Fort Worth Star-Telegram from Fort Worth, Texas • 183

4 1 Wednesday-Thursday May 22-23 1985 THE ARLINGTON I 1 4 r- tr'' tr7 0 117 r13 tri i 1 4 1 :7 -7 46 (''' 7 177 -1 If til I LI LI tf7 clk1 1 4' I 1 4 i rn limit IrmmimiaN 117 1-7 r7 Wednesday-Thursday May 22-23 1985 THE ARLINGTON 4 A I tt I 4 Master artist presents one-man show for Arlington 9llll DFO 4 7 l'' i0iVAP' '-'f-4 'sat --'s I a- 7 4 1-- f- 1i 'kiii' li1 -i f-: tiv'rr 'ilf-4Lz--4-4- t0- t4i: 4'' 1 iA kss: 0 '14 I -1sel 7 At 4- -'f i 40 i 7 473 1 l' 1 '1 c-- i ''i -7- i 0 -J -1 --'7 4 41' )' ak''- 11 4' l''? I f'l 41k' l''''Nt': i 1: 1 't i i 7-: ih---: 1 '4 H' 1- 14: i te'': 1 li 41 :1 x's4: 4:1: -1 i -i 5 a tl 44 1' trk I 0' fr-74: I 5- ar4 111ro IT i -A4'74 i-' 1-- 1r 7--! :::4 r' 'k -4 ''-i'-11 4 2 tf L' Ie kr 4 i 3 t' T' ''''4'tm 'N '14 i' 1 1 1 4''' r''-3 kk'' il i -1- c' r- oteg' Y- I 4''' 2--42-- 1 3i l''''-' He began to explore the differences and similarities between the Mexican-American culture that he knew growing up in South Texas and the blend of Indian and Hispanic cultures he found in New Mexico New Mexico and its people continued ta play integral roles in the evolution of Pena's art The works of Cannon Maria Martinez and Encarnacion Pena were particularly influential According to Pena it was Encarnacion Pena who truly brought him in contact with New Mexico and its people Before meeting him Pena says that he had been observing from a distance In addition the pottery of Maria Martinez inspired a whole series of works based on "the potter" which Pena says still continues As his following grew Pena found it necessary to leave the teaching profession and pursue an artistic career on a full-time basis It was then that he opened his studiogallery El Taller in Austin with two former students Pena recently celebrated the fifth anniversary of El Taller and his obviously successful transition to a full-time artist He contin- ues to live in Austin for six months of each year while spending the other six months in Santa Fe New Mexico where he has opened a second El Taller In addition the artist has established a third El Taller in Taos New Mexico When asked about his inspiration and how he determines what he will create Pena responds "Going back to New Mexico ruiakes it easy I recharge and after so many years there are many images and ideas I don't have a formula for what I do I just sit and do it" Pena said that it might be the size of paper that determines certain works or series of works He says that he has been known to work on three boards at once developing an idea or a relationship Pena's success has necessitated the assistance of a staff "I'm a printmaker that's how I started out For many years I did 100 percent of the process About five years ago I found that I needed to expand I looked at my work and the process and knew that I needed help I trained a printer to pull prints and do the process" However Pena has retained that control of his work he believes is By LINDA CORDOVA 6 CJ Arts Columnist The opportunity to view the i of a master are few and the to know the artist even more rare On Friday May 31 and Saturday June 1 Arlington and the Metroplex will be presented with such an opportunity when 1 Pena comes to town for 1 4 one-man show at the Lincoln Gallery 11 Pena has been hailed internaN as a premiere artist of the genre He is a vital force in the evolution of contem- korary Texas and American art His highly stylized and intricate 'depictions of a spirited symbolic people and their environs are Ireadily recognized His works re- fleet slices of life and of a culture as Pena perceives it 'h The artist's works can not be examined without understanding lthat they are the manifestations of the culmination of his life expe- riences and his subsequent reacpon to those experriences "I want my audience to know about a group of people people from my past and from my pres'ent Mexicans Indians my children my friends the people of the 'Southwest" Pena said Originally from Laredo Pena y4Tas born not a son of poverty but rather the son of a firefighter His -middle class upbringing afforded him the opportunity to attend a junior college in Laredo and later A I University in Kings' l'yille where he obtained both his Bachelors