3HEARTS STUDIO - My Story as a Statue Restoration Artist and Painter
In this blog I tell how I began restoring religious statuary and how i became a summer full time painter from 2008-2015.
My Religious Statue Restoration Works
7. While restoring the Pieta', summer 1995.
7. while restoring the Pieta', in front of St. Anthony's Church.
Images above & below; while restoring the Pieta', a concrete replica. The original was made in marble by Michelangelo, and it is located inside St. Peter's Basilica, in Rome, Italy.
This statue of the Pieta' is located in front of St. Anthony's Church, my parish, in Schenectady, NY. I accomplished this restoration (which consisted of scraping about 1/4" thick old cracked paint, and then repainted). It took me several weeks in August 1995. I dedicated this work to 3 deceased people, my mother Salvatrice (Sal), my uncle Francesco Spina (who died in the USA while working. He fell form a building) and Vito Masi, a young man in his early 20s, who was unjustly/mercilessly killed by another young man, after he left a bar in Schenectady. Because of a jealousy fit! Alcohol was probably involved)
The saint Anthony's Festa is an annual festival, it usually takes place on Father's day weekend each June. We'll have lots of authentic home cooked Italian foods, music, drinks, and games for children!
8. The Pieta', after my restoration.
The saying in this image is something I thought about after I began reading Mary's messages from Medjugorje, a small town in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Mary, the mother of Jesus, the Queen of Peace, began appearing to 6 children in 1984. At that time I didn't believe in those messages. Today I still read her messages from Medjugorje (you can find them on line. just Google the name Medjugorjie messages), and I try to apply them in my life. Mary, basically points us to Her son, our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior.
9. Behind the Pieta'.
Above; the various stages the Pieta's restoration (cleaning and painting in colors). And below Our Lady of Lourdes grotto, which is located on the side of St. Anthony's Church, Schenectady, NY. August 1993.
Initially, both statues, the Blessed Mother (Mary, the mother of Jesus) and the grotto were painted only in white. The statues are made of concrete. You can see the final product in the images below. You also see me with my daughter, at the time she was 4.
10.
11. This statue of Mary is 5 feet tall.
12.
13.
14. Above: Bernadette, before the painting. She was a little shepherd girl who saw the Blessed Mother (Mary) at Lourdes.
15. Bernadette - completed.
16-17. Above & below; Our lady of Lourdes Grotto when it was completed. August 1993.
18. This is a statue of Jesus that I restored during the 1990s. It is The Sacred Heart of Jesus. Jesus' Heart is showing because it symbolizes His love for us.
Above, the statue as it was originally (before I restored it).
Below, after the restoration was completed.
In this blog I tell how I began restoring religious statuary and how i became a summer full time painter from 2008-2015.
My Religious Statue Restoration Works
7. while restoring the Pieta', in front of St. Anthony's Church.
Images above & below; while restoring the Pieta', a concrete replica. The original was made in marble by Michelangelo, and it is located inside St. Peter's Basilica, in Rome, Italy.
This statue of the Pieta' is located in front of St. Anthony's Church, my parish, in Schenectady, NY. I accomplished this restoration (which consisted of scraping about 1/4" thick old cracked paint, and then repainted). It took me several weeks in August 1995. I dedicated this work to 3 deceased people, my mother Salvatrice (Sal), my uncle Francesco Spina (who died in the USA while working. He fell form a building) and Vito Masi, a young man in his early 20s, who was unjustly/mercilessly killed by another young man, after he left a bar in Schenectady. Because of a jealousy fit! Alcohol was probably involved)
The saint Anthony's Festa is an annual festival, it usually takes place on Father's day weekend each June. We'll have lots of authentic home cooked Italian foods, music, drinks, and games for children!
8. The Pieta', after my restoration.
The saying in this image is something I thought about after I began reading Mary's messages from Medjugorje, a small town in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Mary, the mother of Jesus, the Queen of Peace, began appearing to 6 children in 1984. At that time I didn't believe in those messages. Today I still read her messages from Medjugorje (you can find them on line. just Google the name Medjugorjie messages), and I try to apply them in my life. Mary, basically points us to Her son, our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Above; the various stages the Pieta's restoration (cleaning and painting in colors). And below Our Lady of Lourdes grotto, which is located on the side of St. Anthony's Church, Schenectady, NY. August 1993.
