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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2009 15:26:28 GMT
One of New Orleans finest treasures was the late artist Enrique Alferez. Born 1901 in El Paso,Texas,of Mexican descent,he almost claimed more fame serving under Pancho Villa in The Mexican Revolution as a map maker,then he did as a major sculptor of his time. The majority of his work was commissioned by the Works Progress Administration(WPA) in the 1930's and 40's,a federally funded program which brought about some of the finest works of art to be found in the country(what's left of them anyway). City Park in New Orleans boasts a large number of Alfrerez's work. Other works can be seen throughout the city and my hope is to capture most of them and share here. Alferez died in 1998 at the age of 98. He worked up until the time of his death as a teacher,artist and staunch preservationist. I have had the priveledge of meeting his daughter who is a physician and incredible woman,fighting to help Charity Hospital reopen here in NOLA. The hospital building,also a WPA project,sports some wonderful bas reliefs in limestone of Alferez. Here are just a few examples of his work at City Park,some not labeled unfortunately, and some were obscured by holiday decorations.  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2009 15:31:52 GMT
 Woman in a Huipil,1981  The Flute Player  The Lost Goddess of City Park |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2009 15:36:14 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2009 15:48:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2009 16:15:57 GMT
ADDENDUM: I was apprehended by the City Park Police (must have been on camera) because I was trying to take the holiday lights(a nice way to phrase it)off of one of the small sculptures.
Fortunately,a kind woman at the main desk agreed that they should not have been there and that a group of school children must have mistakenly placed the lights on.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 1, 2009 16:22:38 GMT
You suffahed fa awt's sake, dahlin! ;D
These are out of this world! You really caught the feel of City Park, and did great justice to the Alferez sculptures. I particularly appreciate the woman in the huipil, as I don't remember that one at all. All of them show up beautifully in the autumn light. Do you know if the ornamented bases on some of the concrete benches in City Park are his work, or that of some unsung WPA artist?
Finding & photographing his other pieces is a great project. I can't wait to see more.
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Post by imec on Dec 1, 2009 16:28:04 GMT
Wow! Deco sculpture at it's best - this is gorgeous!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2009 21:16:47 GMT
Yes ,the benches are his. There is also a sundial (which had the lights wrapped around it) and some water fountains which I couldn't get to that day because of my "dispute". I wanted to high tail it out of there ASAP.   |
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Post by imec on Dec 1, 2009 22:15:17 GMT
Didn't you tell them you were a (double) Dynamo?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2009 22:19:54 GMT
No,should have...I was wearing my free pass badge but these guys,I think all they saw was some crazed woman taking lights off . Who knows WTF they were thinking. Mentioning Dynamo might have gotten me locked up.
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Post by lola on Dec 2, 2009 14:29:45 GMT
Wonderful, casimira. Thanks! The mermaid reminds me of Carl Milles' bronze "Sunglitter." Our botanical garden has a copy in a reflecting pool, and it's one of my all time favorites. This link has a photo at the bottom; sorry I don't know how to clip just that image. apps.detnews.com/apps/history/index.php?id=39 |
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Post by lola on Dec 2, 2009 14:32:43 GMT
Oh, wait. Alferez's is not a mermaid. Never mind. A talented mortal who rides fish.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 2, 2009 16:37:42 GMT
I am so pleased to know about the benches, since I have wondered about them forever. They're one of those things that are always a delightful surprise and part of what makes that park so delightful for children and adults alike.
Lola (& anyone): to capture an image like that from a page, right-click on it and choose Properties. Copy the url where it says Location.
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Post by lola on Dec 2, 2009 17:13:41 GMT
 Thanks, bixa! You're a pearl and a peach. |
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Post by lola on Dec 2, 2009 17:17:12 GMT
 Here's a view of the St. Louis one, snagged from the internet. I'm not crazy about the Chihouly onions, because they clash with the flowers. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2009 22:14:27 GMT
Gorgeous lola. thanks.
And I can't help but note the Climatron in the background. I spent many an hour in there when I lived in Saint Louis. Was my saving grace on many an occasion.
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Post by lola on Dec 3, 2009 4:29:30 GMT
Isn't the Climatron great? Especially in the winter. I think they have full size dinosaurs now, which would make it extra trippy. They tore down the Desert House that had been to the left, but built a nice Mediterranean house adjacent on the right.
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Tlaloc Alferez
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Post by Tlaloc Alferez on Oct 12, 2012 20:45:44 GMT
I am the daughter of Enrique Alferez, " Rique ".
The woman on a dolphin was not done by him,
but actually done by his ex wife Rosemarie Huth.
She was married to him before my mother, Peggy,
was, and indeed a fine lady and sculptress.
Tlaloc Alferez
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Tlaloc Alferez
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Post by Tlaloc Alferez on Oct 12, 2012 20:52:48 GMT
My father was born in a small town in Mexico, San Miguel de Mesquital ( now Miguel Auza), Zacatecas. He went to El Paso,Tx
after the Mexican revolution, and after his commander had been
murdered in 1923.
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 13, 2012 4:37:48 GMT
Hello and thank you for those wonderful details, Ms. Alferez. I've been a fan of his work for years, but had no idea that he was born in Mexico, nor that he took part in the revolution. Fascinating!
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Post by nycgirl on Nov 1, 2012 13:01:16 GMT
I really enjoyed looking at these beautiful sculptures, and it's nice hearing from Ms. Alferez.
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