and Masters degrees Pena taught in public schools for fifteen years The last seven of those years were spent teaching at 'Austin's Anderson High School Nvhere he served as chairman of the Art Department During that time Pena received recognition for his efforts to help young artists begin their careers 4 While teaching Pena traveled the arts and crafts circuit across Texas and often ventured as far as 'California It was during this time that he met Ruben Rose Accord ing to Pena it was Rose a jeweler and artisan who first took him to New Mexico and introduced him to a culture that he wanted to share The subsequent influence on Pena's work was undeniable "A painting that I did of the Rose family is one of the major pieces that I've done" Pena said "I do the artwork color mixing and designing while they (the staff) do the production" he said Pena employs a diversity of media including serigraphs lithographs etchings pastels and acrilycs as well as a novel variety of mixed media He feels that he has easily transferred his now unmistakably familiar images from one medium to another because of his training and experience as a teacher Although he still creates many of those images on paper his need for growth as an artist and the desire to remove limitalions on his art compel him to vary the media Pena said Pena is also driven by his desire to be recognized as a master Often referring to Van Gogh he said "I feel that any artist who has potential must explore medias it separates true artists from Sunday painters and those who find a niche eventually grow stale and fade away Not everything I do has a master quality My serigraphs are still the most important process that I That same desire also compels Pena to work twelve hour days and to attend to many of the details not traditionally associated with an artist Like the director producer of a neophyte Broadway production he creates packages markets solicits and promotes ig- noring no aspect of his work or his studio Pena said that as a teacher he was often approached by students who wanted to know what they could do with their art He not only taught them how to make their art and talents profitable he also lives that philosophy himself and proves that the meticulous artist can't leave any of his painstakingly created works to either chance or at the mercy of those who might not care as much "Lots of artists think they can be prima donas and only paint but it's all part of survival There are a lot of artists who have to be bartenders and waiters" he said "I was painting this morning and thinking about Van Gogh and how he survived He took his art to the people because he wanted to make a statement Of course he wasn't rich during his life but he put it (his art) all out in front" he said "This is all my life expect anyone to feel the same way I do" Pena said "I give it everything I I A A 0 11 4 4 A 't A A 't 1 I 1 1 i 4 i 1 1 I 1 i r' I i i A 1 I i 1 1 original mixed media "Dos Flaulas" A Pena can't afford not to I've had two bad marriages over it that's a big investment I'm only afraid that I won't have the chance to do everything that I can" Pena's works are featured in many lucrative private and public collections including that of the one-man show from 7 pm to 10: pm on Friday May 31 In addi-: lion the artist will sign posters in the Gallery from 1 pm to 3 pm on Saturday June 1 The Gallery is located at 706 Lincoln Square For: additional information call 265:: ntSelet White House and the Smithsonian -Institute in Washington He was recently commissioned by the Austin Texas Sesquicentennial Committe to create a poster in cel- ebration of their activi ties Pena will be available in the Lincoln Square Gallery during his t'''''' '-1 -I 4 i 7 :4: Tii kl' 440044441 Av -to 11 i Ki 4i k- i-l-: 4 4 4 1 3 3 3- 4 I 0t e' 40 i 0 '10 'i 1-'5: i i 4' 0: 0 1 '4 1 ::4 Ar'z'''' 4 7 A'''' 0 kg '1 1 :1 4 1 4 A tc -k 4 1 1 k1 1 4 tt" i4 2: ti A ia ::::4 I 1 i 4 i ii1 i tlz: A' 1 1 i 5 4 1 i 4r'e'' 1 1 1 i' 4 1 i i 4 fr i 1 1 i 1 I 'i i i 1 I AS4 ii4j l'1' ''z' 1 '4 44ititoi 1- I1 i t'i I 1:: i ::1: IT 1 I -)7 5 if'! I 1: i 2 i 'i '''1 i l''' 4 it 4'11-14' 1-': 41' 1 i 4 I 1 1 1' 0 0 ik A Photos courtesy of Amado Pena Above Peria's oil "El Paragua" at left a serigraph "El".