5401 North 10th St., Ste.101 I McAllen I 956.225.0035 Monday - Friday 8:00-5:00 www.morrisonsupply.com
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Eddie Reyes Editor
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Christina Rodriguez John Barham Alma Guerrero Barham Lynn Walker Hoverson Photographers
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On the Cover Manufacturer
KAPAL 956.461.0691 / 956.354.9821 3321 W. Expressway McAllen, TX Quality craftsmanship and impeccable style is a lot closer to home than you think. Unlike other businesses who use European manufacturers, they offer their clients shorter lead times and turnarounds because of their location and use of materials made right here in the Lone Star State. Each of their 100% custom products come with a warranty and is produced locally at Kapal’s studio and production facility in the Rio Grande Valley. Photo by:
Tiffany Freischlag
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contents Features
Winter 2019
Manufacturer Spotlight 8 The Spotlight in this issue is wide and bright due to the business’s extensive, varied selections of materials and services.
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Distinctive Real Estate 12 View the unexcelled design of architecture and decor in these pages providing a view into a breezy, sublime coastal environment. Featured Products 16 Automation and sleek design provide beautiful protection from the elements while you’re outdoors.
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Indoor/Outdoor Living 20 Trends keep us guessing what’s next, here is how great changes can really work amazingly well. Decorating with 28 Alma Barham returns in this issue to provide her personal description of motifs, their origins and their uses in art and architecture.
Magnificent Homes 36 Introspection arrives with the change of season and has lead to the examination of a question about how our homes affect our lives. Featured Artist 44 A new contributing writer to Olé Decor visits an official Brownsville Office and discovers a multidisciplinary artist and his watercolor artworks.
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Manufacturer Spotlight
From Residential to Multi-family new trends, new colors, and more‌
Photography By Tiffany Freishlag
KAPAL
The Name in Kitchens A
t Kapal we supply our customers with a full-service experience, making us the best option for a made to order residential cabinets. Now with our new showroom in McAllen, KAPAL GALLERY can give customers the service of extensive selections of new trends in colors and door styles, plus beautiful Quartz selection for your countertops, coordinated with a professional installation; all this in one place!
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Quality on every piece, exact dimensions and high efficiency are some of the benefits of choosing Kapal for your large scale countertops project. With the latest technology in house to cut Granite and Quartz and the recent addition of 20,000 SqFt manufacturing space, we can now provide the Multi-Family Industry with fast turn around on both Cabinetry and Countertops.
Manufacturer Spotlight
Modular Closets
We believe that custom designed wood pieces for your home are like fine works of art. That’s why we make each of our pieces 100% customized to suit your home or business. Whether your taste is sleek and modern or classic and contemporary, together with one of your designers, you can see your unique artistic vision become a reality. Our specialties include custom cabinetry for kitchens, baths, and closets. But we don’t stop there, we also do 3D Panels, dinning and conference tables.
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Customized 3D Panels With our state-of-the-art machinery and advanced manufacturing techniques we can design and engineer all aspects of your project and these 3D panels are the perfect example of this. Create a feature wall in your master bedroom, divide an area with a piece of art created with these panels or an accent in your ceilings, the possibilities are endless and it’s all customized to your needs and style.
