"W" The Battalion
Lifestyles
M
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<1 r t k D r m
Stark Galleries displays Central and South American cultural paintings
By Marium Mohiuddin
Staff writer
T he weather is hot and the people are
lively, happy and beautifully dressed.
The music is playing, and the crowds
are cheering.
For those standing outside in the Texas
heat, imaging die heat of the scene may not
be too difficult. However, imagining taking
part in a Central or South American wedding
or everyday life may not be as easy.
A new exhibition has been brought to
Texas A&M which can allow the viewer to
enter, taste and feel a whole new world.
Starting Sept. 4 through Oct. 19, “Imag
ining the World Through Naive Painting,”
an Ibero-American exhibition will make its
premiere at A&M in the J. Wayne Stark Uni
versity Center Galleries in the MSC. A&M is
the first stop for the exhibit’s nationwide
tour, which will continue through 1999. The
tour will include stops in Florida, Nebras
ka, at Duke University and at William and
Mary University.
The exhibition originated in Washington
and was brought to A&M because the ex
hibitors wanted to premiere the tour in a
university environment. The collection in
cludes pieces from 17 countries in the
Caribbean and Central and South Ameri
can countries.
Naive artists are self-taught artists. They
can be found all over the world.
Most of their artwork is two-dimension
al. This adds to the simplicity and unique
ness of the exhibition. All artists start out as
Naive artists, but through life, an artist per
fects his or her technique. Naive artists con
tinue to paint in the simple style, rather
than a chronological style. They use bright
and vivid colors.
Dr. Henry Schmidt, a Latin American
history professor, said Naive painting first
began in Latin America during the colo
nial period. As time passed, many new art
forms were presented in Latin America,
and Naive painting became part of the tra
ditions. However, people still displayed
them in houses.
“Naive artwork is a marvelous depiction
of street life,” Schmidt said. “The elite artists
of Latin America saw the popular painting
at family homes, and were inspired by the
popular tradition and began to paint in the
Naive style.
“Naive painting is a cultural identity of
modern Latin America. Latin Americans
look at tradition with great respect.”
Through the years, Naive painting has
become very popular. In the international
community it has recently gained the
recognition of a serious art form.
The work is accessible. One look unlocks
the paintings’ ideas and meanings, and al
lows the viewer to step into another world.
The artists paint about everyday life and cul
ture — weddings, street scenes, memories.
Ramon Cano Manilla, a Mexican artist,
has nine works displayed at the galleries.
They were painted late in his life and depict
childhood memories.
Catherine Hastedt, curator of Stark
Galleries, said many of the artists did not
start painting until late in their lives. How
ever, she said this does not take away from
their talent.
“Many of them are premiere artists in
their country and have national recogni
tion,” she said.
Haiti led the Naive artists into the 20th
century.
“One of the more popular artists, Wilson
Bigaud, was a child prodigy of Naive paint
ing and is called the Rafael of Haiti,” Hast
edt said.
Bigaud began painting when he was 14
years old for churches and anybody who
gave him a job. In a country that is 90 per
cent Christian and 10 percent Voodoo,
painting churches was not favored.
A Haitian lady told him to stop paint
ing churches or she would curse him. He
refused to stop, then began having a se
ries of nervous breakdowns before his
disappearance.
His last known work was discovered in
the 1970s, and it is believed that he died.
This painting, along with other Naive artwork, is a part of the “Imagining the World Throi$
Naive Painting” exhibit now on display at the J. Wayne Stark University Center Galleries.
Three of his pieces are displayed in the gal
leries. Looking at the pieces, a difference of
the decline of his style and artistry can be
detected as the years progressed.
Lisa Davis, a resident of Bryan-College
Station, and a renter to A&M students, said
the paintings bring one closer to the culture
and the people.
Davis said she came to the galleries as an
assignment from her floral design class. She
said she could spend a lot of time and
thought looking at the paintings.
“It is a cultural celebration,” she!
"The ideas are still vivid and alive, andtl
colors are bright. The art looks child
and simple.”
The J. Wayne Stark Galleries are i
Monday tlirough Friday from 9 a.m. to8p
and from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.
Tours are available for groups of fiveij
more. The exhibition will be in the galleri
until mid-October.
HOWDY, AGS!
How would you like to be a part of an organization
that invites nationally and internationally known
leaders to Texas A&M University?
MSC WILEY LECTURE SERIES
offers you that opportunity and
is now accepting applications.
Pick up applications in the Student Programs Office,
2 Floor MSC, Room 216 or at Informational Meeting
Monday, 7pm 228 MSC
Applications are due Monday, Sept. 15 by 5:00 pm
Interviews will be Sept. 17, 18, 19
Any Questions? Call i c: i a
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