In this regard the Chicano Movement did not generate Casas’ artistic practice. (6 May 1976). [10], Later, Casas was called into the United States Army[12] and his father insisted it was his duty to serve. This exhibition provides a full view of Casas’ politically-oriented art, including anti-war paintings and oblique commentaries on Nixon-era politics, censorship, and racial discrimination. [12][13], Casas received an all-level certificate to teach in Texas. His work has been collected by the San Antonio Museum of Art, SmithsonianAmerican Art Museum, and nationally and internationally. [12] Casas felt that he had the opportunity to teach a "very good cross-section of the city" which was something he enjoyed. Casas was professor emeritus at San Antonio College, where he taught for 29 years before retiring as chairman of the art department in 1990. I think people are generally aware of what MeL is, but haven't found a way to incorporate it into their daily life. [14], Casas served as president of the Con Safo art group in the early 1970s. June 5-Oct. 24, 2015. By the time of the UFW Delano Grape Boycott of 1965 and the Mexican American student protests at schools in Texas and California between 1967-1969, Casas had been practicing professionally as an artist and painter for almost a decade. We have perfect paintings for the living room, bedroom, kitchen or even the office. [2] He challenged stereotypes, especially in some of the works in his "Humanscape" series. She felt welcome here and loved what the group was doing with art. Okay, now we're doing it, we're really doing it. [2] After graduating high school, Casas worked for Pacific Fruit Express, a railroad company, as an iceman. [10], Casas had a two-year battle with cancer. I am not a professional Mexican.”. PAUL KARLSTROM: Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, an interview with artist Mel Casas at his casa in San Antonio, Texas. [17] Casas recalls that eventually he felt that the abstract work was too "pretty" and it wasn't the right artistic language for him. The trio of exhibits trace almost the entire progression of Mel Casas' 150 Humanscape paintings from 1965 to 1989. [25], I don't think we should break away from our tradition. "Mel Casas: Border Lord." Like many Mexican Americans from this generation, Casas was able to attend college with support from the GI Bill after serving in the Korean War. [10] He received a BA in 1956 from Texas Western College (now the University of Texas at El Paso). Lecture delivered at University of Texas at El Paso. Available for sale from Ruiz-Healy Art, Mel Casas, Visual Scent (1999), Acrylic on canvas, 24 × 24 in "[6] Cordova, who curated four Humanscape exhibitions with approximately half of the paintings,[20] divides the Humanscapes into five groups. [7] In his writing, he emphasized the importance of "self-determination" and equality for Chicanos/as. With his first wife, Maria, Mel had four children: Alfredo, Ingrid, Mike and Sonya. The date is August 14, 1996. In regards to the future of Chicano art, Casas is quoted in the landmark exhibition, Chicano Art: Resistance and Affirmation (CARA), that his wishes were to make “Chicano art relevant to everyone.” Casas constructed a diagram outlining his vision to balance the “national art criteria” with Chicano Art and Regional Art in attempts to make Chicano art more accessible and “relevant to EVERYONE: AN ICONIC REALITY.”. "Mel Casas: Artist as Cultural Adjuster" is a book that will appeal to many audiences from everyday people to academics. your own Pins on Pinterest The Nancy Kelker research material regarding Mel Casas was donated in 2016 by Nancy Kelker. Bochner’s popular thesaurus painting series consists of lists of synonyms displayed in rainbow-colored palettes, often featuring a single word repeated in painterly capital letters, as seen in his seminal piece Blah, Blah, Blah (2008). Additional papers were donated by Casas in 1999. Finally, from 1982 through 1989, the last Humanscapes treated what Casas called the "Southwestern clichés." Mel Casas: Human presents six large paintings by the late San Antonio–based artist Mel Casas, co-founder of the Chicano art group Con Safo. What signs of the Southwest has the artist included? In this blog post, Curator for Latino Art E. Carmen Ramos reflects on the importance of Casas' art. "Melesio Casas was born in El Paso, Texas, in 1929. Several of these artists were students of Casas, who was teaching at San Antonio College. [2] He was very interested in dealing with the objectification of women in media[2] and "debunking" racial stereotypes.