Initially, both statues, the Blessed Mother (Mary, the mother of Jesus) and the grotto were painted only in white. The statues are made of concrete. You can see the final product in the images below. You also see me with my daughter, at the time she was 4.
Mary's message, June 26, 1993:
"Dear children,
Today I also rejoice at your presence here. I bless you with all my motherly blessings and intercede for each one of you before God. I call you anew to live my messages and to put them into life and practice.
I am with you and bless all of you day by day. Dear children, these times are particular and therefore I am with you to love and protect you, to protect your hearts from Satan and to bring you all close to the Heart of my son Jesus.
Thank you for having responded to my call."
I painted this message on the inside wall of the grotto, on the left side of the statue of Mary.
Above, the statue as it was originally (before I restored it).
Below, after the restoration was completed.
WHAT IS 3HEARTS STUDIO? It is the name I have given to my restoration/painting activity. 3Hearts for me represents and it reminds me of the Trinity, or what Christians believe/think to be one God in 3 persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. For me, when I think of the 3Hearts, the abstract thought of the Trinity materializes (becomes real, understandable, touchable) in the 3 persons of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. By the way they lived, they taught us how to live.
Why did this name? I picked the name "3Hearts", after I had the following experience in my life.
In the early 1990s I had economical problems. I was laid off. I lost my job after many years of non-stop work. Up to that point I had a good and satisfying job- I had been a draftsman mechanical draftsman/CAD operator (Computer Aided Designer), a technical illustrator and graphical artist. But then after 13 years of steady work, I was out of work, laid off! I found myself at the bottom of the economic scale...or pit!
I had no job, nothing to do! So, to keep me occupied and sane (healthy of mind and body), I asked my pastor (the priest) at Saint Anthony's Church in Schenectady, Father Richard Carlino, if I could restore some of the old statues for our church- for free (at no charge). I asked him, if he would just pay for the paint and supplies (tools, like brushes, etc). He agreed.
Hence, in in the summer of 1993, I accomplished the largest restoration job at St. Anthony; the cleaning and painting of the outdoor grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. This grotto (as you can seen in images # 16-17, is located on the side of St. Anthony's Church, on Seward Street.
This is a group of two statues; the larger one (5 feet tall) is Mary, the Blessed Mother- the mother of Jesus- for us Catholics, she is also our heavenly mother- and the second one is the young girl, Bernadette- the visionary who saw Mary at Lourdes, in France.
It was that same year, November of '93, that I had a strange and shocking dream that changed my life. Let me share this event, which I wrote in my diary, in April of 2010 .
“I have come to tell you that God exists." And...
“This is a special time; I’m with you for the following reason: to bring you closer to my Heart and to the Heart of my Son Jesus (Wed. Aug. 25th, 1993). I have come to tell you that God exists. On the earth humanity is divided, but you’re all the same to me and my Son (May 20th, 1982). You’re all my children! It doesn’t matter if you’re Catholic, Muslim, Jew or orthodox. You’re all the same in my sight and in my son’s Jesus.”
These were words of Mary, the mother of Jesus, the Queen of Peace. The media (newspapers, magazines, etc.) reported (wrote) that she was appearing to six children in Medjugorje, a little town in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in Europe. Although Medjugorje is not yet been approved by the Catholic Church, it has been considered by Catholics a Marian apparition site, for many years now. This is a place where the mother of Jesus has been appearing for the longest time, and where thousands of pilgrims go there every year.
2. This site (this little town called Medjugorje) is unique (different, unlike any other) because it is the place where the longest apparition of Mary has taken place, and her visits (apparitions), can be seen and heard by the 6 children (now adults). These events are still continuing to this day. In fact, she appeared for the 1st time in 1981, on the feast of Saint John the Evangelist, on June 24th, (33 years ago).
In her messages, Mary exhorts (urge, encourages) people go back to God with prayer, fasting (eating little or just bread/water), and repentance (asking for forgiveness, repenting-saying I'm sorry to God and those we offend/mistreat). The messages in red (above) were translated by me. They are just a few of her declarations (words, messages) that she has given to the 6 children, who were told (by Mary) to share with the whole world.
