NATM ART
2 0 1 7 A r t C o l le c t o r’s
Sneak Peak
Children’s Museum of Brownsville 10th Annual Night At the Museum Fundraiser Sept. 29, 2017
Children’s Museum
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 our 10th annual fundraiser, “A Night at the Museum--”Back to the Future.” This event will be held September 29th at the Ringgold Civic Pavillion and tickets are only $50 each. Admission includes libations, heavy hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction. This is sure to be an all-around exciting evening for adults! The funds raised for this event will go to programming and exhbit improvements. For more information, please call 956-548-9300 or visit our website cmofbrownsville.org to support the CMB.
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On Front Page: “Woman with Flowers” Acrylic on Canvas 18 x 24 by Muñeca deLeón
of Brownsville
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Jesse Burciaga
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Tony Antinori
Alex Macias
Josie Del Castillo
16 18 19 20
Cande Aguilar
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GABRIEL TREVIÑO
10 12
CERAMIC ART
PHOTOGRAPHY
Sara Colemnares
13 14
MUÑECA DELEÓN
Marcelina Gonzales
22 24
Martha Beatriz “Bot” Ortiz
Josue “Rawmirez” Ramirez
UP AND COMING
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ALEJANDRO MACIAS
A
lejandro Macias was born and raised in Brownsville, TX. Although he always had an interest in drawing, he did not discover his passion for visual art until he attended and received formal training at the University of Texas at Brownsville. His love for visual art only began to intensify, and after receiving his BA in Art, he moved to San Antonio, TX for a year to explore the city, and its culture. Upon his return from San Antonio, he attended University of Texas - Pan American to attend graduate school. After receiving his MFA with a focus in two-
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dimensional art, he began work as an Adjunct Instructor and Gallery Director for The Gallery at Rusteberg Hall at UTB. Through his studies, he explored animal and human anatomy, collage, and various painting and drawing techniques. He now works for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley as Foundations Lecturer and Gallery Coordinator. He has also recently been accepted as an artist-in-residence at Vermont Studio Center.
matter or style. Figure drawing, geometric design, and a variety of design elements fascinate me. This body of work is mostly an exploration of texture, an element I had abandoned but have decided to revisit. It’s a vulnerable body of work. I would compare it to a child that’s continuously distracted by various colorful toys, and doesn’t know which one to play with next. I feel the work should be seen mostly as studies, and the inside look of a curious and playful mind. Once you begin “To put it simply, I’m just as to pursue visual art seriously, curious as ever. I find it difficult you sometimes forget to have to hone in on specific subject fun. This is me having fun.”
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“Untitled” Opposite Page “Untitled” Mixed Media 13 x 13
Mixed Media 13 x 13 5
Alejandro Macias -cont-
“Figure drawi design, and a v elements fascin body of work exploration of element I ha but have decid
“Untitled” Mixed Media 17.5 x 12
“Misdirected” Graphite on Paper 9 x 12
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“Eyes Mixed M 9 x1
ing, geometric variety of design nate me. This is mostly an f texture, an ad abandoned ded to revisit.”
s” Media 12
“Untitled” Mixed Media 17.5 x 12
“Older Woman” Mixed Media 9 x 12
CONTACT: ALEXMACIASART@GMAIL.COM ALEXMACIASART.COM/ 7
JOSIE DEL CASTILLO J
osie Del Castillo was born and raised in Brownsville, Texas where she is currently pursuing a Masters of Arts at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Castillo has been in more than 20 exhibitions since the start of her career and has won numerous awards such as “Best 2D” in the 24th Student Juried Show held at the Rusteberg Art Gallery, as well as the “Octavia Arnerson Award” at the 43rd International Art Show held at the Brownsville Fine Arts Museum. She has exhibited her work in several museums and galleries in Brownsville, San Benito, McAllen, Edinburg and Corpus Christi. Del Castilcent work figurative traiture of is familwhile her es focus ful subSome of lo’s paintdepict strong whether is tance, or the ing unable to thought. Her idea the process of making voked of the viewer.
