Americo Makk
Makk showed an early interest in art, beginning to sketch at the age of six, and was encouraged by the Benedictine Brothers to pursue his artistic talents.
[1] Makk later taught at the Rome Academy of Fine Art and won the Vatican Portrait Award for his painting of Cardinal József Mindszenty, a prominent opponent of communism in Hungary.
Eva's father, Dr. Bertalan Holusa, a former economic and agricultural adviser to Ethiopia's Haile Selassie, had fled from Africa with his family to France in 1937 as a result of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War and then to São Paulo with its rapid industrialization.
[3][7] The mural reportedly took two years to complete, working 60 to 100 feet in the air on wood scaffolding in "stifling heat and little light.
[3] At this time, Americo and Eva merged their independent styles by working side-by-side on the expansive cathedral murals that appeared to be painted by one hand.
[3][15] Paintings were the medium of choice for the project, as it was known that some tribes hidden in the darkness of the jungle became anxious or reacted violently to camera flashes or flashbulbs.
with pet ocelot "Cica" (Hungarian for "cat"), accompanied by guides and a Catholic missionary priest, embarked on their expedition to study the flora, fauna, and inhabitants of the Amazon rainforest.
[2] With high humidity and rain, the Makks described suffering frequent bites from small black insects, called "piums".
[14] Some tribes they met along the way believed that to have their image painted would result in their souls being stolen, thus simple sketches were made in those regions.
[18][3][21] Through the expedition, the Makks gathered and recorded images of varying indigenous people of Brazil, which included the Macus, Bare, Tucano and Boca Negra (Tenharim).
[8] In a 1982 interview for Aloha Magazine, Eva Makk described the Amazon jungle, "Sometimes it was so dark and dense, we had to use flashlights at high noon in order to see...
[24] As a result of the increasing political unrest in Brazil, the Makks worked on immigrating to the United States to once again escape communism, which took two years to accomplish.
[25][26] They left behind most of their belongings in Brazil to allow room for the Amazon paintings and sketches, taking with them four suitcases and a small amount of cash.
[35] On April 17, 1967, Americo Makk, sponsored by Prince Rainier III, was awarded the top "Director's Prize" by the International Art Exchange, New York-Paris-Monaco Exhibition, for his oil painting titled "Blue Morning.
[38] In 1978, Americo Makk was commissioned to paint a portrait of Jimmy Carter to be presented by Governor George Ariyoshi to the president as a “gift of state” from the people of Hawaii.
The focus of this light is the right side of Carter's face, drawing attention to his scholar's brow and the clear directness of his eyes.
[45][46] Americo created two original portrait studies of the President that were previewed at the Nelson Rockefeller Collection in Palm Springs and were the forerunners to the final painting.
[47][48][3] On March 5, 1983, the Rockefeller Gallery held a reception presenting the early paintings of the President by Americo Makk as part of its West Coast premiere in Palm Springs.
[50] Americo, with Eva and A.B., personally presented the 60-inch by 40-inch painting to President Reagan in the oval office of the White House on March 29, 1984, with the American Hungarian Federation.
[51] An article in the Hawaiian periodical Artists in Paradise said of President Reagan's portrait that its "imagery, execution and technique reflect the spirit of our modern times with their sudden changes in political alignments, their looming national conflicts, their rapid advances in technology, and the need for decisive leadership and prompt action if we are to survive as a nation... Makk's portrait dramatizes the soul and significance of a strong American President.
[54][55] The next collaborative work "Spirit of Paris" was unveiled at a private reception at Lawrence Ross Galleries in Beverly Hills in January 1986.
In 1987, the Makks entered into an agreement with Artcorp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Panz Corporation Ltd., a New Zealand conglomerate, for the publication and distribution of the family's serigraphs.
[57] In the Summer 1988, the Makks opened their serigraphy studio Vision Fine Art Press where they produced the limited edition artwork.
[58] On October 19, 1989, Makk Studios opened its Beverly Hills, CA gallery with Casey Kasem hosting the gala.
The fact that these superbly talented artists- Americo, Eva, and A.B.- so long and firmly established at the highest levels in the world of art, have found merit in my paintings, is my proudest creative achievement.
"[67][68] From 1967 through the present, the Makks have shown their work across the United States at galleries and museums, and internationally in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazilia, Caracas, Madrid, Munich, Monte Carlo, Paris, Lisbon, Vancouver, Vienna, Geneva, Sidney and Montreal.
Over the course of their careers, Americo and Eva Makk donated their talent to preserving and promoting the cultural heritage and history of Hungary.
[72][73][74] At the request of Mississippi Senator John Stennis, the Makks were presented with the United States flag from the Capitol in recognition of the 30th anniversary of "the 1956 Freedom Flight" and for their Hungarian Exhibition displayed in the Rotunda in 1986.
"[84] His work was described by the Valley Morning Star as a "renaissance style" utilizing "Dark colors and dramatic lighting combined to heighten the power and motion of his stampeding horses.
"[85] Collectively, the family's approach has been coined "The Makk style" recognized and taught in art schools as a unique and ennobling technique characterizing the painting from that era.
