"Art from the Heart"

JOURNAL: ISSUE 4 - 2012

Local 1 NY retiree and sculptor, Pietro Cordani, right, and wife Elina, in front of Elina's paintings. At right are two wood sculptures by Brother Cordani.

When an art gallery named "Art from the Heart" opened its door in historic Marlboro, New York on August 26th, no one was more excited than owners Pietro and Elina Cordani, a happily married couple of nearly 30 years.

Pietro Cordani, a 56-year member of Local 1 New York, moved to New York City as a bricklayer from Varsi, Italy in 1958 to work on many of Manhattan's skyscrapers. Retired in 1992, he actively pursued his passion for woodcarving, earning several awards for his sculptures as well as spots for their prominent, public display such as the Town Square in Jensen Beach, Florida and a nature park in Italy.

Despite the ongoing challenges of Parkinson's disease, Brother Cordani carves every day. 

"My husband has always been a very humble person. He is truly incredible and I hope he can inspire other retired bricklayers," says wife Elina. "Not only he is 82 years old, but he does these imaginative wood sculptures without ever having had any formal training."

A talented painter herself, Elina studied privately with many prominent watercolor artists in New York and Italy. After 25 years of teaching at The Lavelle School for the Blind, she started her new career as a painter in 1995. Exhibiting each year in the U.S. and Italy, many of her paintings are in private collections in both the States and overseas.

"I am 73 years old and it's been a lifetime dream to have a gallery," Elina says joufully "We welcome all Union brothers and sisters to visit our beautiful town and our art gallery."

Check out the gallery opening on YouTube: http://youtu.be/BE2b8ccAIKY.