Adalberto Alvarez Marines

Happy Birthday Adalberto Alvarez Marines!

Born into a traditional family in Huanderacero, Michoacan, in 1952, Adalberto Alvarez Marines began his art career illustrating and writing but is now a sculptor working in cartoneria. His work has gained recognition as art since it veers from the traditional "handcraft" paper mache in theme and artistic direction. He is not a fan of exhibits or art shows, preferring to concentrate on his work in his studio and has created his own Cartoneria Museum in the upper story of his home . He creates skeletal figures, decorative items, even furniture from paper mache, focusing on indigenous figures, fantasy (alebrijes), and nightmares from childhood. He was crowned Grand Master of Mexican Folk Art in 2014. He grew up in Mexico City, but moved to Santa Catarina Ayotzingo, Chalco, State of Mexico, in 1975, where he still lives. He teaches classes at Fábrica de Arte y Oficios Tlahuac.

cartoneria-sculpture using hardened paper mache as the medium. Traditional in parts of Mexico, also known as "carton piedra" or hard rock, the method is used for masks, pinatas, dolls, etc.

German Gedovius

Happy Birthday German Gedovius!

Painter German Gedovius was born in 1867, in Mexico City and originally was deaf. He studied art at the Academy of San Carlos for four years but was sent to Germany at age 20 to study art and have his ears medically treated in hopes of correcting the lack of hearing he was born with. The surgery was successful and at age 21 he learned to speak German! While in Germany he traveled Europe and was enamored by the Dutch Baroque painters to whom are credited as influences on his subsequent painting (Frans Hals, Rembrandt). He lived in Germany for eleven years, studying drawing, painting and color theory with various teachers, before returning to Mexico City. There he became a teacher at the Academy of Fine Arts as well as pursuing his own painting career. Gedovius lived until 1937.

                                                          Jarron con las Rosas y Frutas

Azteca de Gyves

Happy Birthday Azteca de Gyves!

This woman artist was born on February 16, 1963, in Juchitan de Zaragosa, Oaxaca, and she is of Zapotec heritage. Azteca de Gyves is one of only two important artists from her city. She graduated with a sociology degree and then studied painting. She currently works in painting,  mixed media and lithography. Her work is greatly infloenced by her indigenous heritage. Gyves is a featured artist at Museo de Mujeres Artistas Mexicanas and a member of the Mexican Fine Arts Salon. Her work has been exhibited around the world as well as donated for charitable causes. Negra Pena is pictured below.

Francisco Guevara

Happy Birthday Francisco Guevara!

Born in 1978, in Puebla, Francisco Guevara is a sculptor and performance/installation artist. Primarily known for constructing edible sculptures, installations and performances, Guevara is fascinated with the symbolic meaning of food and rituals revolving around food. He studied at several universities in Mexico.  He is also a curator, and has been involved in the organization of several exhibits. He has had 20 shows of his own work and included in several collectives. He has been instrumental in promoting many artist exchanges in various countries.

 

An Art of Sustenance

Ernesto Icaza

Happy Birthday Ernesto Icaza!

Somehow I missed this Western Art painter's birthday! He was born on January 26, 1866, one of four children. Ernesto Icaza was an avid horseback rider and quite well known for his western style painting. His nickname was "charro pintor" . A member of the Mexican Muralist movement, he also painted some murals in the early nineteen hundreds. Unfortunately, little is written about Icaza's art career. He died in 1935.

Veronica Ruiz de Velasco

Happy Birthday Veronica Ruiz de Velasco!

Although painter Veronica Ruiz Velasco currently lives in the US, she was born in Mexico, in 1968. She began her studies at La Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes La Esmeralda in 1983 and just a year later had her first exhibition. She also traveled to Paris to study. She is a follower of Teodula Romulo and  Rufino Tamayo among others.

Her work has been displayed in Mexico as well as the US. I see an influence of French Impressionist Degas with some neo-figurative nuances.

She currently resides in Dallas, Texas.

 

Dancer

Manuel Rodriguez Lozano

Happy Birthday Manuel Rodriguez Lozano!

Painter Manuel Rodriguez Lozano was born sometime between 1894-97, in Mexico City. His family was rich and culturally astute with interests in art and music, allowing him to focus on art as well.

After his marriage, his father in law was a powerful political figure who was exiled from Mexico, so the family fled to Paris. He led a rather tumultuous lifestyle, death of his little girl, separating from his wife after disagreements over his friends, accusations of a homosexual relationship, etc. He had several pupils who went on to become important artists in their own right.

He was director of Escuela Nacional de Artes Plasticas but was imprisoned after some prints by Albrecht Durer and Gino Reno were lent and subsequently stolen and he was held responsible.

His Self Portrait of 1894 is shown today, said to be one of his finest works.