This happened at various occasions (times, days) and some of these words/messages are stuck (fixed forever) in my mind. Mary tells us that God loves all people- it doesn't matter their faith (religions or, beliefs). Yes, God prefers Christianity, but different faiths/beliefs do not prevent Him to love all people.
3. This sounded all nice to me, but I didn’t quite (completely) believe in those messages. At that time I questioned those words and all the others I was reading coming from Mary at Medjugorje.
I was skeptical, i didn't believe them, so i needed more proof that it was Mary. In fact, I thought that those messages could be written by someone who wanted to deceive (to lie to, to trick) people. However, the 17th of November, in 1993, I had a dream that shocked me (surprised me). In this dream I saw some of my relatives in Sicily. One of my mother’s sister, Maria, and her husband, my uncle Gino. They were crying, and their other son, my cousin Antonino, was there too. He was sad and unshaven (not shaved- to in Italy, sometimes this may be used us a sign of grieving- when a family member dies). As our tradition I greeted (said hello) the three of them with a kiss. Then, immediately after this encounter (meeting), I found myself in the house where I was born. It was late and I went to bed, but I was afraid to go to sleep because it was dark and I was alone.
4. To quell (stop) my fears, I put some holy images (pictures, photos) next to my night stand and went to sleep. As soon as I fell asleep - in my dream - I saw a large luminescent (bright, shiny) person floating in mid-air (in the air) slightly diagonally above me. And he said in Italian with my maternal grandmother's voice:
“I messaggi della Madonna (Mary the Mother of Jesus) sono veritieri e li devi credere." Meaning: Mary’s messages are truthful, and you must believe them.”
5. Then, again in this dream, I found myself outside in the next street, where my grandfather used to have a stable, a little barn, where he used to keep a mule and a few goats. I was standing outside the stable during the day, and I was in the middle of the street. I was facing (looking at) Tre Pizzi (Three Peaks), a mountain with literally (in reality, for real) 3 peaks (tip, top, point, crest). My right side was toward grandpa’s stable, and I was facing and staring at Tre Pizzi, which at that moment it was totally covered with an enormous (very big) golden frame. And inside this frame there was a stairway (steps) that started on the inside bottom of the frame, which shaped like a pyramid and rose (went up) very high up in the sky. I was standing at about 10-15 meters (yards) from this frame, and I saw a man was standing on one of the first steps, at the bottom of the huge stairway. He was dressed in a white tunic (robe, dress) with his palms (hands) stretched down and facing (looking at) me. I communicated (talked) with him in my thoughts, but I don’t remember exactly what we said to each other. I only remember sensing (feeling) his love and affection emanating (coming) from his gaze (look). It was indescribable - I could not describe it, I could not tell it, or explain it. I can only say that it felt immensely (very) wonderful (good, great).
6. That same morning, after I woke up, I was concerned (worrying, thinking about) my aunt and uncle’s family. So I told my wife about it and then I went to work. But that afternoon my wife called me at work and gave me some bad news. My cousin Francesco, my aunt’s Maria and Gino’s son, 20 at the time, had fallen from the 10th floor while working in Northern Italy. He was in serious (in very bad) conditions and in a coma (not responding, in deep sleep). The doctor’s didn’t know if he’d make it. I was shocked (very surprised). I couldn’t believe the dream. How could I see my relatives’ sorrow (grief, sadness) in a dream? And from 6 thousand miles away? As weeks went by, I prayed for my cousin's recovery (to feel/get better) and asked God to help me understand the dream. I began connecting (joining, understanding) the dots (ideas, thoughts) and started believing what the angel told me. The man in white was Jesus because he appeared on the mountain called Tre Pizzi. And Three Peaks, for me it represents (in this dream stands for) the Trinity, and next to my grandfather’s stable - which is a similar place where Jesus was born. I gradually (little by little) realized (understood) that Jesus’ presence, in the dream;
I think it meant the following;
“I know you have doubts (about angels and my mother’s messages) but I’m here, and I’m near to tell you that what she says is true, and weather you believe it or not I still love you. I’m waiting for you at the bottom of the stairway to welcome you in my kingdom when your time comes. “
7. Hence, after this dream and experience I stopped doubting (not believing) and started to believe more in God and in the Blessed Mother (Jesus’ mother, Mary). My family and I prayed for my cousin. And although he lost a lung, he came out of his coma after a month. Today he’s married, has children and is leading a normal life in Sicily.
