Catrina (No, Not The Hurricane)

~ San Antonio

11/28/2012

Holy Cow! - A Bride and groom showing how it really
 is in the marital relationship. The engaging art
representing the Calavera Catrina style.

In a burst of color that knocks one dead, the unusual  “skeleton art” at Taide’s Imports, is, in my opinion, a welcome addition to the art scene in the Monte Vista area. 

I found this gallery, located at the corner of San Pedro and W. Mulberry just north of San Antonio College, as I was shooting some of the “urban street art” along the San Pedro corridor.

Although it bills itself as Mexican Art and Decor, my thoughts are that Taide’s is actually more of a quirky little art gallery sitting on the dividing line between high culture and working class, with its tasteful presentation of  interesting pieces, including sculpture, metalwork, and glass works, that are out of the mainstream.

Colorful glass-art bowls form a splash of color on
one of the gallery display walls

I was at first attracted to the colorful display of glass impression-art bowls covering a large part of one of the walls, and then found, back in the corner of the store a  great collection of  what is known as Catrina Art -  after  La Calavera Catrina («The Elegant Skull») a 1910 zinc etching by Mexican printmaker José Guadalupe Posada.

Gallery staff at Taide's Imports

This image and its reinterpretation, has since become a staple of Mexican imagery, and often is incorporated into artistic manifestations of the Day of the Dead in November, such as altars and calavera costumes, and forms the iconic basis of the Calavara/Catrina art itself.  

Knowing nothing about this style, I asked gallery staff, Jorge and Nettie, about the meaning of the art and was told that this imagery means many things to many people, one of which is that it causes one to consider that  death is the great equalizer.

My Take -  If you want to get something unique for your home or office then I think this is on place that should be on your list.


Taide's Imports
2322 San Pedro
Corner San Pedro and Mulberry just north of SAC

Finding Art in the Oddest of Places

Local artist David Anaya stands before one of his large pieces
 located on the wall at Rainbow Spirits, 2811 N. Saint Marys

You find art in the oddest of places. And so it was that on walking into Rainbow Spirits at 2811 N St. Marys, I found local artist David Anaya sitting in the old barber chair right at the end of one of the display racks.

We got to talking, and explaining that I shoot "street", I asked if he knew who did the unusual modern-Aztec style wall-art that was all over the side of the building.  He modestly replied that he was the artist, and that some more of his work could be seen outside on the back wall. 

On stepping out into the back parking lot, I saw that, sure enough, there was another large piece, titled "Para Mi Primo" blasting its colors into the adjoining neighborhood.



"Para Mi Primo" - a large art piece by local
artist David Anaya

Asking how he got his style and if perhaps he had central american roots, he indicated that he did not, and that he just painted what came to his mind.

David showed me other pieces on display in between the liquor racks and near the front door, and those also had a style that was graffiti-ish, yet of a different genre. Unlike modern LA -style graffiti, with its bold strokes across broad patterns, and nowadays having a symbology that is generally the artist’s name, thrown up in so abstract a form, that although a cacophony of color, is becoming increasingly difficult to make out, David' s form is more detailed, with smaller components, painted in more of the muted greens and reds that one associates with earth tones, as opposed to "candy" tones such as those that come out of a Montana spray can.



David showed me the latest piece that he was working on, a 12x18 slab on canvas which is priced for sale at $450.

Latest piece by artist David Anaya
Oil on Canvas ~ approx 12 x 18
$450

　

He can be found most days, 12-9 pm  at his gallery co-located with Rainbow Spirits, 2811 N. St. Mary's Street, San Antonio, Tx, and is reachable by phone at 734-8920. True to form as an artist, David has his own style, such style being that he deals with patrons face-to-face, and has no website or email.