Archives of American Art
Gaspar Enriquez papers
Enriquez, Gaspar, 1942-
AAA.enrigasp
Archival Resource Key
1.5 Linear feet
0.001 Gigabytes
1973-2017
The papers of Chicano painter, portrait artist, and educator Gaspar Enriquez measure 1.5 linear feet and 0.001 GB and date from 1973 to 2017. The papers are comprised of biographical materials, correspondence, writings, commission and project files, exhibition files, and printed and digital materials that document Enriquez's career in El Paso, Texas.
English
.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The papers were donated by Gaspar Enriquez in 2017.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Sarah Mundy in 2018. Born-digital materials were processed by Kirsi Ritosalmi-Kisner in 2019 with funding provided by Smithsonian Collection Care and Preservation Fund.
Preferred Citation
Gaspar Enriquez papers, 1973-2017. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Use of archival born-digital records with no duplicate copies requires advance notice.
Biographical / Historical
Gaspar Enriquez (1942- ) is a Chicano painter, portrait artist, and educator in San Elizario in El Paso County, Texas.
Enriquez was born in the historic El Segundo Barrio in El Paso. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of El Paso in 1970 and a master's degree in metals from New Mexico State University in 1985. In addition to his art career, he taught art at Bowie High School in El Paso for 34 years.
Enriquez is known for his portraits of individuals who reflect the Chicano community in which he was raised. Enriquez has stated that "one is born Mexican American, but one chooses to be a chicano." His work allows those unfamiliar with the Chicano community to connect through his portraiture.
Enriquez participated in two seminal, multifaceted exhibitions of Chicano art. Chicano Art: Resistance and Affirmation/CARA (1990-1993) and Chicano Visions: American Painters on the Verge (2001-2007), an exhibition showcasing the art collection of Cheech Marin, traveled to museums across the United States exposing Chicano art and the Chicano Movement to the traditional art world.
Enriquez has won the 2016 Segundo Barrio Person of the Year Award, the University of Texas at El Paso's Distinguished Alumni Award, and the Mid-Americarts Alliance Fellowship in 1994.
Scope and Contents
The papers of Chicano painter, portrait artist, and educator Gaspar Enriquez measure 1.5 linear feet and 0.001 GB and date from 1973 to 2017. The papers are comprised of biographical materials, correspondence, writings, commission and project files, exhibition files, and printed and digital materials that document Enriquez's career in El Paso, Texas.
Biographical materials include several awards and certificates, photographs, and sketches. Correspondence includes general personal and professional correspondence, notes to Enriquez, and letters with Bernadine Antone, Miguel Juarez, Elda Silva. Writings consist of artist statements, one notebook, a student paper about Luis Jimenez, and statements on teaching. Commission and project files contain digital photographs and other records for mural, book, and room design projects.
Files for exhibitions include documentation on Chicano Art: Resistance and Affirmation (1990-1993), or CARA, a traveling exhibition and Chicano Visions: American Painters on the Verge (2004), an exhibition of Chicano artwork collected by Cheech Marin. Printed materials contains art reproductions, clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs, flyers, invitations, magazines, newsletters, and press releases.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as six series.
- Series 1: Biographical Materials, 1976-2014 (Box 1; 3 folders)
- Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1985-2017 (Box 1; 0.3 linear feet)
- Series 3: Writings, 1983-circa 2000 (Box 1; 4 folders)
- Series 4: Commission and Project Files, 1994-2003 (Box 1; 0.2 linear feet, ER01; 0.001 GB)
- Series 5: Exhibition Files, 1990-2007 (Box 1, OV 3; 0.2 linear feet)
- Series 6: Printed Materials, 1973-2017 (Boxes 1-2, OV 3; 0.6 linear feet)
Art teachers -- Texas
Latino and Latin American artists
Mexican American art
Painters -- Texas
Portrait painters--Texas
Photographs
Sketches
Chicano artists
Antone, Bernadin
Jimenez, Luis, 1940-2006
Juárez, Miguel, 1958-
Marin, Cheech
Silva, Elda
Biographical Materials
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
3 Folders
Box 1
1973-2014
Scope and Contents
Biographical materials include several awards and certificates from Bowie High School and organizations in El Paso, a photograph of Enriquez and a few of artwork, and sketches of objects.
Awards and Certificates
Archival Resource Key
1991-1994
1
1
Scope and Contents
Includes originals and photocopies.
Photographs
Archival Resource Key
1976-2014
1
2
Sketches
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
3
Correspondence
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
0.3 Linear feet
Box 1
circa 1985-2017
Scope and Contents
Correspondence is with Bernadine Antone, Miguel Juarez, journalist Elda Silva, and includes notes to Enriquez regarding his public works, and general personal and professional correspondence regarding events, exhibitions, studio visits, and participation with arts organizations.
General
Archival Resource Key
circa 1985-2017
1
4-9
Antone, Bernadine
Archival Resource Key
circa 2000
1
10
Scope and Contents
Includes digital photograph of Enriquez during the Tour of Homes in 1984.
El Paso Commission for Women
Archival Resource Key
2003
1
11
Scope and Contents
Includes a biographical sketch of Enriquez's wife, Ann M. Enriquez.
Juarez, Miguel
Archival Resource Key
1994
1
12
Scope and Contents
Includes a transcript of an interview with Enriquez.