8. The mid 90s were difficult times for me and my immediate family (me, my wife and my child). I was out of work, my wife did not speak English and my daughter was only 3 years at the time. So I was the only bread winner (the worker) - hence the only one who could support (help) the family financially (with money). All my relatives were in Italy, except for my brother who lives in the USA with his family, but I did not want to ask for help and burden him (give him problems). Since I had no work and no money, except for unemployment benefits, which were only $230/month! It was not enough for the three of us to live (me, my wife, who couldn’t work because she didn’t speak English, and because of our child of 3). So, I lost my house since (because) I couldn’t afford to pay the mortgage (monthly house payment), and neither (also, too) could I afford (pay for) health care coverage (medical insurance for the two of us (me and my wife). In fact, we were without insurance for 5 years! But not once did we ever get sick! I prayed every day for God’s protection, and I got it! God took care of us! My wife and I never got sick! My child never did either, although in a way we were fortunate (lucky) – our baby had NY health care coverage, I think it was called Child Health Care Plus.
9. However, in the end we made it (lived, succeeded), and didn’t succumb (give up) because from 1993 to 2001 I found temporary work in restaurants, delicatessens (a deli, is a sandwich and grocery stores), and a retirement home (where old people live). I worked as a cook, server/waiter and team leader/manager. In fact, as you can see from the images above, the summer of 1993 I restored Our Lady of Lourdes statue and grotto (on the side of Saint Anthony’s church, and the Pieta’, Mary holding the dead Christ statue, in front of the church). I also began restoring (fixing, repairing) old religious statues for people and for my church and other parishes (churches). My pastor (priest, minister) at Saint Anthony's Church, in Schenectady, Father Richard supported me (helped me). He provided (gave) me with painting/restoration work. However, in 1997 I went back to college to improve my life situation (economical/job/life); in order to find a better paying job.
Finally, In 2001 I became a teacher, and since then I have had lots of work! Even in the summer! My students keep me busy! Today, I thank God every day, for His mercy, His goodness and for all the good blessings and gifts (talents, presents) he has given me!
Praised be the Lord God, Creator of the universe! He didn’t abandon me in time of need.
10. Why did I tell you this story? I shared it with you in sign of gratitude, appreciation, thanks to God and to our Blessed Mother; Mary, for helping me, for helping us become better human being and for helping us became more like God. Our world needs some good news and some hope. And so, I thank God for this opportunity (chance) to share this experience, because to me this dream is proof (evidence, facts) that God exists and that He cares for us all. I say this with unfailing conviction (certainty, without any doubts) because my unbelief is gone, and the meaning - the purpose of this dream – now after more than 20 years -is crystal clear (very clear, understandable)! God still talks and communicates with us, just like a good father, He does it, He guides us everyday! That's a sign that He loves us immensely...and so does our Mother Mary! THANK YOU LORD, CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE FOR YOUR MERCY, CARE AND COMPASSION!
11. I’ve dedicated this testimonial to my good friend Giuseppe Viglione, who returned to God, after a battle with cancer.
(Source of the Medjugorje messages in this testimony are from the Italian text: Medjugorje. Messaggi della Regina della Pace/ Medjugorje. Messages from The Queen of Peace. By Fr. Livio Fanzagna and Fr. Gianni Sgreva cp. – Translation was done by me, Ottavio Lo Piccolo).
1. In front of the 2nd mural, that I painted in the Stratton Dining Hall. Summer 2007.
In the early 1990s I had economical problems. I was laid off. I lost my job after many years of non-stop work. Up to that point I had a good and satisfying job- I had been a draftsman mechanical draftsman/CAD operator (Computer Aided Designer), a technical illustrator and graphical artist. But then after 13 years of steady work, I was out of work, laid off! I found myself at the bottom of the economic scale...or pit!
