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ARTIST HIGHLIGHTS Find Out Who Donated This Year!
Children’s China
What’s in store for 2017?
NATM Art 2016 Guide
Dear Friend of the Children’s Museum, Play is the way young children learn and develop. At the Children’s Museum of Brownsville, we believe that play is a necessity, not a luxury; and that every child should have a safe and nurturing place to play and learn alongside their caring adults.
Children’s Museum of Brownsville
501 E Ringgold St #5 Dean Porter Park Brownsville, TX 798520 cmofbrownsville.org
As a community based organization, the Museum is asking for your help by supporting out annual fundraiser, “A Night at the Museum--Take a Bite of the Big Apple”. This event will be held October 28th at the Ringgold Civic Pavillion and tickets are only $50 each. Admission includes libations, heavy hors d’ooeuvres and a silent auction. This is sure to be an all-around exciting evening for adults! This year’s funds are dedicated to an amazing cultural exhibit called “Children’s China” which is coming in 2017. Please call 956-548-9300 or visit our website cmofbrownsville.org to support the CMB.
MUÑECA DELEÓN
Muñeca deLeón, a border artist most notably associated as the sister of local favorite painter Franchute, is also an accomplished artist in the vein of contemporary pop and impressionism. Her designs express emotion and movement with pieces made with mediums such as acrylics, oils, ink and various other mixed medias. She currently lives in Houston, TX. Left “Untitled” 17” x 14” Mixed Media
Above “Untitled” 15” x 12” Mixed Media
Eduardo Marti Eduardo Martinez-Blanchard was born and raised in Brownsville, Texas. From a very young age, Eduardo Martinez-Blanchard, was introduced to photography by his dear friend and mentor James Hord, an accomplished portrait photographer from Brownsville, Texas. Martinez-Blanchard served as an understudy in portrait photography for several years where he learned the importance, and the art, of studio lighting and shadows. For the Past 14 years Martinez-Blanchard has taken those skills to the street. Influenced by great street photographers Martinez-Blanchard has traveled to some of America’s greatest cities to photograph day-to-day ordinary life. His work reflects the difficulties of life from New York City to Houston, Texas and all the way down to the Rio Grande Valley. Martinez-Blanchard’s work has been published in the US and abroad. His work has been exhibited in galleries Such as The Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts, Beyond Arts Gallery, in Mark Clark’s Galleria 409 and now in BAM in his hometown. Eduardo Martinez-Blanchard currently resides in Brownsville, Texas. “Street photography is a thing of the soul. My expression comes from an innermost place. It is a deep place at the core of my being – my life experiences, my emotional experiences, my attitude, my spiritual nature and my unconscious behaviors. It is the place where I can be real. It is my soul. It is this place that perceives, evaluates, filters, and transforms my vision into the image that I present. It is this gathering of subject matter and the energy of this border city, the city of my birthplace that contribute to producing images that invoke feelings that allow you to absorb the city.”
inez-Blanchard
“Boy on Bike” Taken on 4th and Adams St, Brownsville, TX Digital Photograph 11 x 14
NOEL PALMENEZ “Geisha with Hannya Tattoo” Dry Point Print 12 1/2” x 15 1/2” Artist Proof
From his series“Machistas y Vanidad”, this artist proof in dry point is that of a Japanese woman with a large tattoo. A segment of Palmenez’ artist’s statement from this series states that “vanidad” or vanity, “… is seen through ornamentation and external beauty of women. Even though vanity is considered a negative because of the emphasis on external appearances, I see it as their right of freedom. The world of art is coming together on a level that has never been seen before and women are using it to display
their identity, and fearlessness. The time honored roles between men and women are starting to change; men are gradually releasing the reigns of authority and letting women be a larger part of what happens within the workings of the world. A new voice is a good change, for it is not tied down by tradition, and a women’s voice is genuine and very real.” Noel Palmenez is an art professor at UTRGV and teacher at BISD.
Ana Henggeller “My name is Ana Cristina Henggeler and for some time now I have made these drawings on wood with nails. At first they were an experiment and then later, made into a series of work. That one series then turned into a second series of nail drawings that incorporates animals and characters I have used for many years. The imagery is fun and in my artwork I like to incorporate texture, I like to allow the viewer to feel it. I like to have the ability to touch and take the work a step further. Yes, it may ruin the shiny copper nails, and yes one of them may fall but, it also allows the viewer to break the ultimate gallery rule “do not touch the art work”. I believe the works are simple yet interesting to see the shadows the pieces create when hung. Each piece is made with nails and in some I incorporate wire to keep the lines flowing. I make these pieces for an audience so please enjoy and break a rule by taking a feel.”
