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Latin and
Caribbean Art:
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Mi Campo, $800, by master Luis German
Cajigas. SOLD!
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Caribbean Serigraphs - Historical Notes The graphic arts of Puerto Rico merit an
important place in the history of the Island's art. The origins of the art form as
well a the messages and expressions relate to Puerto Rico's identify.
The graphic arts movement in Puerto
Rico begins in the 1950s. Before that, mainly silk screen work was produced.
The first graphic artists were inspired by Social Realism, later Abstract
Expressionism, and Surrealism. The Community Education Davison (DIVEDCO)
housed the first dedicated graphic artists: Lorenzo Homar, Francisco Palacios,
Rafael Tufino, Manuel Hernandez Acevedo, Luis German Cajigas, Isabel Bernal, Antonio
Maldonado and Felix Bonilla Norat. This early period is known as the art
poster movement. |
After that, the so-called "autonomous" print or that is not based upon written
word and therefore an end in itself, was born in the Center of Puerto Rican Art
(CAP). In 1957 the Workshop of the Institute of Puerto Rico Culture assumed the
philosophy and ideals of CAP and DIVEDCO, giving momentum to the process of engraving and
silk-screening and delivering artistic production of uncommon brilliance. The
original work included prints for the introduction of books, political messages, public
announcements geared to the people, especially those in remote areas. The
Institute of Puerto Rico also housed the respected School of Arts and Graphics.
Most of the work that followed was
original art focused on themes of sociopolitical nature, viewed from a patriotic
perspective of many artists which favored an independent status for Puerto
Rico. The strong feelings and devotion of earlier artists and the freedom of
expression and artistic techniques developed during these earlier days, gave birth to
additional forms of serigraphy art. Today, the most celebrated artists use
Abstract Expressionism, Surrealism and many mix themes about the political and social
realities of the Island.
At ElCoquiGalleries.com we are
pleased to present original serigraphs by top artists: Augusto Marin, Orlando
Vallejo, Omar Quinones and Alfonso Arana, among others. These artists have built
their reputation in Puerto Rico, New York, Paris, Japan and many other international
venues. The Puerto Rican serigraphy is a labor intensive process of creating the
screens and print in each sheet separately. Our original serigraphs are done
in low edition sizes, and artists use 9 to 50 colors in a single work of art. Each
of our serigraphs is an original, conceived and printed individually by the artist
or by the artist supervising the printing specialist.
Discover the art of fine Puerto
Rican Serigraphs!
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Alfonso Arana Born in New York from Puerto Rican
parents, Alfonso Arana was raised in the town of San Sebastian, Puerto Rico. He
studied art in Mexico at the Atelier de Jose Bardasano, at the Manhattan School of Arts in
New York, the Academie Julien and L'Ecole des Beaux of Paris, and post graduate work at
the American University in Washington DC.
>Alfonso always wanted to paint. At age six, he made his first picture, gave
it his mother and promised her that he's going to be a famous painter. His
father, a businessperson, was disappointed at his passion for art and disinherited
him.
Secretos, Alfonso
Arana, Fillle Aux Colombe,
Anunciacion, call
fordetails
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Unfazed, he went up to create his now well-known style of the almond-shaped, hollow yet
expressive eyes in a face without a skull and with a slightly oversized body. These
beings represent life that transcends real life. He is well known for his use of
light, sophisticated and almost transparent colors. The artist defines his style as
expressionism and "manerista". The artist explains that his alive and
expressive human figures do not have and skulls because they are receptacles of the active
things in the world...as is God, nature, life, whatever we want.  
Primavera, Alfonso
Arana,
El Convento
GS102-PR,
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Alfonso has exhibited his work in Tokyo, Paris, New York, Mexico City, Puerto Rico, and
Spain. One of his proudest accomplishments is the creation of Fundacion Alfonso
Arana, created in 1986. The foundation brings young art students to exhibit and
learn new techniques in Paris. He's proud of this contribution that brings
recognition to him as an artist and to his cultural background in Puerto Rico.
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Augusto Marin
Augusto
Mairn was born in 1921 in Santurce, Puerto Rico. He first studied art under the
Spanish artist Alejandro Sanchez Felipe. He studied at the Art Student's League in
New York and at the Oris Art Institute in California. In addition to his studies in
drawing, painting and mural, he learned the technique of stained glass with Arnaldo Maas
and then completed his studies in Holland with Henri Mesterom. Lastly he studied
lithography at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana. He was also a teacher at the
school of "Artes Plasticas del Instituto de Cultural Puertorriquena" and at the
"Colegio Regional de Carolina" of the University of Puerto Rico. His
artworks are collected by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY., Museum of Modern Art, NY,
Museum of the University of Puerto Rico, Museum of Ponce, PR. "Centro de Bellas
Artes", P.R. and the First Federal Savings Bank.