I had no job, nothing to do! So, to keep me occupied and sane (healthy of mind and body), I asked my pastor (the priest) at Saint Anthony's Church in Schenectady, Father Richard Carlino, if I could restore some of the old statues for our church- for free (at no charge). I asked him, if he would just pay for the paint and supplies (tools, like brushes, etc). He agreed.
Hence, in in the summer of 1993, I accomplished the largest restoration job at St. Anthony; the cleaning and painting of the outdoor grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. This grotto (as you can seen in images # 16-17, is located on the side of St. Anthony's Church, on Seward Street.
This is a group of two statues; the larger one (5 feet tall) is Mary, the Blessed Mother- the mother of Jesus- for us Catholics, she is also our heavenly mother- and the second one is the young girl, Bernadette- the visionary who saw Mary at Lourdes, in France.
It was that same year, November of '93, that I had a strange and shocking dream that changed my life. Let me share this event, which I wrote in my diary, in April of 2010 .
“I have come to tell you that God exists." And...
“This is a special time; I’m with you for the following reason: to bring you closer to my Heart and to the Heart of my Son Jesus (Wed. Aug. 25th, 1993). I have come to tell you that God exists. On the earth humanity is divided, but you’re all the same to me and my Son (May 20th, 1982). You’re all my children! It doesn’t matter if you’re Catholic, Muslim, Jew or orthodox. You’re all the same in my sight and in my son’s Jesus.”
These were words of Mary, the mother of Jesus, the Queen of Peace. The media (newspapers, magazines, etc.) reported (wrote) that she was appearing to six children in Medjugorje, a little town in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in Europe. Although Medjugorje is not yet been approved by the Catholic Church, it has been considered by Catholics a Marian apparition site, for many years now. This is a place where the mother of Jesus has been appearing for the longest time, and where thousands of pilgrims go there every year.
2. This site (this little town called Medjugorje) is unique (different, unlike any other) because it is the place where the longest apparition of Mary has taken place, and her visits (apparitions), can be seen and heard by the 6 children (now adults). These events are still continuing to this day. In fact, she appeared for the 1st time in 1981, on the feast of Saint John the Evangelist, on June 24th, (33 years ago).
In her messages, Mary exhorts (urge, encourages) people go back to God with prayer, fasting (eating little or just bread/water), and repentance (asking for forgiveness, repenting-saying I'm sorry to God and those we offend/mistreat). The messages in red (above) were translated by me. They are just a few of her declarations (words, messages) that she has given to the 6 children, who were told (by Mary) to share with the whole world.
This happened at various occasions (times, days) and some of these words/messages are stuck (fixed forever) in my mind. Mary tells us that God loves all people- it doesn't matter their faith (religions or, beliefs). Yes, God prefers Christianity, but different faiths/beliefs do not prevent Him to love all people.
3. This sounded all nice to me, but I didn’t quite (completely) believe in those messages. At that time I questioned those words and all the others I was reading coming from Mary at Medjugorje.
I was skeptical, i didn't believe them, so i needed more proof that it was Mary. In fact, I thought that those messages could be written by someone who wanted to deceive (to lie to, to trick) people. However, the 17th of November, in 1993, I had a dream that shocked me (surprised me). In this dream I saw some of my relatives in Sicily. One of my mother’s sister, Maria, and her husband, my uncle Gino. They were crying, and their other son, my cousin Antonino, was there too. He was sad and unshaven (not shaved- to in Italy, sometimes this may be used us a sign of grieving- when a family member dies). As our tradition I greeted (said hello) the three of them with a kiss. Then, immediately after this encounter (meeting), I found myself in the house where I was born. It was late and I went to bed, but I was afraid to go to sleep because it was dark and I was alone.
4. To quell (stop) my fears, I put some holy images (pictures, photos) next to my night stand and went to sleep. As soon as I fell asleep - in my dream - I saw a large luminescent (bright, shiny) person floating in mid-air (in the air) slightly diagonally above me. And he said in Italian with my maternal grandmother's voice:
“I messaggi della Madonna (Mary the Mother of Jesus) sono veritieri e li devi credere." Meaning: Mary’s messages are truthful, and you must believe them.”