“Elephant” Mixed Media 5 1/2 ft by 2 1/2 ft
VERONICA GAONA “As I walk through my surroundings I notice everyone stares straight ahead, eyes latched onto their aimless circular path. But my eyes, as if incapable to control them are looking up, taking note of idiosyncrasies of the inhabitants, to realize that it is truly impossible to get into the mind of someone else, know their entire life story or their character. I may perceive them a certain way but appearances can be deceiving. Therefore, I intend to get to know more about my subjects. I tend to approach people and ask about their life or how they enjoy their day’s work, in order to better understand their story through photographs.” Veronica Gaona is a Brownsville native and student who has shown at BAM and the Carlotta Petrina Cultural Center. Her most recent body of work features the people and places of Oaxaca, Mexico.
“Maximo Maximiano”
Location: Santa Maria Alotepec, Oaxaca Mexico Film 11” x 14”
CANDE AGUILAR
“Unititled” 2015 Mixed Media on Panel 16” x 12”
Cande Aguilar (b. 1972, Brownsville, Texas) is a visual artist that reflects on border culture through his ‘BarrioPOP’, defined as an amalgamation sprung by characters, colors and street phenomena of his life emerged in a border town. He is a self-taught artist ranging from multimedia painting to assemblage and image transfer and is also an accordionist deeply rooted in Conjunto/ Tejano music. Aguilar’s work has been featured in solo shows at the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art and the International Museum of Arts & Science and group exhibits at MACLA Museum in California, Wichita Falls Museum of Art, Craighead Green Gallery in Dallas, K Space Contemporary, Kirk Hopper Gallery and The Painting Center in New York.
JESSE BURCIAGA
Jesse Burciaga is a student and Chicano artist who has shown at the Carlotta Petrina Cultural Center, BAM, Beyond Arts, Narisco Martinez Cultural Center and the Historic Brownsville Museum. Additionally, in his spare time Burciaga volunteers at Carlotta Petrina as a children’s art teacher.
Jesse’s subjects address a subculture of masters of their crafts, from mechanics to luchadores . “Lucha libre has been a favorite part of my life. “El Valiente” is an homage to the larger-than-life folkloric heroes of my grandparents’ time. The art depicts the golden age of movie star luchadores that dominated the era.”
“El Valiente” 2015 Mixed Media 3.5 ft x 5.5 ft
SARA COLMENARES
Sara Colmenares is a recent graduate of UTRGV with a BA in studio art. She is currently a teacher in Brownsville.
Colemnares’ illustrations explore emotional and sexual relationship content. Her designs have been self-described at pop art and low-brow art and vary in medium and size.
“Never Be Afraid” Mixed Media 36 “ x 24”
JOE HERMOSA
Joe Hermosa was born in Brownsville, Texas in 1947 where he spent most of his life. He was raised by his parents who were immigrants from Mexico. Realizing that photography was his passion and love, he pursued it as a career. In 1978 he joined the local newspaper, The Brownsville Herald. He worked as a photojournalist until he moved to the Valley Morning Star, a newspaper in Harlingen, Texas, where he became the photo editor. During the thirty four years working for the newspapers he photographed news for print and internet. Hermosa has covered, hurricanes, uprisings in Matamoros, Mexico, U.S. Presidents, Mexican Presidents, musical groups, sports, air shows, and services held for soldiers killed in service, border patrol, undocumented workers and many other subjects. Top “Beach Plant” I-Phone 11” x 9”
“Dove on Sunflower” I-Phone 11” x 9”
where his work was displayed in New York City. Joe retired from the newspaper in 2011. Hermosa put down his cameras and picked up an iPhone 3. “Iphoneography” was traded in for photojournalism. In 2015 he had a one man show at the Rusteberg Art Gallery,
Hermosa has freelanced for United Press International, Associated Press, various newspapers and magazines, advertising companies, realtors, weddings, quinceañeras, special events, portraits, headshots and aerial photography. Hermosa has won awards from the Associated Press, United Press International and Kodak
UTRGV Brownsville, Texas, one man show at the Bee Hive art gallery in Harlingen, Texas, exhibited at the Carlotta Petrina Cultural Center, Brownsville, Texas, was invited to participate in the Nueve Invitational at Mark Clark’s Galeria 409 and invited by Artist Puente to participate in the 5th Annual Open Studios Art Crawl at the Puente Art Studio, Brownsville, Texas.
CONRADO G Conrado Gonzalez is a native of the border city of Brownsville, Texas. Like many others in his area, he has deep cultural connections to both sides of the border.
His father introduced him to photography as he used to be an avid, family shooter during Gonzalez’s childhood. He hopes that his father would pick up photography once again. As a photographer himself, Gonzalez is relatively new to photography, starting to take pictures with a consciousness for light in 2007, and learning mostly on his own through the internet and the accessibility of digital cameras. Recently, Gonzalez has developed an interest for film and will continue to explore the creative possibilities of the medium for the foreseeable future. Gonzalez work has been showcased in Harlingen at Beyond Arts Gallery in the exhibit “Frame of Mind” alongside fellow photographer and friend Eduardo Martinez-Blanchard in 2014, BAM for the “Downtown 78520” group photography show, The Puente Art Studio Art Crawl, and most recently at South Texas College for the “Line of Sight” photography exhibition. Additionally, Gonzalez has had the honor to have his pictures published by Black and White Magazine in 2013 and 2014 and is planning to publish a book of his pictures soon. He has tried different genres of
photography on his own, but finds himself most comfortable documenting the streets of his native Brownsville and other South Texas cities. Through his black and white and (recently) color photographs, Gonzalez attempts to raise awareness to the unique qualities of his native South Texas culture and people.
