Augustin Parra Echauri

Happy Birthday Augustin Parra Echauri!

Born today in 1960, this artist/artisan is known for creating colonial style religious works. The eighth child, born to sculptor Jose Parra Villlalpando, studied business administration at University of Guadalajara. Basically a self-taught artist, he owns two shops, one dedicated to his own work. In addition he has distributed his work to hotels, haciendas and restaurants.

Each of his creations are made utilizing the colonial methods and materials whenever possible. He cures his own wood for carving, uses clay, egg yolks, dirt and even makes his own glue from rabbit collagen, giving each work an individual and unique character. He is also expert at estofado, or covering wood with plaster, creating a surface to be painted.

 

Pedro Patino Ixtolinque

Happy Birthday Pedro Patino Ixtolinque!

This sculptor was of Mexican and Mestiza (mixed Indian and European) race and born in 1774. He studied at Academy of San Carlos after first having to prove his "pure Spanish Indian" descent to qualify for a spot reserved for students of that distinction. There he worked with sculptors Manuel Tolsa and Santiago Sandoval and went on to work in collaboration with Tolsa on various cathedral works. An image of America was commissioned by Melchor Muzquiz the governor of the State of Mexico, in 1825, to stand with another representing Liberty, at Jose Maria Morelos' tomb, in Cuautla.   "America"  depicted a native woman with feathers, bow and arrow and was created in the Neoclassical style showing great influence of Tolsa. "America" appears below.

Lenora Carrington

Happy Birthday Lenora Carrington!

Lenora Carrington was born today, April 6, 1917,  to a wealthy textile manufacturer. An unruly child, Carrington was finally sent to a private art school, in Florence, Mrs. Penrose's Academy of Art. She became enchanted with Surrealism and after studying art in London, met Surrealist, Max Ernst. The two were immediately compatible and relocated to Paris, then Southern France, where they lived and worked until the outbreak of World War II and German born Ernst was forced to flee to America. He eventually married his benefactor, Peggy Guggenheim.

The devastated Carrington was in and out of hospitalization for her heartbreak and finally found herself in Mexico. She lived and worked there until her death at age 94. While in Mexico, she met and married photographer Emerico Weisz and had two sons. Her work seemed to always center around her life at the time, whether it be her joy and commitment to Ernst and their relationship, or her freedom later from mental anguish. It often contained magical, imaginative  creatures. She also became a spokesperson for the Women's Liberation in Mexico and designed a poster for the cause. Although she never expected it, her work was widely exhibited and she was appreciated as one of the last Surrealist artists of the 1930's. In 2005 her work El Juglar (The Juggler) was sold at Christie's auction for $713,000 USD, the highest price to ever be fetched for a living Surrealist work. I have included an image of that painting below.

Jose Salome Pina

Happy Birthday Jose Salome Pina!

Nineteenth century Mexican painter Jose Salome Pina was born in 1830. He trained at San Carlos Academy with Pelegrí Clave. Pina continued his art education in Paris after winning a scholarship, and later in Rome, becoming a renowned painter of religious works. He returned to Mexico and taught at San Carlos Academy, training, among others, German Gedovius and Diego Rivera. Inevitably his work fell out of favor as religious art gave way to socially conscious, perhaps even political,  art. Jose Salome Pina died in 1909. Today Pina is revered as one of Mexico's greatest artists. One of his most well known and loved works is "Samson and Delilah" pictured below.


                                       

Mathias Goeritz

Happy Birthday Mathias Goeritz!

Born today, April 4, 1915, in Danzig, Germany (now Poland), Mathias Goeritz was a painter, sculptor and architect. He was raised in Berlin and studied art history and philosophy at what is now Humboldt University of Berlin. He received a doctorate in Art History, in 1940. He studied painting and sculpture in Berlin and worked with various artists in Germany before leaving during World War II and living and working in Spain and North Africa.

He was married to Marrianne Goeritz, a photographer and they immigrated to Mexico in 1949. Goeritz taught art history at La Escuela de Arquitectura and designed the Museo Experimental El Eco in 1952-53 in Mexico City. He created monumental sculptures in collaboration with Luis Barragan. His work has been exhibited across Mexico and he has been a positive influence on many Mexican artists. Torres de la Ciudad Satelite (Towers of Satellite City) 1957, is represented below.  

Ramon Sagredo

Happy Birthday Ramon Sagredo!

Mexican painter and photographer Ramon Sagredo was born in 1834, in Hidalgo. At the age of 20 he trained at San Carlos Academy and began painting under the patronage of  Emperor Maximilian. Much of his earlier work was done in partnership with Catalonian master Pelegri Clave. His works were primarily religious in nature, as well as portraiture. He eventually set up his own studio in Mexico City. He received high praise for his painting, but when his monetary resources ran low he resorted to painting over photographs for a pittance. Sadly Sagredo committed suicide at the age of 39.

My favorite painting of this artist is Jesus on the Road to Emmaus, shown below. I think the ethereal quality of Jesus is somehow so comforting...

Edgardo Coghlan

Happy Birthday Edgardo Coghlan!

Edgardo Coghlan was born in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, in 1928. He began painting as a child using watercolor because he couldn't really afford oils. He continued his work with watercolor in his professional career after training at Academia Nacional de Artes Plasticas. His mentor was Spanish painter Jose Bardasano and his focus became landscapes and people.

After traveling to Israel and Jordan, under the sponsorship of several collectors, Coghlan returned to Mexico with a collection of over 60 watercolors and pencil drawings. The entire portfolio was purchased! He co-founded the Sociedad Mexicana de Acuarelistas (the Society of Mexican Watercolorists) to promote the fact that watercolor is and should be considered by all, just as important an art form as other types of painting.  His work is included in collections all over the world and he has won several recognitions.