KAPAL GALLERY 3321 W. EXPRESSWAY MCALLEN TX. Hours by Appointment 956.461.0691 / 956.354.9821
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Distinctive Real Estate
Tropical Oasis
204 W. Sunset Dr. SPI, TX OFFERED AT $1,185,000
MLS: 29718133
INQUIRIES
Dutch Fisher: 956.494.3731
Ludy Fisher: 956.545.8046
Office: 956.546.3474 dutchpescador@aol.com fisherludy@gmail.com 1064 E Los Ebanos Blvd, Brownsville, TX 78520
Dutch Fisher Real Estate
For more photos and information visit realestate.oledecor.com 12
Inspired by the Owners’ Travels to Various Islands of the South Pacific & Throughout the Caribbean, The Design of this Magnificent Home Features Spacious Living Areas, Abundant Decks & Patios, Refreshing Pools and Lush Tropical Gardens. The Split-Level Floor Plan has Centralized Living, Dining & Kitchen Areas, with the Master Suite on 1 Wing & The 2 Guest Suites on the Opposite Side. Built of Stucco Over Reinforced Concrete with Extra-Deep Pilings, Hurricane-Rated Windows, and a Recently-Installed Aluminum Standing-Seam Roof Equals Peace-Of-Mind & Low-Maintenance. 2 Large 2-Car Garages (1 with Workshop.) Situated on Nearly 1/3 of an Acre in a Serene Residential Neighborhood, Within Walking Distance to The Laguna Madre, The Gulf of Mexico and The South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center. Winter 2019 olÊ decor
Penthouse Condominium
1300 Gulf Blvd. SPI, TX
The Isola Bella penthouse is the ultimate in luxury beachfront living. The open concept great room offers a stunning view of the Gulf. The guest bedrooms face west, with a spectacular view of the Laguna Madre Bay. The master suite provides a panorama of the entire island. This condo has been professionally remodeled and redesigned. The color palette was inspired by the beautiful surrounding views; the blues /greens of the water, the sand of the beach and dunes, and the white clean lines that people associate with beach living. The trim, crown, cabinetry, and upholstered furnishings are all custom. The style is timeless, truly a one-of-a-kind space.
OFFERED AT $1,350,000
MLS: 91392
INQUIRIES Dina Rich
Cell: 956.551.0127
Office: 956.761.2040
TROY GILES
REALTY
dinarichspi@hotmail.com 5813 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX
For more photos and information visit realestate.oledecor.com
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THINK BIG BIG THINK THINK G G RR L LL O GG G EEE R OA BB II G O AAN NNSSS F O R Y O U R F O R Y O U F O R Y O U RR L U X U R Y L U X U R L U X U R YY H O M E H O M H O M EE JJ U YY UM MBBO O LLOOAANNSS MMAADDE E E EAAS S JUMBO LOANS MADE EASY
Branch/Lender NMLS#1518582/200719This is not an offer for extension on credit or a commitment to lend. A DIVISION OF HAMILTON GROUP FUNDING, INC.
Branch/Lender NMLS#1518582/200719This is not an offer for extension on credit or a commitment to lend. A DIVISION OF HAMILTON GROUP FUNDING, INC. Branch/Lender NMLS#1518582/200719This is not an offer for extension on credit or a commitment to lend. A DIVISION OF HAMILTON GROUP FUNDING, INC.
Featured Products
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Indoor / Outdoor Living
Luxury Design Trends Written By Christina Rodriguez
T
rends are ephemeral and yet when they are good, they keep coming back every few decades or so. That is what we see in the interior design and fashion world. Repeating what was popular in more modern and updated iterations for new eyes. Lately we have seen that Mid Century Modern, gray and neutral colors, plus gold and brass have been very popular again. These trends are still going strong, but now that we are coming to the end of this decade, other trends are starting to emerge. 20
Let’s begin with color. Gray has been a staple of the design world for ten years or more. Gray was seemingly the answer to a general world view that was drawing in on itself and asking for comfort and a safe space to return to. It’s not going anywhere, but deeper and brighter colors are becoming more and more popular. One of the reasons for this is that we as a society are becoming more optimistic as the recession has faded in our collective memory. Winter 2019 olÊ decor
Beautiful and luxurious Art Deco style Astrid sofa, chair, and ottoman from Sunpan© shown here in a deep mauve color.
The colors that blend well with gray have been muted and soft, but with optimism comes deeper and bolder color such as coral, mauve, and deep green. This isn’t the pink and green that was popular in the 1980’s, but jewel tones. Think emeralds and the deep shades of an evergreen forest or even the shadowy spaces of the rain forest where animals hide.
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The coral is also a deeper shade like the flowers that grow in the jungle. More tropical in nature and less pastel. Mauve is less pink and closer to maroon. If you want to pair these with gray, you can: choose charcoal gray for a moody feel, but add lighter tones of wood to keep your space from feeling too dark and dim. Even better, choose these colors in velvet fabrics for a luxurious feel.
