Smithsonian Institution. 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. View Mel Ramos’s 2,901 artworks on artnet. Hickey, David (1988). Funding. See available prints and multiples, paintings, and works on paper for sale and learn about the artist. [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. Funding [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. Mel Casas, an influential artist and teacher who helped define the Chicano art movement has died after a two-year battle with cancer. [4] He is best known for his series of 150 large-scale paintings called "Humanscapes" that were painted between 1965 and 1989. The series began in 1965 with Humanscape 1 and concludes in 1989 with Humanscape 150. We are entirely different. In this blog post, Curator for Latino Art E. Carmen Ramos reflects on the importance of Casas' art. ISBN 978-1491265451. [21] His paintings often reacted to these media types by using erotic themes to highlight the effect that media had on the viewer. 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 For the most part, the show was comprised of Casas’ smaller paintings. [12][13], Casas received an all-level certificate to teach in Texas. Available for sale from Ruiz-Healy Art, Mel Casas, Humanscape 135: #2 Mexican Plate (1984), Acrylic on canvas, 72 × 96 in [2] He and Grace had one child, Bruce. Cordova’s series focuses exclusively on the artist’s 6-foot-by-8-foot works. 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. "Mel Casas: Artist as Cultural Adjuster" is a book that will appeal to many audiences from everyday people to academics. Share. Mel Casas, Humanscapes 94: Art Lures, 1978, Acrylic on canvas, 72 x 96", 182.9 x 243.8 cm. I think linguistically and iconographically we will tend to mix the two. [22] His choice of subject matter, which satirized racism and may show sexualized nudes, was often considered to be "provocative. [10] He also helped with his father's Swedish massage business located in downtown El Paso. SAN ANTONIO — Mel Casas is probably best known for politically charged paintings such as “Humanscape 62 (Brownies of the Southwest),” one … His signature “Humanscape” paintings were designed as "impact pieces" intended to challenge… This painting, which comes from a larger series of works called “Humanscapes,” were actually inspired by Casas’ experience seeing a drive-in movie screen and seeing these huge images of people and things. [10] Casas felt that he had a good education in elementary school and junior high. [17] Casas recalls that eventually he felt that the abstract work was too "pretty" and it wasn't the right artistic language for him. "[10], Casas was born in El Paso, Texas[1] to Mexican parents during the Great Depression. Available for sale from Ruiz-Healy Art, Mel Casas, Humanscape 94: Art Lures (1978), Acrylic on canvas, 72 × 96 in Discover (and save!) Mel Casas: Artist as Cultural Adjuster showcases the work of American Pop Artist Mel Casas. [13] Casas then received a MFA from the University of the Americas in Mexico City in 1958. 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. [10] It was Casas' first encounter with discrimination. Retrieved 7 April 2015. Through the Con Safo group, members gained exposure by participating in exhibitions for which they were paid a fee by the exhibiting institutions. [2] After retiring, Casas and his wife Grace went to Italy, spending two years in Brandisi and two in Sicily. Rather, his cultural work supported and coincided with the emergence of a broad civil rights movement. 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. Find an in-depth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices. 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. This site uses cookies to help make it more useful to you. [4], Casas went to college using the G.I. "Mel Casas: Artist as Cultural Adjuster" is a book that will appeal to many audiences from everyday people to academics. "Oral History Interview with Mel Casas, 1996 Aug. 14 and 16". All public programs are online only, on-site public tours and events are currently suspended. [21], Chicano Art is not Art for Art's Sake, but Art for Human Sake. Mel Casas: Artist as Cultural Adjuster is a new book by Nancy Kelker that showcases the work of American Pop and Chicano Artist Mel Casas. Gallery Talk: Mel Casas: The Man Thursday, September 27, 2018 - 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM Dr. Ruben Cordova, renowned Chicano scholar, discusses work by late San Antonio-based artist Mel Casas, who is best known for his pointed visual statements that explore identity and the bicultural experience. His piece, “Brownies of the Southwest” is one of the few by an American pop artist. Ruiz-Healy Art features Mel Casas' small, intimate works and larger scale paintings to provide a well-rounded view of his oeuvre. 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. 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. It will tend to flavor, to color the way we think. 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. [11] Earlier "Humanscapes" had limited palette choices, but later paintings had more colors and were rather vibrant. Mar 24, 2013 - This Pin was discovered by Sherry Willome. CAMH has a number of its original and co-published publications digitally reproduced on Issuu.com.This online library is a rich resource for academic research and study with curatorial essays, artist interviews, and images that describe the art world’s ever-changing landscape through the CAMH’s perspective. [4] His "Brown Paper Report" is considered an important document of Chicano history. San Antonio-based artist Mel Casas died on November 30, 2014 after a two-year battle with cancer. The artist … 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. She felt welcome here and loved what the group was doing with art. MEL CASAS: Whatever it is. Casas seems to project the future/present of the tradition that Enrique Martinez envisions in At the Altar (2006). Please contact us to find out more about our Cookie Policy. "[23] Casas felt that media, like television, movies and advertising had the power to change people and could be used to change them for the better. Okay, now we're doing it, we're really doing it. He used clever word play mixed with imagery. Mel Casas is one of San Antonio's most influential artists, yet also among the most overlooked. [10] Con Safo was considered influential and helped Chicano art receive recognition when Chicanos and their work were largely excluded from museums and galleries. He is best known for his series of 150 large-scale paintings called "Humanscapes" that were painted between 1965 and 1989. E. CARMEN RAMOS: This is Mel Casas’ “Humanscape 62,” which is a painting that he executed in 1970. [2] After graduating high school, Casas worked for Pacific Fruit Express, a railroad company, as an iceman. [15] Other notable artists who subsequently joined the group include Rudy Treviño (who later served as president) César Martínez, Amado Peña, Carmen Lomas Garza, Santos Martínez, Kathy Vargas, Roberto Gonzalez, and Rolando Briseño. [12] Casas was awarded a Purple Heart for bravery in the war. [2] He was very interested in dealing with the objectification of women in media[2] and "debunking" racial stereotypes.