Paloma del Milenio, Milenium Dove,
Augusto Marin, GS107-PR, $1,300 Just Arrived!!
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Orlando Vallejo
Born in 1955 in Puerto Rico, Orlando graduated
from Civil Engineering from the University College in Bayamon, PR. His love though
,was art. He entered the School of Art of the Institute of Culture where he studied
with master print artist Fran Cervoni, and subsequently coursed studies at the University
of Madrid and the University of Puerto Rico. |
Contra Viento y Marea,
(Against All Odds), GS107-PR,
by Orlando Vallejo, $800 |
He had individual exhibitions at the Galeria Iberoamericana,
Galeria Duey, Puerto Rico; Casa de Bastidas, Santo Domingo and obtained prizes at the
Certamen Mobil Oil Caribe, and Certamen Fundacion Alfonso Arana and several group exhibits
in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, New York and Paris.
Through his work, Orlando tells us a story where colors, lights, rhythms,
dreams and our bodies are protagonists. His flowers, his plants, his mountains, his little
houses, his skies, his men and women, his colonial arches, and his enigmatic capsules make
us remember the Paradise lost and what has happened to us since the Industrial
Revolution. The crowding of cities and the invasion of all space are themes that the
artist portraits in his paintings. Orlando Vallejo has become of the most original
painters within the terrains of Caribbean new-Expressionism.
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Virgen de la Media Noche,
(Midnight Virgin), GS105-PR,
by Orlando Vallejo, $800
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Omar Quinones
Born in 1952 in Old San Juan, he studied at the University of Puerto Rico, and at the
Institute of Puerto Rican culture with masters Fran Cervoni, Juan Alvarez O'Neill and
Ernesto Torres until 1972. During this time he worked in the design and
illustration for private corporations until he decides to focus solely in his painting and
serigraphy print art. He becomes instructor of the Taller de Artes Graficas of
the University of Puerto Rico.
He has exhibited in Puerto Rico, Hartford, New York, Boston, Florida, Cuba, Santo
Doming, Brazil, Paris, and Sweden. Some of his prizes include: Premio
Cartel U.S. Congress Library; Selection to Sala Grafica .
Cielo Encandilado (Burning Skies)
by Omar Quinonez, GS104-PR, $450.
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| ElCoquiGaleries.com is pleased to
present the Tripic: El Portfolio del Tiempo Detenido (Portfolio of the Time
Suspended) This is a special serigraph made at the Taller Estudio Prisma by
Ellasim Cruz, Joaquin Reyes and Omar Quinones. The limited edition is 200
copies in 'Somerset' 100% cotton pager of 300 grams, dated 1993.
Eliasim Cruz
Born in Santurce, PR, started his life as an artist by first
joining artists and philosophers' nightly gatherings at the Gloria Campeche in old San
Juan. He moved to New York and joined the Art Students League. He came back
and joined the Institute of Culture where he graduated with a specialty in graphic
arts. He also graduated from the University of Puerto Rico, a BS in Arts in 1992.
He helped found the Centro Nacional de Artes of the Callejon
de la Capilla in Old san Juan and the Taller Estudio Prisma. He conducted personal
exhibits in the Galeria Andres, University of Sagrado Corazon and participated in group
exhibits in New York and Puerto Rico. His works are obtained by collector's in
Puerto Rico and abroad.
Joaquin Reyes
Born in Santurce, PR in 1949 he studied at the Arts School of the Institute of Culture and
co-founded the Taller Estudio Prisma. He exhibited at the Museo de Grabado
Latinoamericano de San Juan, Galeria Botello, Trapiche and has participated in collective
expositions at the Museo de Bellas Artes, Institute of Culture, Museum of Graphic Arts in
Venezuela, Bienal de San Juan del Grabado, Pratt Manhattan Gallery in New York, among
others.
He received prizes for his graphic works including, posters
from the Museum of Contemporary Art; first prize from the Grabado Latinoamericano en San
Juan, VII Bienal Iberoamericana de Arte and in Mexico.
Portfolio de Tiempos Detenidos (excerpt)
GS103-PR, by Cruz, Reyes, Quinonez, $500
The triptych "Portfolio of Suspended
Times" depicts three elements: water, land and sky. It has the unequivocal look
of the Caribbean. The intention is to provide a view of 500 years of times
suspended, back to when the Taino Indians inhabited the area, through the conquest, and
today.