5. Then, again in this dream, I found myself outside in the next street, where my grandfather used to have a stable, a little barn, where he used to keep a mule and a few goats. I was standing outside the stable during the day, and I was in the middle of the street. I was facing (looking at) Tre Pizzi (Three Peaks), a mountain with literally (in reality, for real) 3 peaks (tip, top, point, crest). My right side was toward grandpa’s stable, and I was facing and staring at Tre Pizzi, which at that moment it was totally covered with an enormous (very big) golden frame. And inside this frame there was a stairway (steps) that started on the inside bottom of the frame, which shaped like a pyramid and rose (went up) very high up in the sky. I was standing at about 10-15 meters (yards) from this frame, and I saw a man was standing on one of the first steps, at the bottom of the huge stairway. He was dressed in a white tunic (robe, dress) with his palms (hands) stretched down and facing (looking at) me. I communicated (talked) with him in my thoughts, but I don’t remember exactly what we said to each other. I only remember sensing (feeling) his love and affection emanating (coming) from his gaze (look). It was indescribable - I could not describe it, I could not tell it, or explain it. I can only say that it felt immensely (very) wonderful (good, great).
6. That same morning, after I woke up, I was concerned (worrying, thinking about) my aunt and uncle’s family. So I told my wife about it and then I went to work. But that afternoon my wife called me at work and gave me some bad news. My cousin Francesco, my aunt’s Maria and Gino’s son, 20 at the time, had fallen from the 10th floor while working in Northern Italy. He was in serious (in very bad) conditions and in a coma (not responding, in deep sleep). The doctor’s didn’t know if he’d make it. I was shocked (very surprised). I couldn’t believe the dream. How could I see my relatives’ sorrow (grief, sadness) in a dream? And from 6 thousand miles away? As weeks went by, I prayed for my cousin's recovery (to feel/get better) and asked God to help me understand the dream. I began connecting (joining, understanding) the dots (ideas, thoughts) and started believing what the angel told me. The man in white was Jesus because he appeared on the mountain called Tre Pizzi. And Three Peaks, for me it represents (in this dream stands for) the Trinity, and next to my grandfather’s stable - which is a similar place where Jesus was born. I gradually (little by little) realized (understood) that Jesus’ presence, in the dream;
I think it meant the following;
“I know you have doubts (about angels and my mother’s messages) but I’m here, and I’m near to tell you that what she says is true, and weather you believe it or not I still love you. I’m waiting for you at the bottom of the stairway to welcome you in my kingdom when your time comes. “
7. Hence, after this dream and experience I stopped doubting (not believing) and started to believe more in God and in the Blessed Mother (Jesus’ mother, Mary). My family and I prayed for my cousin. And although he lost a lung, he came out of his coma after a month. Today he’s married, has children and is leading a normal life in Sicily.
8. The mid 90s were difficult times for me and my immediate family (me, my wife and my child). I was out of work, my wife did not speak English and my daughter was only 3 years at the time. So I was the only bread winner (the worker) - hence the only one who could support (help) the family financially (with money). All my relatives were in Italy, except for my brother who lives in the USA with his family, but I did not want to ask for help and burden him (give him problems). Since I had no work and no money, except for unemployment benefits, which were only $230/month! It was not enough for the three of us to live (me, my wife, who couldn’t work because she didn’t speak English, and because of our child of 3). So, I lost my house since (because) I couldn’t afford to pay the mortgage (monthly house payment), and neither (also, too) could I afford (pay for) health care coverage (medical insurance for the two of us (me and my wife). In fact, we were without insurance for 5 years! But not once did we ever get sick! I prayed every day for God’s protection, and I got it! God took care of us! My wife and I never got sick! My child never did either, although in a way we were fortunate (lucky) – our baby had NY health care coverage, I think it was called Child Health Care Plus.
9. However, in the end we made it (lived, succeeded), and didn’t succumb (give up) because from 1993 to 2001 I found temporary work in restaurants, delicatessens (a deli, is a sandwich and grocery stores), and a retirement home (where old people live). I worked as a cook, server/waiter and team leader/manager. In fact, as you can see from the images above, the summer of 1993 I restored Our Lady of Lourdes statue and grotto (on the side of Saint Anthony’s church, and the Pieta’, Mary holding the dead Christ statue, in front of the church). I also began restoring (fixing, repairing) old religious statues for people and for my church and other parishes (churches). My pastor (priest, minister) at Saint Anthony's Church, in Schenectady, Father Richard supported me (helped me). He provided (gave) me with painting/restoration work. However, in 1997 I went back to college to improve my life situation (economical/job/life); in order to find a better paying job.
