Elegy on the Death of César Chávez (original) (raw)

El Paso Museum of Art

left: El Paso Museum of Art, exterior view of entrance and reflecting pool, photo by Christian Chapman

El Paso, TX

915-532-1707

http://www.elpasoartmuseum.org

Gaspar Enriquez: Elegy on the Death of César Chávez

September 1 - November 25, 2001

Painter Gaspar Enriquez is well known for his airbrushed, ultra-realistic imagery that portrays the people of El Paso's barrios. The El Paso Museum of Art presents _Gaspar Enriquez: Elegy on the Death of César Chávez_from September 1 - November 25, 2001. This exhibition features Enriquez's series of 12 paintings illustrating Rudolfo Anaya's poem Elegy on the Death of César Chávez, a tribute to the life and work of the late Chicano activist César Chávez. (left: _Untitled_from the series Elegy on the Death of César Chávez, 2000)

A native El Pasoan, Gaspar Enriquez obtained a fine arts degree from the University of Texas at El Paso and a master's degree from New Mexico State University. Enriquez explores the subjects of family and relationships as they extend beyond one's own generation. Much of his subject matter is personal and takes form in small constructions, paintings, and monumental installations. Enriquez's images are visual and emotional statements that explore the history and continuity of a street-wise lifestyle of Mexican-American culture that relates to his experience of living on the US/Mexico Border. (right: _Untitled_from the series Elegy on the Death of César Chávez, 2000)

César Chávez (1927 - 1993) was a civil rights activist who formed the United Farm Workers' Union. Chávez led this union in non-violent protests seeking to alleviate the unfair treatment of farm workers and to bring attention to the dangers of pesticides in the fields. The late Senator Robert F. Kennedy referred to Chávez as "one of the heroic figures of our times."

A 32-page illustrated book, Elegy on the Death of César Chávez by Rudolfo Anaya, and published by Cinco Puntos Press, accompanies the exhibition and is available in the Museum Store.

Read more about the El Paso Museum of Art in Resource Library Magazine

This page was originally published in Resource Library Magazine. Please see Resource Library's Overview section for more information. rev. 6/3/11

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