lo’s most reconsists of and porpeople she iar with, other piecon a playject matter. Del Castilings try to emotions, self-accepstruggle of beexpress a certain of art is more than it, but the emotion pro-
The piece featured here is a tribute to Del Castillo’s mentor, Carlos Gomez. Del Castillo explained that Gomez would frequently include eggs in his artwork. When he passed of cancer in 2016, Del Castillo created “Huevito Estrellado Que Estas En El Cielo”. The work was featured in the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art for a Carlos Gomez retrospective show. “Huevito Estrellado Que Estas En El Cielo” 2016 17 x 21 Acrylic on Canvas
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CONTACT: JLDELCASTILLO_@OUTLOOK.COM 956.640.9083
CANDE AGUILAR
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. #candeart “Reach Deep“ 2017 CONTACT: CANDE_AVANT@HOTMAIL.COM CANDEART.COM
Multimedia with image transfer on watercolor paper 11x15
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PHOTOGRAPHY
M
iguel Roberts has worked at the Brownsville Herald for about 5 years and has delighted audiences with his romantic takes of life in the downtown Brownsville area. His work has been shown in various galleries such as Galeria 409 and BAM. His signature show “Majestic Grit” , hosted by Brownsville Market Square in 2016 was well received by Brownsville audiences and has solidified Roberts at the forefront of photojournalism.
“All Saints Day” Location: Sacred Heart Catholic ChurchBrownsville, TX Digital Photo 2016 10
MIGUEL ROBERTS
CONTACT: MARPHOTOGRAPHY1@GMAIL.COM
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CONRADO GONZALEZ
onrado 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. 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. 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.
“Nice and Easy” 2015 Film CONTACT: TROPEROCOSMICO@GMAIL.COM
16” x 20” 11
SARA COLMENARES
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ara Colmenares is a Mexican native and graduate of UTRGV with a BA in studio art. She is currently a teacher in Brownsville, TX. Colemnares’ illustrations explore the emotional landscape of sex and relationships. Her designs have been described as pop or lowbrow art and vary in medium and size. Colmenares’ work has shown in BAM and Rusteberg Galleries and was published in RAIX magazine.
“Be Strong, Don’t Tremble” Acrylic on Canvas 29 x 15
CONTACT: SELFISHRADIO@GMAIL.COM 12
MUÑECA DELEÓN
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uñeca de León, a border artist from Brownsville, TX is 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.
“Masquerade Woman” Acrylic on Canvas 18 x 24
“Portrait of a Girl” Acrylic on Canvas 18 x 24 CONTACT: MUNECA51@LIVE.COM 13
MARCELINA GON M
arcelina Gonzales was born in Brownsville, Texas in 1989. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Art from the University of Texas at Brownsville in 2013. Gonzales works to promote her own personal egos as she strives to find an outlet for unfiltered self-expression. Working predominately in the medium of painting with oil and acrylic on two-dimensional surfaces, she also experiments with the integration of other mixed media techniques such as rope, wood, wire, fishing line, plexiglass, and LED lighting.
“Frankly, I Don’t Give a damn” Oil, Enamel, & Leather Rope on Canvas 18x24” 14
“I conjure da narratives of c allows me to c expression of wh but would like t tough, sassy, p
NZALES
aydreams and invent complete fiction. This create an exaggerated ho I am not naturally, to be: A woman who is proud, and rebellious.”
Gonzales’ work has been exhibited repeatedly along the Rio Grande Valley of Texas for the past four years, including other parts of the United States such as Los Angeles, California, Ohio, Illinois, and Florida. In 2016, she became an internationally exhibiting artist, having had her work on display in Berlin, Germany, Budapest, Hungary, and Vancouver, Canada. “I conjure daydreams and invent narratives of complete fiction. This allows me to create an exaggerated expression of who I am not naturally, but would like to be: A woman who is tough, sassy, proud, and rebellious. These self-imposed aspirations allow for the release of unhealthy thoughts that are produced from viewing the world we currently live in. My work does what my mind cannot automatically do. Come on Closer It empowers me and acts Mixed Media & LED Lighting on Wood as a catalyst that allows 24x18” me to reflect, express, and continue to grow.”
CONTACT: MARCYGONZALES89@GMAIL.COM MARCELINAGONZALESART.COM
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JESSE BURCIAGA
“Santo” Acrylic on Canvas 44 x 45 16
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Burciaga is a student and Chicano artist who has shown at the Carlotta Jandesse Petrina Cultural Center, BAM, Beyond Arts, Narisco Martinez Cultural Center 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. [The wrestlers] are 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.”
