Reqiescat in Pace, Vaquero
July 19, 2006 5:58 AM   Subscribe

"I have an agenda." Luis Jimenez, a Latino sculptor who worked primarily in fiberglass, portraying Latin themes, died last month in an accident in his art studio.
posted by John of Michigan (20 comments total)
 


Oh, and:

.
posted by John of Michigan at 5:59 AM on July 19, 2006


too bad the latimes link is already busted.
posted by jdfan at 6:12 AM on July 19, 2006


Hey, jdfan, try one more time. It worked for me about thirty seconds ago.

But if the LA Times continues its vendetta against you (the bastards!), then please try this link.
posted by John of Michigan at 6:25 AM on July 19, 2006


Sorry to say, the "latino sculptor" link returns an error, too.
posted by crunchland at 6:28 AM on July 19, 2006


DAMN YOU, LINKS!!!! DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL.

Ahem. Now that I got that out of the way:

Latino sculptor.

It's working just fine from my computer, but . . . .
posted by John of Michigan at 6:32 AM on July 19, 2006


"I have an agenda" - links to a blank page

"Latino sculptor" - runtime error

"an accident in his art studio." - registration only.

Still,


.
posted by fire&wings at 6:39 AM on July 19, 2006


Ah, sorry, see it now.
posted by fire&wings at 6:40 AM on July 19, 2006


Here is his Southwest Pieta which is in a park in Albuquerque, NM. This piece titled Border Crossing is different than the one linked above as Latino Sculptor. This one is in Santa Fe. His work is very recognizable and easy to spot.
posted by onhazier at 7:36 AM on July 19, 2006


"...as Jimenez was being taken by ambulance from Hondo to a hospital in Ruidoso, he called his brother, David, in Los Angeles via cell phone.

'I'm not going to make it,' he said."


Well, that just sucks.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 7:53 AM on July 19, 2006


.
posted by DragonBoy at 8:46 AM on July 19, 2006


He was my figure drawing instructor in college.... he was amazing.
posted by nimsey lou at 8:57 AM on July 19, 2006


I love those statues - seen some at the Mexican History museum in Chicago and at an art museum in El Paso. They have made lasting impressions for me. Like awesome black velvet paintings in 3D.

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posted by mouthnoize at 10:52 AM on July 19, 2006


more local coverage. I knew him as the creator of this, one of the more reviled sculptures in my alma mater's history.
posted by whatnot at 11:40 AM on July 19, 2006


The "cowboy" statue outside of the Smithsonian of American Art is a really great piece of public art.

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posted by bardic at 11:43 AM on July 19, 2006


Geez that's too bad. Beautiful work. I can't believe the price for doing that horse was only $300k.
posted by yoga at 11:57 AM on July 19, 2006


.

(Thanks for the articles. Its sad. I had heard about this when it happened. Several artists I know reacted to the news in a similar way: That being, when their time was up, they would what to be in their studio working.)
posted by R. Mutt at 2:51 PM on July 19, 2006


Wow. I spoke with him once on the telephone a little less than a year ago. Luis had befriended a close friend of mine, and suffered the misfortune of discovering his decomposing body in the Tucson heat. He was kind enough to tell me the rather sad details that no one else would admit, and made sense of a senseless situation.

Bart often spoke of Luis with great respect not only for his artistic vision, but for his personal fortitude as well. I will always be grateful for the friendship that he extended to my troubled compadre in the last years of his difficult life.

Vaya con dios, amigo.
posted by malocchio at 8:02 PM on July 19, 2006


I was so saddened to hear of this last month. As an art student at Univ. of Houston in the 90's I enjoyed his lectures immensely. His impact on Latin neighborhoods in Houston regarding the Vaquero controversy were fascinating. He helped redefine the parameters of public art and it's impact on social mores.

The rumor among some art circles around town was that he actually said this project would kill him. Wrought with problems, it was just so shocking that it actually did.

Thank you and RIP Professor Jimenez.
posted by dog food sugar at 8:18 PM on July 19, 2006


This is sad, I was just re-learning his work for a future series of my own.

While I do have questions with the reasons for co-opting folk traditions and materials in "fine art", his works amazed me and found a line that was not an affectation but his way of honoring the people who influenced him. I saw his Border Crossing in person for the first time in Santa Fe last summer, and in the desert sun it felt strong and alive, in a courtyard full of sculpture, his stood out and attracted everyone to it. In my humble opinion, he was the best true figural sculptor since Degas.

To die in one's studio, well, I can't think of a better way to go, but I wish he could have stayed a little longer.
posted by 1f2frfbf at 7:56 AM on July 20, 2006


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