Julio Aguilera with his bronze sculpture, 'God of Fire'
A New Prometheus
Julio Aguilera stared at the look of agony on Prometheus' face. The legendary Titan took up most of the God of Fire catalogue's cover (God of Fire is one of the most limited production lines of cigars made by the famous Fuente Family). That night, he went home and opened his sketchbook. One look at the God of Fire on a counter at the De La Concha cigar shop in New York claimed more than two years of the artist's life, bringing him into the cigar world's elite. This one coincidence would end with the names Julio Aguilera, Carlito Fuente and Keith Park etched in bronze.
Aguilera first walked into De La Concha in 2002, quickly becoming a regular at the mid-town shop. Over a few years, he became the "house artist," his skill recognized by the staff and customers alike. Four years after first entering the store, the artist made the quick glance that would burn the God of Fire into his mind. The single image of Prometheus, suffering his daily attack with all the strength he could summon haunted him throughout 2006. Sporadic but feverish fits of creativity followed for two years, as the sculptor forced his vision into firm clay. News spread among the cigar shop's regulars, and store general manager Ron Melendi took notice.
By February 2008, Aguilera had something to show for his efforts. Puffing on a Davidoff Millennium at De La Concha, his usual cigar shop, Aguilera approached his friend, store general manager Ron Melendi. "You have to see this," was the only explanation offered.
After having spent a few years listening to reports of Aguilera's progress on the sculpture, Melendi was thrilled to be able to see something tangible. One day after work, he stopped by the artist's West New York, NJ studio. "It was 'Prometheus,'" Melendi recalls with vivid memory, "no doubt about it." Though still in clay, Melendi immediately noticed the painstaking detail, from sinewy muscles resisting the vicious bird's assault to the heavy chains binding the Titan's hands.
Aguilera's subject matter was uniquely meaningful to Melendi. The seeds for the God of Fire cigar were planted at his wedding in 1999. The cigar industry was well-represented, as one would expect. Fortune brought Carlito Fuente and Prometheus' Ketih Park to the same table. A friendship formed. As it grew, the gentlemen decided to launch a new cigar. The God of Fire was the result, blending Fuente craftsmanship and symbolizing the Prometheus mastery of the flame. Sharing dinner and celebrating Melendi's marriage ultimately led to the catalogue that caught Aguilera's eye on the counter at De La Concha.
Remembering his wedding and unable to shake what he saw in Aguilera's studio, Melendi called Park, who was intrigued, and the photos that Melendi sent later piqued his interest further. Park shared the photos with Fuente, and both cigar industry leaders agreed to participate in the project, and they would sign the sculpture with Aguilera. The missing component, though, was a sponsor. As nothing goes with a powerful cigar quite like a bold espresso, Nik Renieris, founder and CEO of coffee equipment manufacturer Soltazza, agreed to provide the necessary funds. "The money was the only piece missing," he says, "I couldn't let that be the only barrier, not after I saw Julio's masterpiece."
On October 15, 2008, Aguilera's God of Fire will be unveiled for the first time at the God of Fire dinner at New York's Grand Havana Room. Bearing the signatures of Park, Fuente and Aguilera etched in bronze, the sculpture will stand 23 inches tall and weigh close to 80 pounds. The newest God of Fire will be auctioned at the dinner, with the proceeds benefiting the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation, an organization committed to building schools for underprivileged children.
Two years of late night effort and a decade of relationships, all agree, will be evident in the poise of Prometheus, summoning his strength while attacked by a tireless foe.
Tom Johansmeyer
Tom Johansmeyer is a Manhattan-based freelance writer. He covers art market conditions, emerging artists and the recent intersection of fine art and adult entertainment. His work appears regularly in AVN Online, DTM and TraderDaily.com. Tom has also written for Boston magazine, Penthouse, Newsweek Europe and Cigar Report.
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