GONZALEZ
“Nice and Easy” 2015 Film 16” x 20”
ARTISINAL STYLE Jewelry By Gloria Reyes
Gloria Valentina Reyes is present in both the art and music scene in the border region. Depicting personal narratives of a queer woman of color living on the Tex-Mex border, Gloria uses her knowledge of jewelry and petite sculpture to illustrate the journey and selfdiscovery that come with the life of a person carrying several identities.
“Symbiotic� The base of the ring is a circle cut and rolled from a 1968 Juegos De La XIX Olimpiada Mexico coin that was then soldered on to sterling silver from the United States. The Amethyst stone that is elevated by the silver prongs is obtained from a Pulga in the Rio Grande Valley. Through the soldering process, different worlds become one. The Mexican Olympic coin supports U.S. made prongs that use pressure to uplift a stone from a region that links both countries. Together each material has a geographic connection to regions that shape the identity of border youth. Both silver components, although originating from different countries work together as a supportive base for the stone to present its beauty.
“Embrace” The creative process involved in fabricating this piece came from a replication of a physical gesture that expresses love and compassion. While exploring identity living on the border of U.S. and Mexico, a lingering doubt of identity came with the pressure of understanding the distinctions that separated me from people born in Mexico and the shame of being distant with our ancestors’ history. It can be easy to overlook the fact that the Latino community is diverse, colorful and allows room for all forms of existence. The dark blue bead held by a wire of brass conceptualizes the uncertainty of claiming a single definition of my own identity. The crystal quarts embody clarity while in the embrace of the brass prongs.
JOSUE RAMIR
“RAWMIREZ” MIXES CULTURAL ICONS IN HIS “BORDERL
“La Sirena” 22” x 14” Spray Paint on Loose Canvas
Mickey Chapulin 22” x 14 “ Spray Paint on Loose Canvas
REZ
LAND” SERIES
Josué Ramírez (Rawmirez) is a border artist living and practicing in the Rio Grande Valley. Originally from Ciudad Mante Tamaulipas, Mexico, Rawmirez migrated to the US alongside his family as a child. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A in Mexican American Studies. Rawmirez focuses on stenciling as his main artistic method, but also creates works on canvas as well as producing street art. Additionally, His creations are not limited to a flat surface and include sculptures and mixed media pieces. In his work, Rawmirez explores themes such as sexuality and varying identities, while referencing popular culture, flora, traditional Mexican imagery, bilingualism, graffiti culture and patterns. By mixing and intersecting the meanings and definitions of these references through various channels Rawmirez reimagines and reinterprets his space and self in La Frontera. View more work here: Facebook: @josueramirez6, Instagram: @raw_mirez, Twitter: @josue_raw_mirez
“El Venado”
22” x 14 “ Spray Paint on Loose Canvas
TONY ANTINORI POST MODERN NEO-FUTURISM
Tony Antinori comes from the magical city of Pahuatlan del Valle, Puebla Mexico, born of an Italian American father and Poblana mother. Antinori moved to the US and joined the U.S. Air Force, and traveled to many places with South Korea becoming his biggest influence in his work which is futurist, a postmodern design aesthetic. “Humanity must learn to value difference and remember that similarities are acceptable. The more diverse our expressions, the more cultured our society, The iconography and technique have evolved due to my experiences My art expresses messages like a poem that touches upon the viewer’s own personal experiences. Aesthetics play an important role in the creations of my work. The purpose of such is to facilitate a dialogue about my own transforming perspectives, ethics, techniques, processes and way of life.” "GENERATION X" is a nostalgic multimedia art piece in reference to the Gen - Xers born
during the "most peaceful War" -- The Cold War, & enjoying one--if not the most prosperous economic times in U.S. history, (especially, the carefree decade of 1980's in general!) "THE INTELLECTUAL BIG BROTHER" is a ‘tran - a- vanguard’ artwork that makes a statement of the 1990's U.S. society entering globalization in a New World Order. After the fall of the Soviet Block, we experienced many new realities called " The Culture Wars " where we as a society - experienced the changes in the political, religious, Ethnic and social - economic statues with the rise and fall of ' pseudo- religious leaders'... then, came the internet and the beginning of an "Utopian Society", and the beginning of placing live - cameras everywhere ! Thanks! "SPEED GUITAR" is a celebration and an ode to the guitar in all its aspects and styles. A Neofuturistic artwork showing ' movement and good vibes' to everyone that enjoys Art and Music !
Speedguitar Mixed Media on Cloth 48” x 48”
Below “The Intellectual Big Brother” Mixed media on Masonite 48” x 48”
Untitled Mixed Medio on Canvas 24 “ x 32 “
“Generation X” Mixed Media on Canvas 48” x 60”