Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Memories with Peter Rakobowchuk a.k.a. Peter Ray and our Daughter, Giselle at a


                 Winterlude Festival in "Forward to the Past"

 

    Agota Szabo: "The Canadian Parliament" egg tempera on board (Ottawa, 1991)



An offer of choices of Christmas cards, including the one printed of my painting of the Canadian Parliament, was sent to the members of parliament to choose those they wanted send to relatives and or constituents, in Ottawa in 1991.

 

 






A new Winterlude festival.is just around the corner so I put back my post from last year with some photos, as the way forward to a long past Winterlude is getting longer...

Had those, till now unknown facts in my past personal life not surfaced through the internet I would probably be living my life in ignorance and wouldn't be wandering around the past for explanations to many unanswered questions,

Peter Rakobowchuk alias Peter Ray my then-husband reporter at The Canadian Press got transferred and we moved to the home of this famous Canadian winter festival...I really loved to live there. Then our home wrecker arrived to work on Parliament Hill where my husband worked...



   Peter Rakobowchuk aka Peter Ray with his firstborn daughter, Giselle Rakobowchuk (Gigi) From his marriage with Agota Szabo Canadian-Hungarian artist by Lake Ontario





Me with  Giselle our daughter and our car, before moving to Ottawa













Moved to Nepean

Peter Rakobowchuk doing what he's been doing best for years – hiding






Peter Rakobowchuk aka Peter Ray with Giselle Rakobowchuk his firstborn daughter at the Winterlude Festival in Ottawa






Winterlude, Ottawa 2014. Photo by Giselle on her way to work in -30°C

 



Friday, May 20, 2022

A Silent Walk

I am particularly attached to this small landscape painting of Agota Szabo as not only is the painting itself enchanting (the digital version here on the net offers a widely different effect than the small, shimmering original) but what is fascinating is the fact that each and every point of paint was truly brushed onto the canvas by hand, dot-by-dot and in various layers.

 The colour-combination of these landscape paintings also took Agota years to develop as she was (and is) always captivated by so many combinations that she often finds it difficult to aprove on a final, acceptable variation. This small painting took her several weeks to paint (day-and-night work as is customary when she paints) but I do believe the autumn colours, the almost invitingly dismal shades of red and green are a fine accompaniment to the tune of the scene itself, where there is something attractively charming in the aura of serenity that accompanies the couple taking a walk in the silent night.


"Street Crossing at the Bank" by Agota Szabo

"Street Crossing at the Bank" painting by Agota Szabo



Egy Csendes Séta

Különösen szívemhez nőtt ez a kis tájkép festmény Ágota Szabótól mert nemcsak maga a festmény bűvöl el (a digitális változat itt a neten egészen más effektust kínál, mint a kicsi, ragyogó eredeti), hanem elkápráztató az a tény, hogy minden egyes festék pontot kéz ecsetelt fel a vászonra, pont pontot követve a különböző rétegeken át.

Ágotának évekbe tellett ezeknek a tájkép festményeknek a szín kombinációját kifejleszteni, mivel mindig (és most is) annyiféle kombináció nyeri el a tetszését, hogy gyakran nehéznek találja a rábólintást a végső, elfogadható variációra. Ennek a kis festménynek az elkészítése jó pár hetet vett igénybe (dolgozás éjjel-nappal, mint ahogy ez szokásos, amikor fest), de úgy vélem az őszi színek, a vörös és zöld szinte hívogatóan komor árnyalatai gyönyörű kísérő zenét adnak magának a jelenetnek a dallamához. Van valami vonzóan varázslatos a nyugodtság kisugárzásában, amely kíséri a néma éjszakában sétát tevő párt.

Written by Giselle Rakobowchuk




Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Agota Szabo was once modeling director at Jerry Lodge Talent Agency, Vancouver

Agota Szabo with her models and Marie Morton
Agota Szabo with her models and Marie Morton

Before launching her career as an artist, Agota (Agatha) Szabo had been working together with Marie Morton in Vancouver as a model director at Jerry Lodge Talent Agency where actors such as Kim Cattrall and Michael J. Fox launched their careers with the help of their personal agent Marie Morton. My mom quite often sent the now world-famous stars to fashion shows and photo shoots (well, Michael J. Fox was sent out modelling when they needed a young teenager - and he was about 21 at the time).

