21 Years Later: Art by Anita Rodriguez Returns to Texas

FORT WORTH, TX, February 28, 2014 (Press-News.org) Artes de la Rosa (www.artesdelarosa.org) is pleased to present Transcendent Death Journeys, a solo exhibition by award-winning Hispanic-American painter, Anita Rodriguez, beginning Friday, February 21, 2014. On Gallery Night, Saturday, March 29, Rodriguez will greet and meet visitors from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and give a gallery talk at 7:30 p.m. Her art last appeared on exhibit in the state of Texas 21 years ago.

Dedicated to preserving, promoting, and interpreting the art, culture, lives, and history of the Latin community, Artes de la Rosa Cultural Center for the Arts is located at the historic Rose Marine Theater, 1440 North Main Street, Fort Worth, TX.

In this exhibit, Rodriguez explores with exuberant color and humor the mystery of death, underscoring the concept that death is not the end.

Her installation is comprised of an eclectic selection, including transcendent Madre Tierra, the engaging feast of Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato, and luminescent architecture of The Lace Fan.

Born in 1941 in Taos, New Mexico, Ms. Rodriguez is a Taos-based artist recognized for her brilliant colors, and the rich complexity of influences incorporated in her art, from Mexican mysticism, Penitente religious art and Crypto-Jewish influences, to New Mexican folk art, Catholic traditions, religious processions, saints and Native American dances & ceremonies - all of which she witnessed as a child.

"I think Anita Rodriguez is one of the most important living Hispanic-American artists in America," says Ray Trotter, Native American art dealer and gallery owner of both R. B. Ravens in Ranchos de Taos, NM, and Early American Art Forms in Paris, TX.

Rodriguez has also been internationally recognized for her revival of traditional adobe finishing processes and her creative fireplace designs. Referring to her diverse background, Rodriguez says her art reflects her "Hispanic-Chicano-Mexican-Mestizo-Indian-Jewish virtual country." She has family ties dating back ten generations in Taos on her father's side, and her mother, from Austin TX, was a painter who came to Taos in her early adulthood to study art.

Her paintings are profoundly allegorical; each has a story, rich with multiple meanings and, she says, "plenty of intellectual chew-toys." The complex paintings are full of symbols, bilingual jokes, and details tucked away that only people who look carefully will see. She is searching for a visual vernacular without class or cultural distinctions - a visual Esperanto. "I am fascinated by double identity, by the Crypto-Jews, by people who live simultaneously in more than one cultural reality - like Mexican immigrants in the U.S., or Indians," she says. "I use nichos with doors to express the relativity of historical memory; different versions of the same historical event or rite of passage."

Rodriguez' work was recently awarded both Judge's Choice in the Taos Select Fall Arts show and First Place within the Fine Arts category at Contemporary Spanish Market of 2013. Selected honors and awards in Rodriguez' past include: State of New Mexico Art Divisions Guest Artist, 1977; Warner Brothers Wonder Woman Award, 1983; Coors Women of Achievement Award (returned); Hazen Foundation School program, Santa Fe, 1987; and Santa Fe Contemporary Spanish market First-time Exhibitor's Award, 2012.

"People always ask why my protagonists are so often skeletons," acknowledges Rodriguez. "Let me point out how happy and full of life my skeletons are. They are dancing, eating, praying, getting married, driving around in their fantastic cars, and playing music. My art is about life - not death." In 1984 Rodriguez had a death experience, and bears authentic witness to the fact that there is life after death. "This," she admits, "is one of my underlying meanings."

Transcendent Death Journeys is on display at the Rose Marine Theater from Friday, February 21 to Saturday, March 29, 2014.

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The art of #AnitaRodriguez returns to Texas after 21 years! See 'Transcendent Death Journeys' 2/21 at @RoseMarine! #ArtesDeLaRosa
After 21 years, the works of artist #AnitaRodriguez return to Texas! Meet her on Gallery Night, 3/29 @RoseMarine! #ArtesDeLaRosa

About Artes de la Rosa - Artes de la Rosa (www.artesdelarosa.org) is a non-profit organization founded in 2000 to preserve, promote, and present Latino Arts, Culture, History, and Lives in North Texas. It operates the Historic Rose Marine Theater and the adjacent Gallery at the Rose Marine. It is Nationally Recognized for its Youth Educational Program that has won awards from the Kennedy Center and the White House, amongst others.

For media inquiries, interviews and photos contact
Guest Public Relations:
Jason Z. Guest / 512-297-6310 / jzg@guestpublic.com
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Follow Anita Rodriguez:
Website: http://www.anitarodriguez.com
Address: PO Box 1057, Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico, 87557
Contact: 575-613-5743

PUBLIC INFORMATION
Artes de la Rosa Cultural Center for the Arts at the Rose Marine Theater
1440 North Main Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76164
817-624-8333

Hours
Monday-Friday: 11am to 6pm
Saturday and Sunday: Closed

Admission
Free to the public

For media inquiries, interviews and photos contact
Guest Public Relations:
Jason Z. Guest / 512-297-6310 / jzg@guestpublic.com
Website, Portfolio & Subscription Services: http://www.guestpublic.com

Guest Public Relations, 2014