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Indoor / Outdoor Living
Rattan, lighter woods, caning, and bent wood furniture from the William Morris collection by Selamat.
Bent wood, caning, and woods stained in natural, lighter colors are what to look for when adding pieces to your décor. This is another trend that is showing up more and more. Dark wood tones will always be a classic and will never truly go out of style, however the lighter woods speak to that feeling of optimism and satisfaction that is happening around us.
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Along with the lighter wood tones comes prints. Geometrics reminiscent of Art Deco and Tribal prints are coming back into style now. These add to the natural, or eco-friendly and sustainable, feel that is resonating in our society these days. We are happier, and yet we are realizing that the excess of earlier decades can be “reduced, re-used, and recycled” in our homes for a more eclectic and world-traveled look and feel.
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Speaking of Art Deco, terrazzo is coming back. Not only for flooring, but tabletops, counter tops, tile, and more. Think the Hoover Dam, which is covered in terrazzo and was built during the height of the Art Deco period. Terrazzo is marble chips embedded in concrete and is very durable as anyone who has visited the dam can see more than 80 years later. Colorful and versatile, terrazzo is a classic material that can be used with any design style popular today.
Photo by Jean-Philippe Delberghe on Unsplash
Indoor / Outdoor Living Art Deco style ceiling mural based on a painting by Edouard Benedictus. Mural concept and design by Christina Rodriguez of Diva by Design in Harlingen, Texas.
With all the building going on around us here in the Rio Grande Valley, you may have noticed the unique and interesting ceiling treatments that builders have been incorporating into their houses. Various designs are created using three dimensional soffits that project from the flat ceiling. While almost any shape can be created, color can be used to enhance them. You don’t have to paint them white!
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This brings us to another trend that is becoming more and more popular. Wallpaper and deep jewel tones colors are being used to enhance the “fifth wall” in homes today. Let your creativity loose and highlight those ceilings. An every-day tray ceiling can be updated and turned into a statement with a little color or a bold, graphic wallpaper. There are no rules. You can add these to any room in your home that might be ready for a change from an entry way with a dome ceiling to a bedroom with a raised ceiling. Be bold and have fun with your interior decorating. Winter 2019 olé decor
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Decorating With
&
Yesterday
Today
DESIGN MOTIFS Written By Alma Guerrero Barham
I
n the worlds of Art, Design, Architecture, display and others in this realm, motifs have been in existence for thousands of years. Interior Design and Decoration by Sherill Whiton best describes a motif as “a distinctive feature or dominant idea in an artistic or literary composition”. Every civilization has acquired its own motifs which in turn, defines the culture and place of origin. The oldest dated symbols or motifs which consist of thirty-two, specifically identified forms, appeared repeatedly in ancient caves throughout the entire continent of Europe. It is difficult to decipher what they all represent. Some appear to be feathers, wildlife, human and geometric forms. These symbols are repeated and combined into what appears to be some sort of message. The majority of the caves are found in Europe, North America, Africa, India, Asia and Australia.
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One of the most intriguing symbols of our present day is identified as the hashtag (#) ! History repeating itself, perhaps? Fast forwarding to approximately 2600 B.C. to the oldest and most powerful examples of architecture, are the Pyramids of Gizah, near Cairo, Egypt. It is believed by some that the purpose of these buildings was religious since they were burial sites for dynastic kings.
During our travels throughout Mexico I had the extraordinary experience of climbing the Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan, better known as the Pyramid of the Sun. Physical evidence has been provided that magical ceremonies and human sacrifices were performed there. While we were at the top of this ancient pyramid in Mexico, a plethora of professional photographers with their cameras and equipment were buzzing around relishing the opportunity. I will add that climbing the pyramid was not an easy feat for them since the pyramid stands 216 feet in height, and the steps are tiny. Does this mean the original builders were tiny people with tiny feet?! Point being is that one must navigate the steps at a slight angle and very cautiously. Walking down proves to be an equal challenge, especially if you are carrying equipment.