[18]. In Casas’ hands Pop Art became a vehicle for cultural, social and political commentary from a Chicano point-of-view. I think linguistically and iconographically we will tend to mix the two. [10] Being the chair of the department, however, was stressful for Casas, since he was often on call. NOTICE: All paintings represented on this site are the original work of Mel Casas. [21] The text chosen for many of the "Humanscapes" help create visual "conundrums" that are meant to allow the viewer to question and re-interpret the ideas that are juxtaposed with the imagery. Kelker, Nancy L. (4 September 2013). We are in between. [10] He also helped with his father's Swedish massage business located in downtown El Paso. "The Cinematic Genesis of the Mel Casas Humanscape, 1965-1967". Where do we see “brownies” in this image? Melesio "Mel" Casas (November 24, 1929 – November 30, 2014) was a Chicano artist, activist, writer and teacher. Open Wednesday - Saturday from 11AM to 4PM and by appointment | 210.804.2219, 201-A East Olmos Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78212, Open Wednesday - Saturday from 11AM to 4PM and by appointment | 212.510.7873, 74 East 79th Street, 2D, New York, New York 10075. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. Smithsonian Institution. Related Materials. mel casas contemporary hispanic chicano modern artist NOTICE: All paintings represented on this site are the original work of Mel Casas. Archives of American Art. [10] He graduated from high school in 1948. Silva, Elda (11 June 2015). He is best known for his series of 150 large-scale paintings called "Humanscapes" that were painted between 1965 and 1989. Also at the Archives of American Art is an interview of Mel Casas conducted August 14-16, 1996 by Paul Karlstrom for the Archives of American Art. [10] At the time, there were more Anglo students at El Paso High and Casas felt alienated from the other students because of his background and heavy Mexican accent. Mel Casas, a long time resident of San Antonio and art professor at San Antonio College for nearly 30 years, is one of the featured artists included in the new exhibition. He was inspired by professor Mel Casas, who made large paintings on a black ground that were informed by pop art and surrealism. Please contact us to find out more about our Cookie Policy. Cordova’s series focuses exclusively on the artist’s 6-foot-by-8-foot works. This figure is the centerpiece of Casas’s pop-styled painting Humanscape 62. The Smithsonian American Art Museum is proud to own paintings by artist, including Humanscape 62, which was featured in our exhibition Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art. CAMH’S Online Publication Archive. With the history of art as its foundation, Kelker took several steps to correlate Casas’ body of works to America’s social history, popular culture, psychology, gender studies, and issues of social justice. “I like the "How to MeL" slogan a lot! [10] He was considered by his students to be a "generous" teacher, helping to launch many young art careers. I think we are lucky to be born outsiders. [2] After retiring, Casas and his wife Grace went to Italy, spending two years in Brandisi and two in Sicily. Mel Casas (Born 1929) is active/lives in Texas. [15] In December 1971 the Con Safo group consisted of Felipe Reyes, Jose Esquivel, Jesse Almazán, Roberto Ríos, and Jose Garza (all of whom were members of El Grupo), and Mel Casas and Jesse Treviño. As a public health precaution due to COVID-19, all Smithsonian museums are closed temporarily. [5][6] Casas was also well known as a writer and theorist. MEL CASAS: Whatever it is. All public programs are online only, on-site public tours and events are currently suspended. E. CARMEN RAMOS: This is Mel Casas’ “Humanscape 62,” which is a painting that he executed in 1970. Provenance. 'No usamos bastidores o manta.' [10] It was Casas' first encounter with discrimination. [21] The "Humanscapes" were generally painted on large-scale canvases, mimicking the drive-in movies that inspired them. Funding His piece, “Brownies of the Southwest” is one of the few by an American pop artist. "Melesio Casas was born in El Paso, Texas, in 1929. Casas is best known for pointed visual statements that question cultural stereotypes and portrayals of Mexican Americans in the media. Casas, Mel. Casas was an artist of national and international renown. Available for sale from Ruiz-Healy Art, Mel Casas, Humanscape 95: Bird Watching Art (1978), Acrylic on canvas, 72 × 96 in Casas has been written about as a Chicano artist yet his practice predated the emergence of the Chicano Movement. Austin: University of Texas, 1973. p. 83, The 153 paintings that make up the "Humanscape" series were inspired by a "glimpse of a drive-in movie screen. Mel Casas $ (Born 1929) Mod figure-genre, non objective painting - Texas Melesio Casas * (Born 1929) *See Mel Casas - Texas Olivier Casas $$ (20/21st century) Painting click to enlarge. E. CARMEN RAMOS: This is Mel Casas’ “Humanscape 62,” which is a painting that he executed in 1970. Available for sale from Ruiz-Healy Art, Mel Casas, Holy Mackerel! He used clever word play mixed with imagery. When interviewed about Latino/Chicano identity, Casas is not dismissive of identity, but rather has grand ambitions for it. 1 of 30 S.A. residents attended the opening of SEX & CINEMA with Mel Casas, featuring the late artist's Humanscape paintings at the FL!GHT in the Blue Star Arts Complex on June 25, 2015. and the author of Mel Casas: Artist as Cultural Adjuster . The Smithsonian American Art Museum is proud to own paintings by artist, including Humanscape 62, which was featured in our exhibition Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art. 4: 28–31. [24], In later years, he ceased exhibiting, but painted almost daily, even when he was battling cancer. [6] In the first group, from 1965 through 1967, Casas made depictions of audiences watching films at drive-in cinemas and conventional movie theaters. [22] His choice of subject matter, which satirized racism and may show sexualized nudes, was often considered to be "provocative. Mel Casas (Born 1929) is active/lives in Texas. The series began in 1965 with Humanscape 1 and concludes in 1989 with Humanscape 150. . .mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}ISSN 0005-2604. 31 likes. PAUL KARLSTROM: Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, an interview with artist Mel Casas at his casa in San Antonio, Texas. Nancy Kelker (1951- ) is an art historian in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Last year, SAC hosted “Mel Casas: Artist as Cultural Adjuster,” an exhibit of 76 works by Casas, in conjunction with a signing of art historian Nancy Kelker’s book by the same title. Mel Casas, an influential artist and teacher who helped define the Chicano art movement has died after a two-year battle with cancer. It will tend to flavor, to color the way we think. 723 South Brazos St. In this blog post, Curator for Latino Art E. Carmen Ramos reflects on the importance of Casas' art. Con Safo is a Pachuco slang expression whose most common meanings are: "the same to you," "don't mess with this," and "forbidden to touch. Born in El Paso, Texas, Casas received his BA from the Texas Western University and an MFA from the University of the Americas in Mexico. Mel Casas is active/lives in Texas. A grinning Frito Bandito, who appears to have been carved from semi-precious stone, is perched atop a skeleton and surrounded by a series of ​ “ brown” references drawn from American and indigenous cultures. [16], Casas taught for 29 years at San Antonio College[1] where he was Chair of the Art Department for 12 years. Mel Casas has given this painting a subtitle, located at the bottom of the canvas. McNay Hosting Gallery Talk on Legacy of Late San Antonio Artist Mel Casas Posted By James Courtney on Tue, Sep 25, 2018 at 12:12 PM. Karlstrom, Paul (1996). El Paso, United States. Between 1958-1965 Casas participated in numerous solo, 2-person, and group exhibitions at local community arts spaces, galleries, and museums in Texas and Mexico. [4], Casas went to college using the G.I. The date is August 14, 1996. [11] His father liked to draw and this influenced Casas to start drawing on his own. [10] First, he started to study psychology, due to practical considerations, but later changed to art and teaching. Bill. But that doesn’t make me an artist. Hickey, David (1988). Mel Casas: Artist as Cultural Adjuster showcases the work of American Pop Artist Mel Casas. Casas’ practice was rooted in the Chicano ethos of social justice, bridging the cultural, political, and economic divides that define the borderlands. Okay, now we're doing it, we're really doing it. We are neither Mexican nor Anglos. The recent passing of pioneering Chicano artist Mel Casas got me thinking about the current state of affairs for Latino art in San Antonio, a city with a sizeable Mexican American majority. With the history of art as its foundation, Kelker took several steps to correlate Casas’ body of works to America’s social history, popular … The paintings and their images are not to be reproduced, copied, or used for any other purposes without explicit permission.. 2 of 10 This Mel Casas painting is part of his “Humanscapes” series. So we are a mixture. Aztlán 36 (2). "Oral History Interview with Mel Casas, 1996 Aug. 14 and 16". The interviewer for the Archives is Paul Karlstrom, and this is the first tape, tape one, side A. [9] Casas felt that once artists had a fair chance to exhibit in the United States, then they would become part of "Americana. Funding. The interviewer for the Archives is Paul Karlstrom, and this is the first tape, tape one, side A. Melesio "Mel" Casas (November 24, 1929 – November 30, 2014) was a Chicano artist, activist, writer and teacher. Discover (and save!) Casas was also well known as a write… Find an in-depth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices. I don't think it's quite true. Available for sale from Ruiz-Healy Art, Mel Casas, Hanging Garden (2005), Acrylic on canvas, 24 × 24 in The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center . Retrieved 7 April 2015. His signature “Humanscape” paintings were designed as "impact pieces" intended to challenge… [19], To me, being an outsider is the next thing to being an artist. [10] He retired in 1990. On Artfinder you can find oil paintings for sale, acrylic paintings, as well as watercolour and mixed media paintings. "[10], Casas was born in El Paso, Texas[1] to Mexican parents during the Great Depression. The art group adopted