Dorothy Brush "Random Thoughts" Published July 16, 2003

The Ted DeGrazia story

It was the summer of 1972 that our family vacation took us to Arizona. As we neared Tucson I saw a sign, "DeGrazia's Gallery in the Sun." That year I had bought two inexpensive reproductions of artist Ted DeGrazia's work. I knew nothing about him but his art was distinctive with vivid colors. Bold strokes formed circles and triangles to fashion bodies of Mexican and Indian models. These are people he understands, loves and works for I learned.
When we stopped for gas I made a phone call to the gallery. A man answered and I explained

I was a free lance writer and would like an interview with DeGrazia. The voice came back that this was DeGrazia and we set a time for the meeting. Several days later I arrived at the gallery and was motioned into a tiny cluttered office where DeGrazia was signing copies of his new art book, DeGrazia and His Mountain The Superstition. These 100 signed books would cost $400 each. He pointed to a chair and said, "You keep asking questions and I'll keep making money."

His voice had a gravelly quality almost as though it had passed through sand. Rather short in stature he was dressed in jeans and a loose shirt which hung to his knees. His soft, iron gray curls were topped with his ever present cowboy hat. DeGrazia looked like a prospector and he insisted that was what he longed to be all his life. Instead of a shovel it was the brush and palette that captured the treasures of the Arizona land for the public to enjoy.

Born in the small mining community of Morenci, AZ to Italian emigrant parents, he was named Ettore but later he chose to be Ted. A restless child, he was always searching and was unable to fit into the mold society expected of him. His schooling was delayed because his parents returned to Italy for a time and he was 16 when he entered first grade back in Arizona. Seven years later he graduated from high school, enrolled at the University of Arizona and received two bachelor's and a master's degree. In 1967, DeGrazia was honored as their alumnus of the year.

From his earliest years he found himself in tune with the brilliant colors of the Arizona desert. In his college years he was introduced to formal art and he found painting to be the form of expression to capture the wild colors of the mineral deposits in his beloved desert. Often he crossed the border into Mexico where he was encouraged by Diego Rivera who said, "His originality will influence art in the future and he will be an extremely prominent personality in North American art." Another well known Mexican artist, Jose Clemente Orozco, said of his work, "DeGrazia will be one of the best American painters one day."

The predictions of these two acclaimed artists did not follow him across the border. His work was ignored in the states. Those in elite art galleries wrote off his work as being too commercial. DeGrazia was given worldwide attention in 1960 when UNICEF was given his permission to use a reproduction of his "Los Niños" oil for their Christmas card. It pictured children holding hands as they danced in a large circle. Only close friends knew of his generosity to so many other causes, the American Cancer Society, Muscular Dystrophy and Arizona Boys Ranch were a few.

Next week the conclusion of the DeGrazia story. Not long ago I was in a local home I had never visited before. On the wall I saw a painting and recognized the artist immediately. It was by Ted DeGrazia, the late Arizona artist. It would be my guess that other homes in our area have something created by this talented man. I interviewed DeGrazia long ago and in the next two weeks, I'll share that experience with you.

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Dorothy Copus Brush is a Fairfield Glade resident and Crossville Chronicle staffwriter whose column is published each Wednesday.