For the months of July and August, The Gallery at the Glen Rock Public Library welcomes the artwork of Gertrude C. Greco.
Gertrude is a self taught artist, specializing in watercolor, oil, mosaic and mixed media collage. She also is an avid seamstress, chef and entrepreneur. Gertrude’s personal history is closely tied to her artwork- resourceful and optimistic. Her use of vibrant colors and pleasant subject matter are a true testament to her life long resilience. Gertrude’s talent is awe inspiring. She was born in Sri Lanka, and after several familial tragedies- including the political assassinations of her father and grandfather, and after enduring horrible abuse at the hands of her uncle, by the age of six she was an orphan being raised by a convent. Her mistreatment continued until she ‘aged out’ of the system and started her first job at sixteen years old. She was able to earn a living for herself making cards and eventually found a job as a chef at the Japanese embassy in Sri Lanka. With the money she saved she was able to purchase her own shop in the lobby of the embassy. While running her shop, she worked to further her education and studied to be a nurse. Unfortunately her success was shortened by her husband’s escalating abuse and eventually he assumed ownership of the convenience store business she had built. Gertrude narrowly escaped her marriage and the country with her life. Penniless and without a family, she worked as an emergency room nurse at a hospital in Kuwait. Gertrude witnessed horrible violence inflicted upon the women who frequented the ER. As soon as she was able, Gertrude left Kuwait. Unable to return to her home in Sri Lanka, due to her husband’s abusive nature and the fear of her remaining family members, she attained a work visa and came to the United States in 1988. Gertrude worked many jobs, sometimes walking from Ridgewood to Garfield for her next shift. With the money she saved, she tried to become a US Citizen- unfortunately being taken advantage of by two different New Jersey lawyers who claimed to be immigration specialists who accepted payment but never represented her in court. She was finally helped by a local family she was employed by as a nanny- lawyers who helped her extend her work Visa. In the meantime, she found love and eventually marriage with her husband, Robert. Now married for 29 years, together they have two sons and live in a beautiful home in Fair Lawn. Tragedy struck again in 2001 and then again in 2014 when Gertrude was the victim of two car accidents. After many surgeries, she is living with seizures, constant pain and she has lost the ability to drive and use the computer. All the while Gertrude continues to persevere and create art.
Gertrude’s artwork is a relief from her pain- each piece is full of joy and optimism. Through Gertrude’s combination of mediums, just like in her own life’s story, her artwork paints a picture of hope for the future.
