Quarterback painting latest from USC artist
Like Norman Rockwell, 56-year-old artist Dino Guarino’s work calls up iconic and serene imagery that invokes nostalgia and a timeless sense of place. The Brookline native and Upper St. Clair resident has paid homage to six Hall of Fame quarterbacks from Western Pennsylvania in his latest 3 x 5 foot oil painting titled “Gridiron Gold” to be auctioned off June 6 at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh to benefit the Neighborhood Legal Services Association.
“A lot of my work is remembrance of a simpler time. So when you reminisce about growing up in this area, so many images come to mind, like the orange glow in the night sky radiating from the mills, the closeness of family and friends, and the excitement and revelry of Friday night football,” Guarino said.
In the painting, George Blanda, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Joe Namath and Johnny Unitas are all in hey-day form, ready to throw; they overlook the pink and purple horizon cast over a Friday night football game.
“Those two teams are any team. The colors may be red and white, and blue and gold, but this could be Mt. Lebanon against Upper St. Clair as well as it could be Ambridge taking on Aliquippa – the painting just puts you into the scene, the scene where so many football games have played out in this area – in a stadium or park seemingly cut into the neighborhood, and not out on some highway 10 miles out of town,” he said.
Guarino said he took care in detailing each athlete’s features, but was particular about Unitas and Namath.
“Unitas was from Brookline, my old neighborhood, and he’s one of the guys I probably would’ve been most excited to meet if he were still around. Same with Namath. He was like the Arnold Palmer for the league at the time, bringing it into popularity with his bravado and his personality that really drove home football as part of American culture,” he said.
The painting, to be signed by Marino, Kelly, Namath and Montana, will be auctioned off at the June 6 event with other sports memorabilia from local and national sports celebrities. For tickets and more information, visit www.gridirongoldpgh.com.
Guarino’s portfolio includes mural and church artwork.
“Whether it’s Clemente, Marino or Jesus, I want it to be joyful, both for myself as the painter and for the viewer to experience. I want there to be joy and happiness when you see them.”