Finally, In 2001 I became a teacher, and since then I have had lots of work! Even in the summer! My students keep me busy! Today, I thank God every day, for His mercy, His goodness and for all the good blessings and gifts (talents, presents) he has given me!
Praised be the Lord God, Creator of the universe! He didn’t abandon me in time of need.
10. Why did I tell you this story? I shared it with you in sign of gratitude, appreciation, thanks to God and to our Blessed Mother; Mary, for helping me, for helping us become better human being and for helping us became more like God. Our world needs some good news and some hope. And so, I thank God for this opportunity (chance) to share this experience, because to me this dream is proof (evidence, facts) that God exists and that He cares for us all. I say this with unfailing conviction (certainty, without any doubts) because my unbelief is gone, and the meaning - the purpose of this dream – now after more than 20 years -is crystal clear (very clear, understandable)! God still talks and communicates with us, just like a good father, He does it, He guides us everyday! That's a sign that He loves us immensely...and so does our Mother Mary! THANK YOU LORD, CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE FOR YOUR MERCY, CARE AND COMPASSION!
11. I’ve dedicated this testimonial to my good friend Giuseppe Viglione, who returned to God, after a battle with cancer.
(Source of the Medjugorje messages in this testimony are from the Italian text: Medjugorje. Messaggi della Regina della Pace/ Medjugorje. Messages from The Queen of Peace. By Fr. Livio Fanzagna and Fr. Gianni Sgreva cp. – Translation was done by me, Ottavio Lo Piccolo).
My Murals at
Stratton Air National Guard, Scotia, NY
1. In front of the 2nd mural, that I painted in the Stratton Dining Hall. Summer 2007.
The summer of 2008 I began painting exterior walls of several buildings at Stratton Air National Guard Base, in Scotia, NY. This summer job lasted until 2015. I also restored old religious statues (fixed, cleaned & repainted them).
I have done religious statue restoration work since the early 90's, when I was out of work.
I have done religious statue restoration work since the early 90's, when I was out of work.
2. Designs on the Stratton Fitness Center's wall. Summer 2012.
3. The 1st mural, in the Stratton Dining Hall. November 2005.
4. Graphic murals at the Stratton Fitness Center's walls. Summer 2012.
Here is what Mr. Thomas Chico, the NYS Maintenance supervisor says about Ottavio’s work ethics
(reference letter written on Dec. 8, 2014):
“Ottavio
has been assigned to me during the summer as a painter. He has
completed numerous interior and exterior painting projects here at
Stratton Air national Guard Base over the past 6 years. He has applied
his talents to everything, from painting murals to complete exterior
painting. Ottavio has been dependable and reliable. He adapts easily to
changes in his work priorities when required. In addition, he is very
neat and keeps his work areas clean, from start to finish. He is very
friendly and works well with everyone he comes in contact with. Ottavio
has strived to make our base look better for everyone’s benefit through
his painting and artistic talent.”
5. My 1st mural in the Stratton, ANG Base Dining Hall Hallway. November 2005.
6. I painted this room for Mrs. Angelique Kaiser, a colleague of mine in the NY Air Guard.
After 7 years of temporary jobs in the food service industry, in 2001, I became an full time ENL (English as a New Language) teacher. Then from 2008-15 I was a f/t painter at Stratton, and then in 2016 I also began teaching p/t during the summer. So, now I have more than enough work! Thank God! And His Blessed Mother Mary! I'm occasionally restoring a statue or two during the summer. However. if you have a need something to be painted, a mural to be painted (in your
home, office and/or place of business), an old statute restored (fixed/repaired), or just painted it in colors, call me
at home: 370-4476 home, cell: 421-6807, email:
ottaviolopiccolo5@gmail.com
Free estimates - No obligation!
You can buy your own paint too!
References supplied upon request.
Free estimates - No obligation!
You can buy your own paint too!
References supplied upon request.
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