Lithograph by Rudolfo Morales
ART FOR LIFE
Works of art capture the culture of Mexico while raising funds for medical research.
by Mary Ellen StumpflFor Gloria Reyes and Laura Harvey, R.N., a 10-day trip to Mexico in October 1997 meant a chance to relax, experience some of the art and culture of Mexico and buy some jewelry.
But sometime during the trip, an idea was ignited. That idea became their passion for a year and a half, culminating in an educational event that raised funds for medical research at USC.
While touring the small town of Ocotlan in Oaxaca, Reyes and Harvey met Rodolfo Morales, an internationally known painter and muralist whose work is compared to that of Diego Rivera and Rufino Tamayo.
"By chance, we met him in the church he is restoring," says Reyes, the administrator for USC's Division of Hematology. "We were in awe of this great artist, whose work we had seen, but he was such a humble man."
After meeting Morales and other local artists and seeing their work, Reyes and Harvey knew they wanted to do something to bring the art to the United States for more people to appreciate.
"Although Morales is quite famous among art lovers, many Americans don't know anything of the beauty and depth of Mexican art," says Harvey, a hematology research nurse at USC.
Reyes adds: "Mexican folk art is rich with the religion, science, mythology and superstitions of the country."
Following their return from Mexico, Reyes and Harvey proposed to bring to USC an exhibit and sale of Mexican folk art, which would also be a fundraiser for diabetes and HIV/AIDS research.
"It was natural for us to fold our idea into our jobs," Harvey says. "Diabetes and HIV are greatly impacting Mexicans and the Latino community here. The research done at USC would benefit all Latinos."
Over the next 10 months Reyes and Harvey worked to put all of the elements together for a community cultural event, art exhibit and sale.
The fundraiser, "Art for Life," benefited research by hematologist Alexandra Levine, M.D., in HIV/AIDS, and Thomas Buchanan, M.D., in diabetes, as well as Morales' church restoration project and an AIDS education organization in Oaxaca. More than 2,000 people, including school children, toured the weeklong exhibit.
Along with Morales, other noted participants included ceramics artist Alfonso Castillo and wood carver Jacobo Angeles.
Richard Zapanta, an alumnus of the USC School of Medicine, was the event chair. He helped connect Reyes and Harvey with sponsors and assisted in the planning of the event. Raul Rodriguez, premiere designer of floats for the Tournament of Roses parade, served as artistic director for the exhibit, and Kay Allen of USC's Fisher Gallery was the honorary exhibit chair.
Reyes and Harvey secured corporate sponsorships and enlisted the help of local television and radio stations as media partners to promote the event. Iurralde Gallery in Los Angeles helped with the appraisal and promotion of the art.
Even the Mexican government helped Reyes and Harvey make their dream a reality. The Consul General of the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles arranged for the shipment of the art to Los Angeles and took care of customs arrangements free of charge.
Zapanta and his wife, Rebecca, collectors of fine art who already own a Morales original, hosted a fundraising gala at which Morales created an original work that was auctioned off to benefit the cause.
Exhibits at USC's Health Sciences and University Park campuses featured the ceramics, wood carvings and carpets of 14 artists, including 100 each of five different Morales lithographs created specifically for this event.
The lithographs are still available for $800 each. Call (323) 865-3915 for information.
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