Decorating With
Next I move on to the ancient Greeks who were responsible for building the three classical orders. These were otherwise known as the Columns. To this day these type of architectural motifs have supported and adorned historical buildings such as the Parthenon in ancient Greece (circa 447 BC) and some of the most famous buildings in America, such as the White House, the Supreme Court of the U.S. and the U.S. Capitol, not to mention many others. The three types of Columns are the stylish Doric, the Ionic, with its scrolls, and the fanciest of all, the Corinthian. Once again, history repeating itself.
One of the most popular Greek motifs is the Key, also known as Greek fretwork. It is a linear, geometric pattern and is incorporated into architecture, sculptures, art, mosaics, marble friezes and more. The Greek Key design motif is made up of a long, continuous line that repeatedly folds back on itself, mimicking the meandering river with its many twists and turns.
In Italy we have Brunelesci’s Dome, that covers the Florence Cathedral, considered one of the most significant architectural achievements due to its being built without an underlying wooden or iron structure to support the masonry work. Domes continue to be utilized in modern architecture, although the structural dynamics have been refined. In the same vein, the ever popular arch was utilized and refined by the Romans, who were the first builders in Europe to adopt and appreciate the advantages of the arch, the vault, and the dome. 30
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Fast forwarding to the time of the Middle Ages, religion was the dominant interest of Europe in that era. Architecture consisted mostly of church construction. Since the beginning of time until the present day, wars have been fought over religion. The motifs of churches changed according to the winner of battles and territories. The most commonly recognized motifs are: the Christian cross which memorializes Christ’s death, the Star and Crescent which is an Islamic symbol, the six pointed Star of David which is the most recognized Jewish religious symbol, named after King David, the Menorah, an ancient motif which is based on a seven branded candle holder and the OM which is an important symbol of Hinduism. All of these symbols and also some that are not mentioned herein have been used in homes, religious buildings, works of art, sculptures, wrought iron works, textile patterns and much more. They have been major contributing factors to architecture and design. The Egyptians used the lotus flower, the sphinx, obelisks, pyramids and scarabs as prominent motifs.
Decorating With
Stained glass windows which originated approximately in 675 A.D. were important features in churches and monasteries. Interestingly enough, the process of coloring glass was most likely invented in ancient Egypt. The famous Rose Window at Notre Dame in Paris is a part of a prominent example of Gothic architecture in France. The trio of immense round stained glass windows shine gloriously over the cathedral of Notre Dame’s main portals that date back to the 13th century. Luckily, these windows were not damaged by the recent fire to the Notre Dame Cathedral.
The ornamental shell motif (scallop shell) has a long and diversified history. In primitive civilizations, sea shells were used as money. To the Greeks and Romans, the shell symbolizes fertility. The famous Botticelli painting, “Birth of Venus”, (circa 1484) shows the symbolic feminine figure of Venus being lifted from the sea on a beautiful, scalloped shell. Eighteenth century furniture makers were quite fond of incorporating the shell into their designs to glorify nature. 32
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Spanish architecture is a conglomeration of cultures dating back to the Egyptian, Moorish, Persian and Mediterranean styles, to name a few. Beautiful painted tiles adorned walls, floors, backsplashes, etc. Wrought iron gates, mostly painted black, were of elaborate scrolling designs, a well as iron window grills with arabesque designs were commonly utilized. Saltillo tile, cantera stone, and the famous Talavera handpainted tile and pottery originated in Spain; though by 1580, Puebla, Mexico had become the center of Talavera production in Mexico. The Spanish tile roof incorporates gorgeous tiles that create texture and color. The one-piece barrel design creates a pattern of ripples across a roof.
In my quest to abide by my allotted word count I will mention a few more historical motifs with little description. The finial is an ornament used as a terminating motif, usually in the form of a knob, pineapple or foliage. Finials are found topping lampshades, curtain rods, flagpoles, bedposts, etc. The Fleur de Lis is the conventionalized Iris flower used by former kings of France as a decorative motif symbolizing royalty. It is a motif often associated with Joan of Arc.
