Delores “Del” Viarengo, a 32-year Heath resident who passed away in December, will be remembered in a retrospective this week with over 80 pieces of her art on display. 

“But Is It Art: A Retrospective of Del Viarengo’s Creations,” organized by the Heath Arts Exhibition Committee will be on display from May 20 through 27 in the Heath Community Hall. The opening reception will be on Sunday, May 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. The show will be open every day from Saturday (May 20) to Friday (May 26) from 2 to 4 p.m. and on Saturday (May 27) from 10 a.m. to noon. 

A talented artist who earned her Masters in Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design, Del was first and foremost a caring mother, wife and friend, explained her widower, Bob Viarengo. “She was amazingly thoughtful, caring and reflective,” he said. 

By looking at the art made throughout her life, her family has begun to see Del in a new light. “It is moving to look at her work all together in one place,” her daughter Elissa Viarengo said. 

The family is excited to share with the community this “glimpse into my mom’s soul and spirit,” according to her daughter.

Del Viarengo’s art spans a variety of mediums and subjects. In the show, there will be several series on display including Tuscan landscapes, anti-war Collages, and paintings of calla lilies. 

The Tuscan landscape series was made during a two-month period when the family visited southern Italy. During the vacation, Del Viarengo painted landscapes and incorporated love letters written by her husband’s parents, Italian immigrants courting each other in New York City, into the work. 

“She wanted to take the emotion and passion in the letters and incorporate it with the gorgeously stunning views,” Elissa Viarengo said. 

Artworks of Heath will also be on display. Del Viarengo made five pieces of meadows, fields and barns in town. These recognizable pieces show the artist’s love of the place she lived. 

In 2004 she was instrumental in having the town center recognized as a National Historic District while serving on the Heath Historical Commission. This act shows that her passion went beyond her art, and translated into action for the town. 

The family hopes people will get a sense of Del Viarengo from the setup of the display. There will be easels with her unfinished work and displays of the material she worked with, giving a glimpse into her process as an artist.

“As a family member, it will be pretty emotional sharing the interworkings of my mom with the community. It is incredibly special,” Elissa Viarengo said. 

Reach Bella Levavi at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com

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