Agota Szabo with Marie Morton
Agota Szabo with Marie Morton

Agota Szabo left Marie, her models and the Agency, even though she was very happy there and loved her job, because she met her future husband and she moved away with him to Toronto. Jerry Lodge Talent Agency was eventually changed to Marie Morton Talent Agency. On S.L. Feldman and Associates' website it states that; "Recognizing the synergistic possibilities of music, film and live entertainment, Feldman diversified and in 1990 he purchased Marie Morton Talent, Western Canada's most successful theatrical agency. It was re-branded as The Characters and thus created      Canada's first full-service talent agency."

The Marie Morton (who was also a close friend of Agota Szabo) the talent agent should indeed be praised for the laudable efforts and energy she had invested in her actors and actresses, whom she had represented as their personal agent. She was also one of the nicest and kindest persons my mother had ever met!

Marie Morton with Michael J. Fox

Marie Morton with Michael J. Fox (credit Vancouver Sun)


I myself would like to share these photos of Agota Szabo. Proud indeed as I am of her past, more proud am I of her as the true artist she is.

Article of Agatha (Agota) in Dazzle Vancouver Fashion Magazine

Article about Agatha (Agota Szabo) in Vancouver's Dazzle Fashion Magazine


Agota Szabo's then model, now actress Kim Cattrall in Dazzle Magazine, Vancouver

Agota Szabo's then model, now actress Kim Cattrall in Dazzle Magazine, Vancouver





Marie, somebof my models and me with my presents







The cover of Dazzle magazine presents the interview with me and my work at J                                          Jerry Lodge (Agatha)



Agota Szabo in her office at Jerry Lodge Talent Agency

Agota Szabo in her office at Jerry Lodge Talent Agency


Agota Szabo's then model, now actress Kim Cattrall in Dazzle Magazine, Vancouver

Agota Szabo's then model, now actress Kim Cattrall in Dazzle Magazine, Vancouver





Celebrating Christmas in Vancouvrr with Marie and her lovely family


Sunday, May 15, 2022

A World as Seen - An Art as LivedPeter Marboe

I think one of the beauties of art is not simply its nature of being subjective and diversely interpretable but of being a sort of ciphered reflection of life. Undeniably, artistic pride allows artists to officially proclaim that they are the very proprietors of the meanings of all that is life, culture and society but, at the same time, it provides them with a sense of responsibility that they are commissioned to make people think.

An intriguing life of travels, experiences and adventures is most surely captured underneath and between the layers of paint as the perfume of joy, sorrow, love and pain emanates from the very base layer of canvas seething through the painting as a whole.

Before Szabo found herself up to her neck with paint and inspiration, she had lived a relatively glamorous life. I'll begin this little series of her journeys with a photo of her taken on her move to Canada (from Italy) on the ship called Michelangelo. The famous name of the boat was perhaps a coincidence but I believe that all roads lead to a destiny we are forever searching for.

The captain of the Michaelangelo receiving the passengers on thevfirst evening


Here, I am dancing with Peter Marboe, who was traveling to the US to work at  Austrian Embasy. Later he became the leader of the Austrian People's Party.


      On the photo you can see the flags representing the nationalities of the      travelers. Agota Szabo's Hungarian flag can also be seen.


                                                       After supper 

Egy látott világ, egy megélt művészet

Úgy vélem a művészet egyik szépsége szubjektív természete és sokféle lehetséges tolmácsolhatósága mellett az, hogy az élet valamiféle rejtjeles visszatükröződése. Tagadhatatlan, művészi önhittség engedi meg a művészeknek, hogy hivatalosan hirdethessék magukról, az ő birtokukban van mindaz, ami az élet, a kultúra és a társadalom valódi értelmét jelenti, bár ugyanakkor, ők viszont egy felelősségérzettel teli megbízást kaptak arra, hogy az embereket gondolkodásra késztessék.

Egy utazásokkal, tapasztalatokkal és kalandokkal érdekfeszítőre formált élet van minden bizonnyal megragadva és elrejtve a festékrétegek alatt és között, amint öröm, szomorúság, szeretet és fájdalom sugárzik magából a vászon alapból és forrongva kavarog a festmény egészén belül.

Mielőtt még Szabo festékkel és inspirációval a feje búbjáig ellepve találta magát, meglehetősen vonzó és elegáns életet élt. Ezt, az utazásairól szóló kis sorozatot, egy fényképpel kezdem, amely a Michelangelo nevű hajón készült, amikor költözött Kanadába (Olaszországból). Lehetett e hajó híres neve csak egy véletlen, de én hiszek abban, hogy minden út egy olyan sors felé vezet, amelyet mi   magunk  örökké és szüntelenül keresünk.