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“Solitario” Acrylic on Linen CONTACT: JESSIE.BURCIAGA@YAHOO.COM
48 x 45
956.459.4663
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TONY ANTINORI POST MODERN NEO-FUTURISM
T
ony 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 post-modern 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 nod to the generation known as “Generation X”, which, “ ... is a nostalgic multimedia art piece in reference to the Gen - Xers born during the “ most peaceful war known as “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!” “Generation X” Mixed Media on Canvas 48” x 60” 18
CONTACT: 956.312.0418 STUDIO SPACE: 621 WASHINGTON ST, APT 3B BROWNSVILLE, TX
GABRIEL TREVIÑO G
“THE GREAT TORTILLA MAKER”
abriel Trevino is a contemporary MexicanAmercan artist born and raised in Brownsville, Texas. Trevino’s art is inspired by the Tex-Mex border culture & imagery style can be considered a fusion of classical Mexican art with American pop. Trevinos work is privately collected, but acquisitions also include permanent public display in the city of Port Isabel Cultural Event Center and book publication on El Nino Fidencio by Dr. Tony Zavaleta. Since 2016, he has been working on an ongoing series Titled “The Great Tortilla Maker.”
“The idea of The Great Tortilla Maker was inspired by conversations with family and friends about who made the best tortillas. In these conversations the story teller would always exaggerate the tortilla makers process and or add a mystery and magic to spice it up. It was in these conversations I found the idea to create a series of work based on my fictional tortilla maker. My Great Tortilla Maker prefers to make tortillas at the beach wearing a bikini. My Great Tortilla Maker also dances and is a bit of a contortionist while making tortillas. For me the goal was to reflect on a more contemporary subject that could break away from the traditional classical idea of what a tortilla maker should be or look like. The Great Tortilla Maker can be many things that reflect on heritage and or comforting life moments to the evolution of a classical period into modern times. In abstract form The Great Tortilla Maker is the ‘ganas’ to do something good or perhaps even great.” “Los Pajaros” 2015 CONTACT: 956.442.4944 STUDIO SPACE: 621 WASHINGTON, ST BROWNSVILLE, TX 78520
Acrylic on Wood 16 x 20 19
CERAMIC ART
TORIBIO “TJ” PALACIOS
Set of Handmade Bowls
“My work combines my interest in screen printing, ceramics, and design by taking digital designs and pulling them over to a traditional medium. This body of work has developed further to balance between traditional and modern techniques while trying to engage the viewer to participate in the piece.” -TJ Palacios
CONTACT: TJRP.BIGCARTEL.COM
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Underglaze Print and Gloss Finish 2017
“Bianca Camarillo is a ceramic artist focusing mainly in her functional pottery while also created large and small scale sculptures.”
BIANCA CAMARILLO
CONTACT BIANCA.CAMARILLO01@UTRGV.EDU FACEBOOK: @BIANCAMARCERAMICS
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MARTHA BEATRIZ “B M
artha Beatriz Ortiz, also known as “BOT” was born in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, MX and is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in visual arts from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She has showcased her work in BAM gallery and is currently an art advisor for an educational institution in Matamoros. The first thing a viewer may notice about Ortiz’s work is that she combines digital photography with digital illustrations. If you look closer, you will notice that the locations selected are actually local landmarks found in Brownsville and
“Untitled” 2016 Digital Art and Photography Print 8 x 11 22
South Padre Island. This playful side Ortiz exhibits showcases the spirit of her whimsical designs. Ortiz states that she draws her inspriration from manga and anime illustration, but she also draws reference from the cartoons she watched as a child. Ortiz amalgams these elements with her dreams and nightmares as a backdrop, subtley communicating this subject material with the use of bright colors juxtaposed against dark undertones.
BOT” ORTIZ
“Untitled” 2016 Location: Downtown Brownsville Digital Art and Photography Print 8 x 11
CONTACT: MARTHAB.ORTIZ@GMAIL.COM FACBOOK: @TIENDABOT INSTAGRAM: @PASTELDESORIANA
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JOSUE “RAW” RAMIREZ
J
osué 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 street murals, sculptures and content creating for Neta RGV. Many people are familar with Ramirez’s work in the Downtown Brownsville area, most notably for his “Bloom Where You Are Planted” mural, which has been part of many selfies and art tributes within the art scene. Ramirez has shown in the Mexic Arte Museum, Space 16th and Galeria 409. His installations have been featured at many special events around the valley.