Another motif that is not nearly as old as the others I have described, being that it is only 243 years old, is the American Flag. Its design originated on June 14, 1777, in Philadelphia, U.S.A. The thirteen red and white stripes design combined with a union of 13 white stars on a blue rectangle field, represented a new nation dedicated to personal and religious liberty. Today’s modern version contains fifty stars representing the fifty states of the nation. The red stripes stand for courage and integrity of the American people. The white stripes stand for liberty and equality. The blue is the blue of heaven, loyalty and faith. A government of the people, by the people, for the people...” from Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address in 1863. On this note, I do part. olé decor Winter 2019
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Magnificent Homes
When A House Becomes A Home Memorable Moments and Converging Events Written By Lynn Walker Hoverson
H
ouse hunting and homebuilding are not what they used to be in the pre-Internet Age. If you’re old enough to have seen the changes happen while living through your own life phases, the contrast may be more apparent. But if you are under the age of 40, it might be less of a surprise to hear that there is a growing number of Americans who make their journey to home ownership by mostly electronic means.
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Real estate agents give property tours to potential house buyers using FaceTime. Well-engineered professional websites abound online to give the mobile population the visual and legal information to walk through a real estate transaction as if they were watching a movie and sealing a deal. That is an over-simplified version of the whirling data transfer that has been very actively taking place in the U.S. real estate theater for the past few years. Winter 2019 olĂŠ decor
People are choosing houses without ever physically stepping foot in the house they want to own as a home. A real estate website called Redfin recently commissioned SurveyMonkey to get some insight into this phenomena and their data from a survey audience of 2,000 people showed that nineteen percent of people who bought or sold a home in the past year made a bid on a home BEFORE seeing the home in person. The article did not state if those bids were made by email, phone or through a website portal.
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Apparently, according to information on the Redfin website, the “blind bidding� is almost twice as likely to happen for high-end houses, with thirty-nine percent of people who bought homes for more than $750,000 having made offers without seeing the desired houses in person. That method does not sound unreasonable for people who can afford it. In my opinion, a house hunter could save themselves a ton stress derived from decision-making overload by using the technology we have available.
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Magnificent Homes
Personally, I am not hunting any houses, but I did recently have the pleasure of being given a tour of some friends’ new home via FaceTime on my iPad. The friends’ iPad had great picture clarity. With FaceTime playing live on my iPad they walked from their upstairs office and throughout the house, pausing at the top of their stairway to capture a summer sunlit scene of the front stained glass door and foyer. Like an image from Architectural Digest magazine, the translucent textures and blues shimmered as soft hazy shadows were cast on the elegant tiles of the foyer floor. 38
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My friends have not offered a description of any one, single “house-to-home event� that may have given them that Home Sweet Home Sensation, but I can see they are very comfortable. It is so easy to imagine them enjoying sunrises from the upstairs balcony, singing aloud happily to music that fills the whole house, greeting friends at their beautiful front door and happily inviting them for in for the warmth as aromas of an expertly prepared healthy meal waft through their new home.
The location of their home was formerly a weed covered lot and a half-finished open concrete building that could barely be classified as a house. The building status transformation is complete. After struggling for two years with building material complications, flooding, firing and hiring contractors and workmen, adjusting designs and re-choosing colors and the headaches in between, NOW, they are HOME.
Magnificent Homes
One day after making a funny little typographical error when I typed the word house instead of home, I got mentally stuck awhile thinking about how the only difference between the words house and home is: us. People are what make the difference and interviewing people—new home owners especially— about their new living situations is one of the most interesting parts of writing for a fine home magazine. Last year, as one of those fascinating interview visits was winding down, three women members of a family of seven shared some of their at-home moments with me.