the name "Con Safo" on December 19, 1971, at which time Casas presented his "Brown Paper Report," which listed 22 definitions for the term Con Safo. NOTICE: All paintings represented on this site are the original work of Mel Casas. Focusing on topics like beauty and politics, the works also demonstrate the artists contribution to the accessibility and relevance of Chicano art. PAUL KARLSTROM: Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, an interview with artist Mel Casas at his casa in San Antonio, Texas. [10] One of his students was Gaspar Enriquez. Share. We are entirely different. [9] Casas taught art at Jefferson High School in El Paso, Texas[14] for about three years. Mel Casas Family Trust. Mel Casas: Artist as Cultural Adjuster. The works, some of which are from his Humanscapes series, address themes of identity, politics, and the landscape of his native Texas, … First of all, because we use liquitex, and we use canvas, and we use stretcher boards. Ruiz-Healy Art features Mel Casas' small, intimate works and larger scale paintings to provide a well-rounded view of his oeuvre. [21] As Casas' paintings became more colorful, they also began to have a richer sense of satire and visual play. Image assets for this folder have not been fully processed. View Mel Ramos’s 2,901 artworks on artnet. From 1975 through 1981, Casas' favorite topic as art about art. [15] Felipe Reyes, a painter, was the prime mover of the Con Safo group, which he views as a final reorganization of a group he cofounded in 1968, which was initially known as El Grupo. Discover and buy from a selection of thousands of landscape paintings, portraits, and nude paintings. Mel Casas papers, 1963-1998 This site provides access to the papers of Mel Casas in the Archives of American Art that were digitized in 2020, and total 1,030 images. San Antonio-based artist Mel Casas died on November 30, 2014 after a two-year battle with cancer. This site uses cookies to help make it more useful to you. Mel Casas: Human presents six large paintings by the late San Antonio–based artist Mel Casas, co-founder of the Chicano art group Con Safo. [21], Chicano Art is not Art for Art's Sake, but Art for Human Sake. SAN ANTONIO — Mel Casas is probably best known for politically charged paintings such as “Humanscape 62 (Brownies of the Southwest),” one … In Casas’ hands Pop Art became a vehicle for cultural, social and political commentary from a Chicano point-of-view. The artist … The paintings and their images are not to be reproduced, copied, or used for any other purposes without explicit permission from the Casas Family Trust. Mel Casas is known for Mod figure-genre, non objective painting. painting series whereby over the span of 150 paintings the Chicano experience slowly moves from the periphery to the center. [13] Casas then received a MFA from the University of the Americas in Mexico City in 1958. Mel Casas, Humanscapes 94: Art Lures, 1978, Acrylic on canvas, 72 x 96", 182.9 x 243.8 cm. [10] He grew up and lived in El Segundo Barrio. [12] Casas was awarded a Purple Heart for bravery in the war. "Art on the Border." In Casas’ easily Pop Art became a agent for cultural, amusing and political annotation from a Chicano point-of-view. ‎Mel Casas: Artist as Cultural Adjuster showcases the work of American Pop Artist Mel Casas. The blurry, nebulous audience members were gradually endowed with more color and form, and from late 1967 through 1970, many Humanscape paintings dealt with the Sexual Revolution. [10] He attended El Paso High School which he chose in order to get a better education. 447 Followers, 567 Following, 129 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from (@mel.casas) [1] He died in his home with his family and his wife of 35 years, Grace Casas. The subtlety of the meanings, the syntax, or the pronunciation of the words give it something that is missing.[21]. The trio of exhibits trace almost the entire progression of Mel Casas' 150 Humanscape paintings from 1965 to 1989. Casas began making politically themed paintings in 1968, and he emphasized this subject matter from 1970 through 1975. ISBN 978-1491265451. Okay, now we're doing it, we're really doing it. [6] Casas, who referred to the dominant notion of beauty as the Barbie doll ideal, spoke of the privileges of blond hair and blue eyes while he undressed a Barbie doll during his acceptance speech. Mel Casas, “Humanscape 47 (Still Life)” (1968), 72″ x 96″, acrylic/canvas (images courtesy of the Casas family unless noted) SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Over the course of 20 years, Mel Casas … He was also an educator and cofounder of the San Antonio Artist Collective Con Safo—considered by many to be one of the most significant Chicano Art groups of the 60s and 70s at a time when Chicano art was not being shown at mainstream venues. Casas painting is part of his students was Gaspar Enriquez the group doing. Pacific Fruit Express, a railroad company, as an iceman died on November 30, 2014 After a battle! 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