The first serigraph is by Joaquin Reyes. There are no Spaniards yet. There
are no men. The foundation of the Taino culture its been absorbed in the petroglyph,
cemis (Taino god) paintings and the Puerto Rican women. She fecundates the waters
that cover her hips --a moment in time in peace.
The second serigraph is by Eliasim Cruz. The stones, century old friends of the
Tainos, are now witness of the newcomers with their contrasting crosses and spears.
The Third serigraph is from Omar Quinones. Like with X-rays vision, he portrays the
houses where the future descendants will be living, in the outside of the mainstream, with
houses built over 'zancos' or pedestals five centuries after. The Antilles,
the islands, are unprotected against invasions. The only resistance are in the seeds
left in people's soul throughout generations of white, indians and blacks mixed
together...it is in their eyes.
The three works are complementary seamlessly narrating 500 years of story.
This triptych offers a panoramic view of these times, at different intervals. The
artists explain that these prints is a portfolio of time suspended; it is the life that
the Puerto Rican live. Is a view of the future...all water....all green...all
waiting.
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Wichie
Torres
He was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico in
1952. As a young child, he mastered pencil and crayon painting. At age 15 he
joined the art school of the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriquena and then moved to New
York. In the big city he worked with artists from Haiti and Jamaica and his
work started receiving awards. He then went to Mexico where his political and social
interest took him. Back in Puerto Rico in 1975 he decided to devote himself to
painting. He has expositions in his native Puerto Rico, several cities in the
U.S.A., Mexico, France, Peru and Japan.
He suffered a heart attack and since this
event he has toned down the coloring of his works. "Before my colors were
bright, now the colors are tone down, a little darker", expressed the painter.
We are pleased to offer two of his great serigraphs Vendimia de Pescadores y La Charca
de los Robles, made before his heart transplant.
Vendimia de Pescadores by Wichie Torres,
$800
La Charca de los Robles, $700
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| Paintings
- Watercolor by Serafin Rosado
Born in Puerto Rico, Serafin A. Rosado has always being
interested in the Puerto Rican manifestations of art. He has traced his artistic path to
pictorial paintings, creating a unique style using light reflecting on the pieces in a
dream-like fashion. His artwork demonstrates technical maturity and expertise in the
difficult art of watercolors. His scenes are presented from innovative angles, with
realism and a powerful creative message.
He studied art at the Miguel Pou de Ponce Institute, Universidad Catolica and the School
of Plastic Arts in San Juan.
Critics consider his paintings 'bellas', e.g. just beautiful, often mixing impressions of
beauty with the charming feelings the paintings evoke.
Selected awards:
1986 Honor Ribbbon at the Certament de Arte, Binnie & Smith
1985 Award "La Charca" de Manuel Zeno Gandia Contest |
GS-2006-PR La Puerta de San Juan |
$1000 Paseo de la Princesa by Serafin Rosado, Watercolor |
GS-2003-PR La Garita del Diablo |
GS-2005-PR Old San Juan St. |
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Roberto Matos
Plaza de San Jose by R. Matos,$600; Calle San Sebatian by R. Matos,
$500
Roberto
Matos is one of the most prolific print art makers in Puerto Rico,
he has studied with the Insituto de Artes Plasticas and learned
from old-timers Puerto Rican
painters.
Wilfred
Labiosa
Wilfred was born in
New York and resides in Puerto Rico. He studied at the
School of American Art-New York and at the InterAmerican
University in Puerto Rico. His works are collected by
private individuals as well as many corporations. He has
exhibited extensively in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Japan and Germany.
He specializes in
abstractions and old San Juan scenery. The abstractions of
Wilfred project his own emotional states as an artist. By
uniting with a style or color, the painting exteriorize the
existential situation of the moment. His strokes glide until
they form shapes that invite the observer to mentally search
for associations with previous experiences.
His Old San Juan
paintings are not merely tourist scenery. For example, he
presents the military architecture of the old military plaza
without the proud sensibility that has always characterized
it. From the defensive castles of days gone to the roofs of
old mansions, he does not submit to grandiose exaggerations.
The miniatures are an essential part of his series of
paintings. In them, you can perceive the skillfulness of the
author in revealing details not apparent otherwise.
At El Coqui Galleries
we are pleased to introduce some of his limited edition
lithographs that have been painted by hand by Labiosa's famous
soft and bright watercolors.
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El Flamboyan
Chiquito, $50
The Church, $50
Los Tres Reyes, $50
Flag, $50 |
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