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The family had felt ecstatic when the one year long remodeling project of their new house was complete and all furniture and their possessions were arranged in appropriate places. They said it was such an amazing feeling to know there would be enough bright, beautiful and functional space in their house to comfortably host all the friends and family they ever wanted to invite to their new house. However, during the first few days of being all moved in, there was one thing that was putting a damper on the general joy. Their little dog who had spent the five pre-move years entertaining them all was so obviously NOT happy. He whimpered and cried continuously for days at the front door, eager to go! Finally, after a few days of pouting, he decided to curl up in his familiar doggy bed in its new location and for the first time in the new house, EVERYONE had a quiet restful night. For that reason, they all agreed: EVERYBODY IS HOME NOW! olĂŠ decor Winter 2019
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Featured Artist
Juan Velez Encountering a
Renaissance Man at City Hall Written By John Barham
D
uring a recent visit to the City of Brownsville Planning Department, I truly received a pleasant surprise. When my name was called to confer with one of the planning personnel, I was invited into the office of a tall, distinguished looking gentleman with courtly European manners. As introductions were made, I learned that the man’s professional role was that of historic preservation officer for the City of Brownsville.
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I could tell immediately that Juan Velez was no ordinary run-of-the-mill governmental bureaucrat, for our conversation revealed that he possessed a background that one would not ordinarily expect to encounter in a small town in South Texas. Although Juan had been born in Brownsville, at a very early age he moved with his family to Spain, where his higher education was completed in the areas of architecture and civil engineering, with an emphasis on historic structures.
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As an architect and engineer, Juan sought to enhance his abilities by undertaking work in the mediums of charcoal and oil, and thus was led into the art world, a world which he now relishes not only for leisure time and relaxation but also for the challenge of transmitting experiences recalling his familiarity with some of the world’s great museums. His background has also led him into working intimately with watercolor and water-ink, and with the challenge of controlling water as a vital element of his art.
When one thinks of art in Madrid, usually the first thing that comes to mind is the Prado. But, despite its richly deserved international reputation, there is far more to the art scene in Madrid than the Prado, including the Queen Sofia Museum, Matadero Madrid, the Sala Canal of Isabel II and the CaixaForum Madrid, all of which, along with a multitude of commercial galleries, offer the ultimate in opportunities to define one’s own philosophy of art.
Visiting with Juan, I quickly discerned that I was in the presence of no small- minded individual, for his intense desire to express himself through art, history and architecture also has included as a published author the written word. In Juan’s own words, “It matters not how you express yourself as long as it contributes to your own path as an artist.” olé decor Winter 2019
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Featured Artist
With numerous exhibitions in a multitude of venues to his credit, Juan’s major thrust as an artist is to share with his viewers his own experiences in the many places he has lived and visited, such as Madrid, Granada, Marrakech, New York, Chicago, Brownsville and Matamoros.
At the beginning of November, the Brownsville Fine Arts Under the influence of Mexican philosopher Jose Gaos, Museum will feature Juan Velez’ collection entitled “Charros,” a major critic of the artistic precision of the graphic arts and in which he has captured the essence of a way of life that is related modern computer applications, Juan agrees with Gaos deeply intertwined in the culture of South Texas. Vital to the that only by producing art by hand will the artist truly reveal how experiences have affected the soul and contributed to “Charreria,” with its origins in the vaquero life and customs the artist’s perception of reality. Then, if the viewer is able to of northern Mexico, was a deep-seated pride transcending connect with the interpretation being viewed, “…the art work expertise in riding and ranching skills, including dignity and will be a truth completed by the imagination of the viewer.” honor in representing family, community and tradition. The importance of the collection is underlined by its recognition Looked at another way, the capturing of the viewer’s attention by UNESCO for its contribution to the cultural heritage of by way of significant mental reactions has the effect of eternally humanity. incorporating the viewer’s response with the artist’s canvas.
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True to his calling as a cultural and historical trail blazer, Juan Velez is deeply involved in the Brownsville Historical Association and the Cameron County Historical Commission. He also serves as a regional director for the Association for Preservation Technology. From my brief meeting with Juan Velez, I came away with the distinct impression that Brownsville is indeed fortunate to have a man of his caliber working with the goal of perpetuating the history of the city, an oft neglected history, but one which nevertheless underscores Brownsville’s exemplary place in Texas’s past. In this respect one may hope that Juan Velez will have a tenure of many years working toward the historical recognition of his South Texas birthplace.
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