impulsa la creación artística.

Desde pequeño, me inspiró el gran maestro Miguel Ángel. Siempre me ha conmovido profundamente el arte religioso desde que lo vi por primera vez, de niño, en nuestra iglesia local, San José en New London, Connecticut: las vidrieras, los murales pintados, las tallas de madera del Vía Crucis y las estatuas de mármol de Cristo, su madre María y sus santos.

Desde 1984, mi esposa y yo hemos vivido en Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, donde hemos dedicado nuestras vidas y nuestro arte a servir las necesidades de la Iglesia Católica, que nos ha sostenido aquí por más de 40 años.

Al hacerlo, he buscado las dimensiones espirituales de la naturaleza humana, así como la belleza de Dios revelada en la Creación. A través de mis pinturas, retratos, esculturas, serigrafías y murales, busco revelar la Luz interior.

Una obra definitoria llegó en el año 2001 cuando el Arzobispo de San Juan, Puerto Rico, Monseñor Roberto González Nieves, O.F.M., me encargó pintar el retrato oficial del primer Beato de Puerto Rico, Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago. Se encuentra colgado en el Salón de los Santos del Pontificio Colegio Norteamericano del Vaticano.

 

Declaración del artista

El arte define para mí la puerta a una realidad más profunda. En un mundo que se mueve demasiado rápido, es mi mecanismo de frenado, el faro de mi dirección, el punto de equilibrio de mi estabilidad. En un mundo de ciencia distante y tecnología efímera, es mi vínculo íntimo con mi Creador.

Afirmar una belleza cualquiera es continuar una acción que siempre ha existido y que nunca cesará mientras tengamos la capacidad de maravillarnos, de transportarnos hacia esa belleza que trasciende lo ordinario y nos regala una visión de lo divino.

Continúo maravillándome de cómo surge la belleza a medida que trabajo con la inspiración que recibo de los milagros y las Escrituras. Para mí, el arte es un acto de salvación.

2 Responses

  1. Dear Von,
    My name is Thomas Heineman, we knew each other many years ago from Mystic Connecticut. I worked with you for a short time, I worked at Puritan and Genesta’s, the health food store on Main Street as well before I left Mystic.I also visited you and Patti in PR with my wife Chieko maybe 30 years ago. It’s been a long time. I wouldn’t be at all surprized if you didn’t remember me. Nevertheless I would love to reconnect with you. I am traveling to PR in the spring and would love to visit your gallery if at all possible. Please let me know. Thank you,

    Thomas

    1. Hi  Tom. Yes of course!    It’s good to hear from you after all these years. When in the Spring might you be coming?  Let me know through an email  at vhartung@msn.com  and we can be in touch. All the best to your family. Patty sends her regards.
      As always, vonn

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