[18]. (6 May 1976). Los Angeles: UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center Press. “I like the "How to MeL" slogan a lot! “Because I am of Mexican descent and I readily admit it. [10] He retired in 1990. I think we are lucky to be born outsiders. "[1][2] His work has been collected by the San Antonio Museum of Art, Smithsonian American Art Museum,[3] and nationally and internationally. The trio of exhibits trace almost the entire progression of Mel Casas' 150 Humanscape paintings from 1965 to 1989. Karlstrom, Paul (1996). Though Casas is best known for a handful of works that treat Chicano themes, he created an unusually wide array of works with varied themes and styles. The date is August 14, 1996. Two large paintings from Mel Casa’s Humanscape series comment on Southwestern clichés, and the commodification of Day of the Dead is especially prescient. His signature “Humanscape” paintings were designed as "impact pieces" intended to challenge the viewer into a reconsideration of the cultural myths and social stereotypes so … [10] In college, he had a very strong background in classical art theory, drawing and painting. [10] After the mid 1960s he began to do more representational work. [12] Casas felt that he had the opportunity to teach a "very good cross-section of the city" which was something he enjoyed. Silva, Elda (11 June 2015). 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, Flower Triangle (1993), Acrylic on canvas, 24 × 24 in In this regard the Chicano Movement did not generate Casas’ artistic practice. We cannot deny it. Melesio "Mel" Casas (November 24, 1929 – November 30, 2014) was a Chicano artist, activist, writer and teacher. I have to my benefit that I can combine English and Spanish to give a more colorful expression than I would if I said it all in English or all in Spanish. This painting, which comes from a larger series of works called “Humanscapes,” were actually inspired by Casas’ experience seeing a drive-in movie screen and seeing these huge images of people and things. Several of these artists were students of Casas, who was teaching at San Antonio College. [5][6] Casas was also well known as a writer and theorist. Casas is known for his Humanscape painting series whereby over the span of 150 paintings the Chicano experience slowly moves from the periphery to the center. Mel Casas: Artist as Cultural Adjuster showcases the work of American Pop Artist Mel Casas. NOTICE: All paintings represented on this site are the original work of Mel Casas. 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. Melesio "Mel" Casas (November 24, 1929 – November 30, 2014) was a Chicano artist, activist, writer and teacher. NOTICE: All paintings represented on this site are the original work of Mel Casas. When interviewed about Latino/Chicano identity, Casas is not dismissive of identity, but rather has grand ambitions for it. [9] Casas felt that once artists had a fair chance to exhibit in the United States, then they would become part of "Americana. The other thing, however, is this. PAUL KARLSTROM: Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, an interview with artist Mel Casas at his casa in San Antonio, Texas. Casas is best known for pointed visual statements that question cultural stereotypes and portrayals of Mexican Americans in the media. 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. First of all, because we use liquitex, and we use canvas, and we use stretcher boards. Focusing on topics like beauty and politics, the works also demonstrate the artists contribution to the accessibility and relevance of Chicano art. [21] As Casas' paintings became more colorful, they also began to have a richer sense of satire and visual play. 723 South Brazos St. 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. The interviewer for the Archives is Paul Karlstrom, and this is the first tape, tape one, side A. We are in between. 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. I so divide the picture plane of my painting so as to force the spectator into the role of 'voyeur,' thus acquiring an identity through participation. His broad and impactful practice of challenging borders that create metaphorical, physical, and ideological divergences. The Mel Casas papers were donated by Mel Casas in 1981 and microfilmed as part of the Archives of American Art's Texas project. [4], Casas was first recognized for his work in the abstract expressionist style[2] which was considered "typical" for his time period in the United States. [10], Later, Casas was called into the United States Army[12] and his father insisted it was his duty to serve. Mel Casas is known for Mod figure-genre, non objective painting. Nancy Kelker (1951- ) is an art historian in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. We are neither Mexican nor Anglos. The paintings and their images are not to be reproduced, copied, or used for any other purposes without explicit permission.. Mel Casas is known for Mod figure-genre, non objective painting. 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. Mel Casas: Artist as Cultural Adjuster. Mel Casas: Artist as Cultural Adjuster showcases the work of American Pop Artist Mel Casas. 'No usamos bastidores o manta.' 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. NOTICE: All paintings represented on this site are the original work of Mel Casas. [21] The "Humanscapes" were generally painted on large-scale canvases, mimicking the drive-in movies that inspired them. In Casas’ easily Pop Art became a agent for cultural, amusing and political annotation from a Chicano point-of-view. [10] He was considered by his students to be a "generous" teacher, helping to launch many young art careers. The interviewer for the Archives is Paul Karlstrom, and this is the first tape, tape one, side A. Mel Casas Family Trust. CAMH’S Online Publication Archive. In this blog post, Curator for Latino Art E. Carmen Ramos reflects on the importance of Casas' art. Kelker, Nancy L. 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