Written by Giselle Rakobowchuk

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Theoretical Knowledge

Despite the fact that the very famous quote of Descartes has, in many respects, lost the delicious substance of its purpose and true meaning and has been rendered into a cliché, I shall nonetheless post it here for all to read and see, along with a painting of Szabo.

"Dubito ergo cogito, cogito ergo sum". (René Descartes)

"I doubt therefore I think, I think therefore I am".

I spend a decent amount of time pondering on rumination itself and I often come to realize the veritable value of such a pleasant occupation. It is such a rich pleasure to lose yourself in the ocean of thought and the silent waves of knowledge, to find yourself seated in a quiet room and to turn the crisp pages of a grand volume (or perhaps flip the digital ones of an ebook reader), to give free flow to the "windmills of your mind" while considering the debates of empiricism versus rationalism and to taste the chocolate pieces that can be discovered in the box of epistemology. Those who savor such pasttimes know they can be just as intriguing as, say, watching a movie!


"Theoretical Knowledge" by Agota Szabo
 
"Theoretical Knowledge" by Agota Szabo

Elméleti Tudás

Habár Descartes nagyon híres idézete mára sok szempontból elveszítette valódi szándékának és értelmének finom lényegét és legtöbbször már csak egy elkoptatott frázisként interpretálják, mindezek ellenére felteszem ebbe a posztba, hogy mindenki olvashassa és láthassa Szabo egyik festményével együtt.

"Dubito ergo cogito, cogito ergo sum". (René Descartes)

"Kételkedem, tehát gondolkodom, gondolkodom, tehát vagyok".

Gyakran tűnődök el magán a gondolkodáson is, ami sokszor ráébreszt egy ilyen kellemes elfoglaltság igaz értékére. Valóban gazdag élmény elmerülni a gondolat óceánjában és a tudás néma hullámaiban, üldögélni egy csendes szobában, forgatni egy grandiózus kötet zizegő lapjait (vagy akár egy E-könyv olvasó digitális oldalait lapozgatni), szabad utat engedni "elméd szélmalmainak", közben az empiricizmus és racionalizmus vitáját fontolgatni és az episztemológia dobozában fellelhető csokoládé darabkákat megkóstolni. Azok, akik érzik az ilyenfajta időtöltések zamatát tudják, hogy ezek ugyanolyan lenyűgözőek lehetnek, mint mondjuk egy filmet nézni!

Written by Giselle Rakobowchuk

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Tuesday, May 10, 2022

At the Edge of the World

Reader, enchanted and pleased as I have left you in the small country of sheltered nature described in my previous post, be now, of a sudden, snatched away from it all and placed to the very edge of the world.

"Far and wide", distant and grand, glorious and silent as the frost of solitude. The rumbling wind beckons its visitors to seek mystery. The mischievous lengths of a journey flatter the wearied traveller into believing that the end of the road is soon to come. Rugged landscape meets untouched peace.

The soaring heights of mountains reach a firmament unbeknownst to the specks of mortals deep below. Where there is no boundary to forests, no limits to rivers and lakes, where the sky melts into space as part of the universe above there also can be found the unified chant of diversity. "O Canada!" it does echo.


A világ peremén

Olvasó, ahogy elvarázsoltan és boldogan ott maradtál abban az előző posztomban bemutatott, természet által elrejtett kis országban, úgy most hadd ragadjalak el onnan és hadd helyezzelek le a világ legeslegszélére.

"Hatalmas távolságokon át", távoli és óriás, ragyogó és hallgatag, mint a magány fagyott zúzmarája. A morajló szél a titokzatosság keresésére hívogatja látogatóit. Egy-egy utazás hosszú távolságai  pajkosan hitegetik a kimerült utast, hogy az út vége már nincs messze. Itt, ezen a helyen a csiszolatlan táj érintetlen békével találkozik.

A hegyek szárnyaló magassága olyan égbolthoz ér fel, ami már a mélységben levő halandók csöpp kis foltjai tudatán túl létezik. Ahol az erdőknek nincs határa, a folyóknak és a tavaknak nincsenek korlátai, ahol az ég a világegyetem részeként a világűrbe olvad, ott fent található a diverzitás egyesült éneke. "Ó Kanada!" visszhangzik.

Written by Giselle Rakobowchuk

A Hidden Gem

Dear Reader,

I invite you and kindly entreat you to imagine a world; a small world of its own hidden in the recesses of time by the emerald leaves of lush forests and the grass of rolling hills; by the infinity of flat plains and by the uniqueness of its language; by the vines of savory grapes and by the tumults of an ancient history. It is guarded by the majesty of two, great Rivers and shrouded by the whispers of a single Lake. It is ensconced in the valley of hope and tragedy and its history is heard by few.

