JULY 6th Artwalk to HONOR the LIFE and WORK of JOSEPH HAWA

​Our beloved Joesph Hawa passed away the morning of June 27, 2019 surrounded by family and the love of all his friends, artists from the Village and the Santora Building of the Arts.
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Joseph moved to the United States from Lebanon in 1996 he attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago and also studied art at Northwestern University of Illinois. After studying in Chicago he relocated to Santa Ana with his mother in the late 1970’s.

Most of us who were lucky enough to share time, collaborate and be inspired by him got to know him from his 20 + years as a resident artist in the Santora Arts Building. Joseph has been an active member of the artist community in Santa Ana since the mid 1990’s.

Joseph’s lifetime art works capture light, color and feelings. He loved nature, animals and the beauty of the naked woman’s body as well. He had a loving and kind heart and his joy for life was evident in all he did.
 
The Santora will never be the same without him. It is definitely the end of an era. He leaves us countless memories of late night conversations about philosophy, life, politics, art and joy!

​In the early days you could always find Joseph at Memphis in the afternoons having a meal and he also loved his bowl of vanilla Ice Cream at the Gypsy Den. If you ran into him he always asked you to sit down and join him, he listened and he shared whatever was on his plate. He also loved to listen to classical music for hours, mostly while he painted.
 
Joseph was a mentor to many and a friend to all. He has touched so many lives along the way. He believed in us, he cheered us, he challenged us to be better artists, to create community, to care for each other. He said to me once “I have many children; they are all over the world, you are one of them Baby” His love and light had no boundaries.

It is a sad day in the village for all, but make no mistake that Joseph’s presence will forever last in the walls of the Santora and in the hearts of all he touched.

​We love you forever Joseph! To Infinity and Beyond my dear friend!

July 6th Artwalk Celebration of Life:

Santora Building
Promenade gathering at 7:30PM
Bring Flowers, Pictures and Candles to Share

Some quotes by Joseph:
 
“The most important work of a painting is to capture light.”
 
“Paint what you feel, not what you think you should.”
 
“Art is not brush and paint, It’s what we think … transferred
to the canvas.”
 
“Nobody does White on White like me”

 
Tribute by Alicia Rojas, Community Artist
Photos provided by Kathie Warren, Souls of Santa Ana and Alicia Rojas
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