Gustavo Victor Goler, Santero (original) (raw)

Harwood Museum

of the University of New Mexico

Taos, NM

505.758.9826

Harwood Facade, photo by John Rudiak, 1998

Gustavo Victor Goler, Santero

The Harwood Museum of Art in Taos announces a special exhibition and limited sale of recent Retablos and Bultos by important contemporary Santero, Gustavo Victor Goler. (left: Saint Nicholas, 2000, 18 inches high, wood, gesso, watercolors)

This exhibition features thirty-five Santos created over the past few years and opens on Saturday December 2nd and runs through January 14th, 2001. Included in this special exhibition are Retablos and Bultos loaned to the Museum by Private Collectors, as well as a number of items which will be for sale during the Special Preview Opening, Harwood Museum Alliance Fundraiser, on Friday, December 1st from 6 - 7:30 pm. A Public Reception for the artist is scheduled for Sunday, December 10th from 3 - 5pm.

Taos resident and Santero, Gustavo Victor Goler, was raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico among a family of Latin American art conservators and restorers. Goler's early years were spent apprenticing in the family conservation studios where he was taught to carve. This is where his interest in saints developed. Later he studied at the University of new Mexico and earned a degree in Graphics and Advertising Design from the Colorado Institute of Art.(left: Saint Agnes, 1999, 20 inches high, wood, gesso, watercolors)

In 1986 Goler returned to Santa Fe to open a conservation and restoration studio, specializing in the repair of religious carvings from around the world and became especially involved with working with New Mexico Santos.

Goler's personal work is considered to be progressive as it changes in its intricacies of design and complexities of theme. His increasing knowledge of iconography and religious themes as well as his growing ability to manipulate his medium have made him a popular sculptor, with his work found in numerous publications, museums, including the Autry Museum of Western Heritage, Harwood Museum and Museum of International Folk Art, and churches across the country.

Read more about the Harwood Museum in the Resource Library Magazine

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This page was originally published in Resource Library Magazine. Please see Resource Library's Overview section for more information. rev. 4/4/11

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