Notes to Enriquez from "Generations" Board
Archival Resource Key
2014
1
13
Notes to Enriquez from Museum Public Notes
Archival Resource Key
2014
1
14
Silva, Elda
Archival Resource Key
2008
1
15
University of Texas at El Paso
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
16
Writings
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
4 Folders
Box 1
1983-circa 2000
Scope and Contents
Writings consist of artist statements, a notebook, a student paper on sculptor Luis Jimenez, and Enriquez's statements on his teaching philosophy.
Artist Statements
Archival Resource Key
circa 2000
1
17
Notebook
Archival Resource Key
1983
1
18
Scope and Contents
Notebook contains notes on magazine articles and classical architecture. Also includes correspondence with New Mexico State University.
Student Paper on Luis Jimenez
Archival Resource Key
1985
1
19
Teaching Philosophy
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
20
Commission and Project Files
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
0.2 Linear feet
Box 1
0.001 Gigabytes
ER01
1994-2003
Scope and Contents
Commission and project files include correspondence, contracts, budget plans, digital mockups, and digital images of mural placement at the San Antonio Convention Center and Roosevelt Elementary School, the book Contemporary Chicana and Chicano Art: Artists, Works, Culture, and Education, illustrations for the book Elegy on the Death of Cesar Chavez by Rudolfo Anaya, and room design at the San Vicente Spiritual Center.
Contemporary Chicana and Chicano Art: Artists, Works, Culture, and Education, Book Inclusion
Archival Resource Key
2000-2003
1
21
Elegy on the Death of Cesar Chavez by Rudolfo Anaya, Book Illustrations
Archival Resource Key
2001-2002
1
22
Scope and Contents
Includes loan forms for the El Paso Museum of Art exhibition.
The History of the Mission Valley, Mural
Archival Resource Key
1994
1
23
Scope and Contents
Includes group photographs and digital photographs of the mural.
Roosevelt Elementary School, Mural
Archival Resource Key
1994-1995
1
24
Scope and Contents
Includes a contract with the Junior League of El Paso and student assistant release forms.
San Antonio Convention Center Expansion Project, Mural
Archival Resource Key
1998-2002
1
25
Scope and Contents
Includes born-digital records, see ER01.
Mural Placement Images, Digital Photographs
Archival Resource Key
0.001 Gigabytes
Seven computer files
2000
ER01
San Vicente Spiritual Center, Room Design and Painting
Archival Resource Key
2005
1
26
Exhibition Files
Series 5
Archival Resource Key
0.2 Linear feet
Box 1, OV 3
1990-2007
Scope and Contents
Files for exhibitions include documentation on Chicano Art: Resistance and Affirmation (1990-1993), or CARA, a traveling exhibition; Chicano Visions: American Painters on the Verge (2004), an exhibition showcasing Chicano artworks collected by Cheech Marin; and others. The files include correspondence, clippings of reviews, loan agreements, mockups for a mural, and visitor comments.
Chicano Art: Resistance and Affirmation/CARA (1990-1993)
Archival Resource Key
1990-1993
1
27
La Rosa Dolorosa (1995), El Paso Museum of Art
Archival Resource Key
1995
1
28
Scope and Contents
Includes photocopies of visitor comments.
Chicano State of Mind (2001), Parchman Stremmel Galleries
Archival Resource Key
2001
1
29
Chicano Visions: American Painters of the Verge (2004)
Archival Resource Key
2003-2004
1
30-32
Scope and Contents
Includes photographs of artwork in the gallery and Cheech Marin along with loan agreements for El Cheech.
Chicano Visions: American Painters on the Verge (2004)
Archival Resource Key
2003-2004
3
Scope and Contents
Includes mockups for a mural at the El Paso Museum of Art.
Mis Homies (2006), The People's Gallery
Archival Resource Key
2006
1
33
Scope and Contents
Includes visitor comments.
North and South of the Border (2007), Las Cruces Museum of Art
Archival Resource Key
2007
1
34
Scope and Contents
Includes photocopies of visitor comments.
Printed Materials
Series 6
Archival Resource Key
0.6 Linear feet
Boxes 1-2, OV 3
1973-2017
Scope and Contents
Printed materials include art reproductions, clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs, flyers, invitations, magazines, newsletters, and press releases featuring Enriquez, his artwork, and exhibitions.
Art Reproductions, Mi Querida Madre
Archival Resource Key
circa 2008
1
35
Booklets and Brochures
Archival Resource Key
1992-2015
1
36
Clippings
Archival Resource Key
1990-2017
1
37
Clippings
Archival Resource Key
1990-2017
2
1-3
Clippings
Archival Resource Key
1990-2017
3
Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs
Archival Resource Key
1991-2016
1
38-39
Flyers
Archival Resource Key
2016
undated
1
40
Invitations
Archival Resource Key
2014-2015
1
41
Scope and Contents
Includes an invitation to the University of Texas at El Paso's Distinguished Alumni Award ceremony of which Enriquez was a recipient.
Magazine
Archival Resource Key
2001
1
42
Newsletter
Archival Resource Key
1991-2004
1
43
Newsletters
Archival Resource Key
1991-2004
2
4
Press Releases
Archival Resource Key
1973
1994
1
44