Ramirez’s work explores themes suc varying political issues, while referen traditional Mexican imagery, bilingu patterns. By mixing and intersecting th these references through various channe interprets his space and self in La Frontera
View more work here: Facebook: @josuera Twitter: @josue_raw_mirez
Left: BORDERLAND SERIES A pop and street art inspired representation of life in la Frontera and an exploration of Mexican American identity in the RGV. “Borderland” envisions and reflects a multicultural world filled with fun, color, tradition, poverty, violence and iconic imagery. 24
“Minne la Guadalupana” Spray Paint on Canvas 37 x 49
CONTACT: 956rtgv@gmail.com 956.295.6868 rawmirez.com
“Elementals” Midnight” 15.5 x 20.5 Spray Paint on Loose Canvas
ch as identity, sexuality and ncing popular culture, flora, ualism, graffiti culture and he meanings and definitions of els Ramirez re-imagines and rea.
amirez6, Instagram: @raw_mirez,
“Elementals: Day” 18.5 x 20.5
“Elementals: Night”
Mixed Media
16 x 20 Mixed Media
Center: “Mickey el Chapulin” Spray Paint on Canvas 37 x 49
ELEMENTALS A fun exploration of mixed mediums with spray paint focused on the symbolic and the naturalistic worlds.
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UP AND COMING
CYNTHIA RAMOS C
ynthia Ramos was born in the City of Brownsville, Texas.
Her interest in art began while participating in her high school Theater Arts Program creating sceneries and stage props for different productions. Ramos would continue to create murals and scenery backdrops for local youth groups and community programs while continuing her education at The University of Texas at Brownsville until she earned a Bachelor of Arts focusing on Studio Art. Ramos is inf luenced by her Mexican heritage seen in her use of bright contrasting colors and the inclusion of Mexican and Texas Border iconography. Her current work is also inf luenced by her interaction with children through educational programs in local museums and school districts. Ramos creates art art work personal
that is light hearted and fun. Her invites the viewer on her path to rediscover her Hispanic roots, bold colors, and iconic characters.
“Mermelada” Acrylic on Canvas 2017 30.5 x 40
“Flores” Oil Pastel on Paper 2017 19 x 23 CONTACT: SINDEERAMOS@YAHOO.COM INSTAGRAM : @YOSOYCYNTHIARAMOS
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ANA HENGELLER
CONTACT: 01DUN@ICLOUD.COM
Ana Cristina Henggeler is a Brownsville native with a BA of Art in Visual Studio Art from UTB/TSC. Hengeller’s practice of nail art has been in practice for several years. “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.”
TIMOTHY RAMOS
CONTACT: 956.455.3011 timcharls.com
“Hometown Glory” Acrylic on Canvas 40 x 32
“Grasshopper” Nails on Wood 16 x 36
Timothy Ramos is a Brownsville native based out of Austin, TX. Ramos studied Visual and Communication Design at Texas State University and is currently a freelance designer and illustrator. “Growing up in a small border town is ultimately what sparked my creativity. I spent most of my youth drawing fashion illustrations while blasting a mix of Bette Midler and Beyonce on my little purple boombox. There really wasn’t much to do in my small town so I “made do”. Life has thrown many challenges at me but that same spirit has seen me through them all ... make do ... make magic rather! Life is never dull with a creative spirit, on the contrary it has made my life extraordinarily beautiful. It is a huge part of who am, and I take it with me into the world as my secret weapon in hopes that I can inspire joy in others with my ideas.”
Noë Maciel is from Los Angeles, CA and currently resides in Brownsville, TX. His work is based on abstract principles that borrow from many disciplines. He describes “Vital” as a recognition of the importance of “women and children to help build a better world”. “The education and place we give women and children in society regardless of race and nationality will always be a mirror image of where we stand as a society. The role models we are to children today affect the world they will live in tomorrow. We must change this self destructive behavior”
NOË MACIEL Contact: 747-243-1152
“Vital” 2017 Mixed Media 16 x 24
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THANKS
! S R O S N O P TO OUR S ER 88 MILES P
HOUR!
NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM to benefit the Children’s Museum