Hispanos Destacados - Fetured hispanic » Culture

Exposicion Picasso Luna

Fernanda Estrada — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:33:23 +0000

Carlos es sin duda un talentoso pintor de fama Internacional que ha realizado exposiciones
tanto individuales como colectivas en México, Estados Unidos y Europa.

Ahora nos invita a su exposición Piccaso Luna que presenta piezas de cerámica de Picasso
a la par con pinturas de Carlos y se realizará a partir del Martes 18 de Agosto
en el Complejo Cultural Universitario. Si estás en Puebla el Martes 18 – la Inauguración 7:30 p.m
dirección del Complejo Cultural Universitario es Vía Atlixcayotl 2499. No te la pierdas!

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) es uno de los verdaderos gigantes en la historia
del arte. Su obra rompió barreras, causo controversia y ha influenciado
artistas por generaciones.

Las pinturas de Luna reflejan el gusto de Picasso por el folklore y la
mitología. Esta exhibición explora el genio de Picasso, su imaginación creativa
y sus raíces españolas, las cuales han sido de profundo impacto para Luna y
otros artistas latinos.

Latin Lovers Oleo sobre Tela © Carlos Luna

El poderoso simbolismo del trabajo de Carlos Luna, con su compendio
de rustica imagineria cubana, uso grafico de texto y dramática narrativa
hace par con sus expertas composiciones, brillante coloración y sus
meticulosas superficies, creadas por un proceso que alterna la superposición
de capas con el raspado y lijado de las mismas.

Cafe Caliente Juliana Oleo sobre Tela © Carlos Luna

El trabajo resultante exuda una sensación de antigua sabiduría mientras que
proyecta una presencia vital y muscular que es al mismo tiempo atemporal y fresca.

Patricia Brandes – Artist of the Month

Margaret Jean Ballve — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:54:13 +0000

It is an honor to be able to show you the work of our Artist of the Month, Patricia Brandes, who has shown her deep artistic sensibility through each and every one of the projects.

Patricia began very early in her life taking classes in ceramics and porcelain. Because of her good taste and ability to work with her hands, she has made unmatchable works of art and beauty with wood, tin and porcelain, all of this added to her excellence in painting with oils, tempera and acryllics. She combines her life as an artist teaching art, decorating homes and planning gardens of unbeatable beauty.

Patricia Brandes, we welcome you to Orgullosamente Hispano as our Artist of the Month. Congratulations!

Santa Claus – The Face of Christmas

Margaret Jean Ballve — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 22:01:22 +0000

Known as Santa Claus, Pere Noel, Santa Clos, and others, thos mythical figure was born as a transformation through time of Saint Nicholas of Myra (Turkey). Saint Nicholas was a bishop who lived in the IVth Century. Kind and generous with children and the needy, he became the patron saint of orphans, sailors, students, loaners and thieves. His legend teaches us that he rewarded the good and punished the bad.

In some Northic countries they still celebrate December 6 as St. Nicholas Day. It is usual for someone dressed in the robes of a medieval bishop to visit homes rewarding good children with candy and giving the naughty a sack of coal.

After the Protestant reform in the XVIth Century, saints were cancelled in the new protestant religion but the legend of Saint Nicholas persisted and marked the beginning of the Christmas Season. When some Dutch immigrants arrived in the United States they brought with them this tradition and called him Sinterklaas which became Santa Claus.

In 1822 Dr. Clement Clarke Moore wrote “The Night Before Christmas” giving Santa Claus a new arctic image by mentioning sleigh and reindeer. But, it was Thomas Nast who in 1863 illustrated Moore´s story and gave us a more human Santa Claus, dressed him in red and gave him a home in the North Pole.

Haddon Hubbard Sundblom (1899-1976) American artist added the final touches to Santa Claus by making him like a kind grandfather when he made the drawings for the Coca Cola Co. adds which are still seen to this day.

In our Hispanic countries many children expect the baby Jesus to bring to bring them their toys on December 25 while others get their presents from the 3 Wise Kings on January 6; but regardless of who brings the toys, they all know and love Santa Claus.

Christmas Trees – A Beautiful Tradition

Margaret Jean Ballve — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 21:59:06 +0000

A lot has been speculated about the beginning of Christmas Trees, but it is undeniable that for many centuries man has used trees and branches for his ceremonies. At the end of December Egiptians brought palms to improve next year´s harvest; Romans cut branches and decorated them with images of the Sun God. But the Druids were the ones who during the Winter Solstice hung apples and lit candles on Oak trees making them the most alike to our Christmas Trees.

The tradition of decorating a tree for Christmas began 400 years ago and spread through Europe during the XIXth Century. In 1825 an American newspaper mentioned the trees decorated by German immigrants during the Christmas Season.

In 1842 Charles Minnegero introduced this tradition in Williamsburg, Virginia. His Christmas Tree was decorated with lit candles and wrapped with popcorn strings. It was in 1923 when President Calvin Coolidge established the tradition of lighting a Christmas Tree in the lawn of the White House.

We have now discovered may ways to dress a Christmas Tree with toys, ribbons, cookies, candy canes and many, many more. It´s fun to be creative as well as to see what others have done.

There is no nicer feeling during the Christmas Season than to go through the streets seeing through the windows of homes and stores, on gardens, lawns and public places the beautiful, colorful, traditional Christmas Trees.

Poinsettia Flowers – Heralds of Christmas

Margaret Jean Ballve — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 23:56:10 +0000

It is enough to see a Poinsettia flower blooming to know that the Christmas Season is upon us. These wonderful flowers are the best heralds for the arrival of Christmas.

This plant is a native of Mexico, in specific, of the region of Taxco and Cuernavaca in the State of Morelos. It is known as the Flower of Christmas Eve.

The Aztecs call it Cuetlaxochitl and believed it had healing powers and its pigment was used to dye cotton fibers.

Franciscan priests who were established in Taxco decorated their Christian scenes with these lovely flowers. Hernando Ruiz de Alarcon, resident of Taxco and brother of the famous writer Juan Ruiz de Alarcon, wrote poetically about this flower thus making it known abroad. But, it was Joel Robert Poinsettia (1770-1851)who was its most important promoter. Ambassador of the United States to Mexico after the Independence War, he sent these plants to decorate his home in Charlestonville, South Carolina and on his return years later he found everyone growing these plants.

Mr. Poinsettia made it a symbol of Mexican Christmas through the World and in his honor they gave his name to the flower known in Latin as Pulcherroma Poinsettia and in the United States simply as Poinsettia.

It´s name in Nahuatl, “Cuetlaxochitl” (flower that withers) is the most aprropriate as all gardeners and florists know, IT CANNOT BE CUT. But, do not let this keep you from having several plants in your home as they are sold in pots and there is no cheaper or better Christmas decoration than the Poinsettia.