Seek this world, pull aside the veil of obscurity and you will find a country called Hungary.



Egy elrejtett drágakő                                                                               

Kedves Olvasó!

Meghívlak és arra kérlek képzelj el egy világot; egy kis világot, önmagában, elbújva az idő és az általunk megszokott és megtapasztalt világ mélyedéseiben.

Ezt a világot friss erdők smaragdzöld levelei és hullámzó dombok füvei; lapos síkságok végtelensége és nyelvének egyedülállósága; ízletes szőlőinek indái és egy ősi történelem viharai rejtik el. Két hatalmas Folyó fensége őrzi és egyetlen Tó suttogásainak leple takarja be. Ez a kis világ behúzódott a remény és tragédia völgyébe, és történelmét kevesen hallották.

Keresd ezt a világot, húzd félre a homály leplét és egy olyan országot fogsz találni, amit Magyarországnak hívnak.

Written by Giselle Rakobowchuk

The Sound of Vision

The sight of a painting imprints upon the soul indelible mixtures of emotions and even of sounds. If one sees, par example, an image of a reed bent by the wind, one can easily imagine the whiffing and blowing sound that accompanies such a sight in the same way as the flowing and bubbling noise might dance in our visionary ears when presented by a picture of a small brook. With the single sense of sight we can blend and combine the remaining senses of memory, which take us to places we may have seen in the past, to locations we might wish to behold or to those we can only imagine. Along the way our emotions are stirred and the journey might have the power to change our very life.



A látvány hangja

Egy festmény látványa érzelmek, sőt hangok kitörölhetetlen keverékét vési a lélekre. Ha valaki, például egy szélben hajlongó nádas képét látja, könnyen el tudja képzelni a fuvallatok és széllökések hangját, ami egy ilyen látványt kísér, ugyanúgy, mint ahogy vízfolyás és vízcsobogás hangjai táncolhatnának képzeletbeli fülünkben, ha egy kis forrás képét mutatnák nekünk. A látás egyetlen érzékével összekeverhetjük, egyesíthetjük a többi érzék emlékezetmaradványait, amik olyan helyekre visznek el minket, melyeket talán már láthattunk a múltban, esetleg szeretnénk meglátogatni vagy olyanokra, amilyeneket csak elképzelni tudunk. Útközben, érzelmeink megmozdulnak és az út magát az életünket is megváltoztathatja.

Written by Giselle Rakobowchuk

The Artist Within

I would that I could say of myself "I am a professional art critic" or that "I am an art historian" or an "art dealer". I can state none of the above. I am, quite simply, a "Lover of all that is Art". I thrive on inspiration leading to inspiration which in turn conducts the mind to thought, to creation and to the very quintessence of expression; Art.
I indeed hope that by creating the tiny, mosaic pieces of the blog I will eventually compose a Painting in full that will offer the readers a glimpse into Agota Szabo's World of Art and into my love of writing. I hope this view will present a world not merely as seen and admired by the "eyes of the beholder" but a world as lived by the Artist.

 §

A művész szemlélődő
Bárcsak elmondhatnám magamról "hivatásos művészeti kritikus vagyok", vagy "művészettörténész vagyok", vagy akár "műkereskedő". A fentiek közül egyiket sem állíthatom. Egészen egyszerűen "A művészetek szeretője vagyok". Az inspiráció éltet, ami inspirációhoz vezet, amely az elmét vezeti felváltva gondolkodáshoz, majd alkotáshoz és a kifejezésre juttatás kvinteszenciájához; a Művészethez.
Valóban remélem, hogy e kicsinyke mozaikokból összeálló blog alkotásával idővel egy teljes Festményt komponálok, ami az olvasók számára bepillantást enged a "Művészetek Világába". Remélem ez a látvány nem csak a "szemlélő szemeivel" látott és csodált világot fogja bemutatni, hanem egyidejűleg a Művész által megélt világot is.
 

Friday, April 15, 2022

Portraits painted by Agota Szabo commissioned by Conte Paolo Sassoli di Bianchi

Agota Szabo was commissioned by Conte Paolo Sassoli di Bianchi to paint these two portraits of his wife and of his daughter Chantellina in Italy.


