Derry Hill
Home Of The H.C. Auletta Clan
The H. C. Auletta Gallery
Grandpa's Artwork and Other Things
Grandpa and Kerry, March 1958. Photo provided by Brian.
I originally was going to call this page the H. C. Auletta Art Gallery, but then realized there was a bunch of stuff I associate with grandpa that wasn't paintings. Such as the aluminum water towers he made (or were they lighthouses?). Even things he didn't make, but I associate with his and/or granny's memory - either from the Cabin or East 4th Street. Such as the high chair with all our names on it. Even the chandelier and lamp from the Cabin. I'm putting them all here. Maybe I should rename it, "All Things Grandpa".
The emphasis is still going to be Grandpa's artwork. It's the seed I trace all the various creative outpouring's found throughout our family back to. Whether it is in painting, gunsmithing, or woodworking - we all get it from him. At least, he's the first documented artist in our family. I imagine it goes much further back, and runs through our family line like healthy veins through a much used body, supplying the lifeblood that gets many of us through our darkest days. For the creative gene carries an ominous twin counterpart that also runs throughout our family - that black cloud of depression. So if you are one of the fourth or fifth tier decedents of the H.C. Auletta Clan, and are feeling particularly disheartened some days, if not downright tormented, take solace in the fact that you are not alone. Many of us have been there too. And will be again.
The Gallery is starting out small, but if everyone, and anyone, who has any painting of Grandpa's, or any object 'd art, please, please, please take a photo of it and send it to me. I'm begging you here, man. Danny was the first contributor. A nude of Grandpa's he found hanging in a bar in Huntington. And I have the painting from the Cabin of some actress in a maroon robe holding a string of pearls. Jimmy is going to photograph one of the water/lighthouse towers, and the high chair with all our names on it. Danny also is going to take a photo of the chandelier from the Cabin. And I have the lamp from the kitchen table at the Cabin, too. I remember quite a few paintings (nudes) hanging up at Uncle Rich's house as you went up the stairs to the bedroom over the kitchen - which of you guys have those? And my favorite - the dead nude lady draped in maroon robes laying on a bed, lifeless arm outstretched and an empty bottle of pills on the floor. It used to hang in the closed off porch at Granny's. I think Suzie wound up with it. Debbie promised me she'd take a photo of it next time she visits her mother. I'd love to get the one of Queen Elizabeth as a baby being held by her mother which hung at the bottom of Granny's stairs. Also, the one of the guys spear fishing on the river that hung over her couch. Plus a ton of others that are out there. I'm hoping some of us have them somewhere. If you do, please take a photo and send it to me. And I'll put it up here. Hopefully, we will get quite the gallery of his work. Thanks.