Amado de la Cueva

Happy Birthday Amado de la Cueva

Mexican painter Amado de la Cueva was born today in 1891, in Guadalajara. After studying in Rome, de la Cueva returned to Mexico to paint with the group under Diego Rivera, creating the murals at Secretaria de Educacion Publica. Subsequently he painted his own murals in his hometown at the assembly hall of the Universidad de Guadalajara in collaboration with David Alfaro Sisquieros and Carlos Orozco.

A portion of the mural at Secretaria de Educacion Publica painted in conjunction with Diego Rivera is shown below.

El Torito ( The Little Bull)

Adrian Luis Gonzalez

Happy Birthday Adrian Luis Gonzalez!

Adrian Luis Gonzalez was born on May 5, 1939, in Metepec and is a potter. Metepec is known for its pottery and especially the iconic Tree of Life and decorative suns. He studied with well known potter of the area, Timeoteo Sanchez.  Gonzalez' three sons work with him today in his workshop.

He creates Tree of Life sculptures celebrating various themes including Jesus' birth,, seasons, life and death, etc. Gonzalez also makes miniature scenes of Biblical stories, Catrinas, angels,, and musicians. He works in natural clays mined nearby and paints some surfaces in earth tones while leaving others raw.

In 1985 he was awarded the highest honor in the National Ceramics Competition, in Tlaquepaque, with the Galardon Nacional, for one of his Tree of Life sculptures.

Manuel Tolsa

Happy Birthday Manuel Tolsa!

Architect and sculptor in the Neoclassical tradition, Manuel Tolsa was born on May 4, 1757, in Spain. While in Spain he studied at the Royal Academy of San Carlos (Valencia) and Royal Academy of San Fernando (Madrid). He was appointed first director of San Carlos Academy in New Spain (Mexico)and traveled by sea in 1791. He brought tools, books and plaster replicas of classical sculptures from the Vatican with him at the direction of the King.

Initially he was given several tasks by the government of Mexico City unrelated to his directorship such as replanting the park, supervisor of the city water system, etc. He was able to get these duties off his plate and concentrate on his life's work of artistic endeavors. Tolsa built furniture, created altars and accouterments, and even founded an operating kiln.

Tolsa died in 1816, of a gastric ulcer.

Below you can see one of his extremely ornate Neoclassical altars...from the Temple of Santo Domingo...

Eva Laura Moraga

Happy Birthday Eva Laura Moraga!
Although I am not certain of Eva Laura Moraga's birthday...I do know the date: 1946. She was born in Monterrey and currently lives and works in Hermosillo. Moraga is a painter in oils, acrylic, and watercolor, as well as an engraver. She studied printmaking at La Esmeralda, and painting with Juan Jose Arreola's Casa del Lago in Chapultepec. Her work has been exhibited in several countries.

 She attempts to use familiar images to convey a message. Her figures are described as free and fluid as exemplified in the copper etching pictured below, titled El Eclipse.

Mariano Paredes

Happy Birthday Mariano Paredes!

Born in 1912, Mariano Paredes Limon was from Veracruz, but relocated to Mexico City in 1921, where he studied at San Carlos Academy. Paredes became an engraver and also focused his career on teaching. Francisco Goya and Georges Braque were influential. Although he came onto the art scene at the Mexican Revolution, his work was not politically focused. He created illustrations for books and publications. Paredes was a founder of Taller de Grafica Popular, (People's Graphics Workshop) and a member of several art organizations.

Paredes played around with oils and watercolor but earned his reputation from his engravings. He studied woodcuts and engravings with Sokoi (Czech engraver). In addition to some Mexican nationalism images, his drawings and engravings were diverse, including landscapes, maternity images, country scenes, and still life.

He was the recipient of several awards, including the Engraving Prize from the First National Painting and Engraving Salon (1958)

Desbrozando (Ripping Out)

Celia Calderon

Happy Birthday Celia Calderon!

Born in Guanajuato, in 1921, Celia Calderon was an engraver but also worked in oils and watercolor. Her work was focused on Mexican heroes and popular figures.

She learned engraving from Francisco Diaz de Leon at Escuela de las Artes del Libre. She studied on scholarship in London and also by invitation in China. She was asked to teach watercolor at San Carlos Academy and went on to teach at other institutions as well. Her work was displayed all over the world.

A highly celebrated artist, Calderon was a member of several artist organizations, including Taller de Grafica Popular, Sociedad de Grabadores Mexicana and was a founding member of Salon de Plasticas Mexicana.

Sadly, Celia Calderon committed suicide by fatal gunshot at San Carlos Academy in 1969

Since I am a weaver, I particularly like her work below, titled "La Tejedora" or The Weaver.

Angel Bracho

Happy Birthday Angel Bracho!

The Mexican artist Angel Bracho was born on February 14, 1911, in Mexico City. His father was a captain in the Mexican army and his mother was a farmer worker. His family was not well off and his upbringing is reflected in his art. After four years of primary schooling, he worked at a variety of jobs before beginning his study of art with Diego Rivera and Rufino Tamayo at Escuela Nacional de Artes Plasticas. He became a painter and engraver, focused on the plight of the working people.

Bracho was a founder of Taller de Grafica Popular and created posters and publications for the organization. He was an art teacher; working in primary grades, traveling to give classes around Mexico and donating time as a cultural mission, and finally serving as an advisor for art education programs.

He was called "an artist of the people" because through his expressive style he worked to improve society. His engraving was in the form of linoleum cuts and has been described "simple, precise, and fine". His work has been compared to famed Gustave Dore.

I love the powerful simplicity of the engraving below "La Espiga" or The Spike.