Portrait Painting of "Laura" wife of Conte Paulo Sassoli de Bianchi by Agota Szabo


Portrait of "Laura" wife of Conte Paolo Sassoli de Bianchi by Agota Szabo


Portrait Painting of daughter of Conte Paolo Sassoli de Bianchi by Agota Szabo


Portrait Painting of daughter of Conte Paolo Sassoli de Bianchi by Agota Szabo


             

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Painting of Connie by Agota Szabo

Of all her paintings, the translucent shades of warmth yet at the same time of distant contemplation has always made this one my favourite. I will later comment more on it, on the technique used to paint it and also on its history.

For the present I wish to introduce Agota Szabo as the Artist, with this painting entitled "Connie".


"Connie" by Agota Szabo

"Connie" by Agota Szabo

Összes festménye közül a melegség áttetsző színeibe öltözött távolba merengés ezt a festményt mindig is a kedvenceim közé emelte. Egy későbbi posztban még fogok írni  róla, a technikáról, amivel festve van és a történetéről.

Egyelőre, ezzel a "Connie" című festménnyel Ágota Szabót, a művészt szeretném bemutatni.


Written by Giselle Rakobowchuk

Madame Marcelle Dumoulin Canadian Consul in Switzerland and her portrait by Agota Szabo

Photo of Madame Marcelle Dumoulin Canadian Consul in Switzerland

Madame Marcelle Dumoulin
Canadian Consul in Switzerland 


Portrait Painting of Madame Marcelle Dumoulin Canadian Consul in Switzerland by Agota Szabo

Portrait Painting of Madame Marcelle Dumoulin Canadian Consul in Switzerland by Agota Szabo

                                                               
 

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Giselle Rakobowchuk during her last year as university student, giving a presentation at a conference at University of Pecs in Hungary


G
iselle Rakobowchuk, daughter of Canadian Press reporter Peter Rakobowchuk from his first marriage with Agota Szabo Canadian-Hungarian artist. Although she was born and grew up in Canada she finished her BA in Sociology in Hungarian at the University of Pécs with excellent marks, she was one of their  the best students.

Here, below some photos taken during her last year at university. She was honored to have been asked to give a presentation at that conference
.                                                                                                                                                                                                    



Giselle arriving to the conference
                            

Giselle is waiting in the back to give her presentation



Giselle is giving her presentation



The distinguished professors and visitors




Giselle Rakobowchuk st the university listening to a lecture


Giselle with her friend at university




Giselle going out with some friend, peers at university


LINKS to Pécsi Tudományegyetem website (University of Pécs) with her name: (First link a published study, second link a research with three professors of the University of Pécs and third links to the invitation to the conference again with her name):


http://szociologia.btk.pte.hu/acta-sociologica-2010-3-evf-1-szam


http://www.old.innovacio.pte.hu/files/tiny_mce/KFI_Strategia/PTEszekunderelemzes201002.pdf.


http://www.btk.pte.hu/index.php?p=news&act=lst&cid=380&print



http://szociologia.btk.pte.hu/acta-sociologica-2010-3-evf-1-szam




http://www.innovacio.pte.hu/files/tiny_mce/KFI_Strategia/PTEszekunderelemzes201002.pdf











Saturday, April 2, 2016



Giselle, daughter of Peter Rakobowchuk a.k.a. Peter Ray, journalist for The Canadian Press (Broadcast News) moved with her mother, Agota from Canada to Hungary...anno...



It is about the time we, Giselle, (our daughter with Peter Rakobowchuk, my ex-husband) and I moved from Canada to Hungary. The local paper wrote an article about me, the "Canadian" artist, born in Hungary, moving back home so she could paint there..










Agi (Agota) and some of her most favourite paintings





"Szabo Agota finished high school with excellent marks. She wanted to be an artist but her parents sent her to a university of medicine...she "defected" as it was called those days...she herself doesn't know why Italy attracted her... Later she lived in Canada,





"...she became a department manager...She sent models to large magazines to present their clothes. It is memorable for her that Michael J. Fox, who became a great star later, was among them. (Agota) Agi's career broke in half when she married a radio reporter and they moved away. But something new started for her when their daughter (Giselle) Gizella or Zsizsi was born.





"...when she grew up a little Agi took out her old dream, painting. She studied from books. Her daughter is studying at Sagvari in first year. Her mother tells about the difficulties she has with her study materials. Though Zsizsi speaks the colloquial Hungarian (besides English she speaks French, German and now learning Italian)..."
















"...I had exhibitions by then as I did become a painter. With the help of my Italian contacts I visited the famous Italian painter Pietro Annigoni with my paintings. He encouraged me, trusted in my talent . But I kept thinking of going to university to take art. They (at the Art Department looked at my paintings and asked why I wanted to go to school when I was already a professional artist."