| Marcus, Hal |
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(b. 1951)
Place of Birth: El Paso, Texas History: Hal Marcus interest in painting began in high school and with the encouragement of his art teachers, developed into a life-long passion of the arts. His sense of color originates from the influences of Mexico where as a child he accompanied his grandmother on weekly visits to the Juarez market. He is best known for his art which reflects the people, streets and mountains where he lives. His works make people proud of their community along the border. His works of art became cultural icons for the community. Marcus began to publish cards, posters, and calendars which he sold door-to-door. He became self supporting as an artist and opened a successful gallery featuring his and other local artists’ works. He sold the Hal Marcus Gallery to his employees in 2007 who are continuing the gallery founded by Marcus. Marcus is an artist, illustrator, author, publisher and gallery founder. Hal Marcus is active in his community. His entrepreneurial pursuits have led him to collaborate with hundreds of institutions creating images for worthy causes. His works express local and global themes derived from his experiences. Hal Marcus' self-taught folk-art style has become main stream in the isolated art community along the Rio Grande. His works are found in numerous public, private and corporate collections throughout the world. Description of Work: Hal Marcus is best known for painting scenes with people in them, reflecting his community. Marcus’ has a colorful folk-art style which is influenced by living on the U.S./ Mexican border. These are scenes of life on the border with houses, streets, people, mountains, and culture of the region. And although he is known for these scenes, he actually does more paintings of women than anything else. Many of the women have an iconic Madonna-like quality. He paints female portraits and nudes. Rarely does he use live models, relying instead on his imagination and sense of composition. In his technique, Marcus most often paints on canvas using acrylic paint, frequently complimented by the application of gold, silver or other metal leaf. He is known for his bright colors, but sometimes is known to work in muted colors or black and white. He very often uses texture and prefers to both brush and palette knife to achieve desired effects. He likes to experiment with different media to provide the visual ‘feeling’ he’s seeking. For example, he may use glitter or metal leaf on a portion of the painting or fluorescent paint to give the image a new dimension with changing light. Education and Training: Hal Marcus received his education primarily in in El Paso. He attended Mesita Elementary School and in 1969 graduated from Coronado High School where teachers, Ysela Fulton O’Malley and Lupe Casillas Lowenberg discovered and encouraged him. Marcus is largely self-taught, taking a couple of courses here and there - at UT Austin in the fall of 1969, in the early 1970’s he attended the San Francisco Art Institute and in El Paso, he studied under Robert Massey, Wilks Harrison, Loren Jansen and John Hogan. In his early 20’s he took a sculpture class with Mago. She remains an inspiration for his work today. Solo Shows: 2006 “One Man Show” – El Paso, Texas 2002 “El Paso Jewish Artist” - Jewish Community Center, Austin, Texas 1997 “One Man Show” Casa Jurado, El Paso, TX 1974 “The Bible”, Jewish Community Center, El Paso, TX 1971 “One Man Show”, Austin, Texas 1971 UTEP Student Exhibition Group Show 1970 “One Man Show”, Mexico City Group Exhibitions: 2003: Curator’s Invitational Exhibit, International Museum of Art, El Paso, Texas. 1999: “Pass to the Future” accepted, Masterpiece Mine Exhibition, International Museum of Art, El Paso, Texas 1999: "Angel in the Garden" accepted by Bridge Gallery, El Paso, Texas for opening of new facility. 1998: “Women and Children” two man show featuring Hal Marcus and Alberto Escamilla 1997: “Our Lady of Guadalupe” accepted for annual Our Lady of Guadalupe exhibition at Mission de Senacu Gallery, Ysleta Entrepreneurial Center 1992: "Egyptian Sphinx" accepted for Sierra Medical Show, El Paso, Texas 1989: “Mother & Child” accepted for International Year of the Child exhibit in Museum of Archeology in Juarez, Mexico Murals & Major Commissioned Work: 2006: “Mother and Child” creates image for Ob/Gyn Department at Texas Tech School of Medicine 2003: “City of the Sun” Mural commissioned by Ronald McDonald House, for new facility El Paso, Texas 2002: “El Paso High” commissioned by Alumni Association. 2002: “Sol de Paz”, maquette designed by Hal Marcus & constructed by Richard Glass. Commissioned as the first ‘small model’ for the City’s Art & Sol Project & was purchased by GECU, El Paso, TX. 2001: “Torah in Glass” 6’ x 24’ stained glass windows for Temple Mount Sinai. 1999: “Niños del Sol” (Children of the Sun) selected for campaign commemorating the United Way Children’s Health Conference uniting Mexico and the United States. Mural hangs in the El Paso City/County Bldg. 1999: Mural “Visualize World Peace” for U.S. Peace Corps, Austin, Texas. Purchased by graduating class at Franklin High School. Mural hangs at Franklin High School, El Paso, Texas. 1998: "Pass to the Future" – pro-bono creation to save local El Paso wetland, Keystone Heritage Park. 1997: St. Pius X Catholic Church Commissioned for design and installation of 21 stained glass windows 1994: “El Paso Gracias A Dios” commissioned for Chamizal National Memorial, El Paso, TX/Juarez, Mexico 1993: “El Paso Navidad” completed for and is hanging at LaLa Imports, El Paso, TX 1988: “El Mercado Juarez” completed for and is hanging at LaLa Imports, El Paso, TX Remains artist’s most well known work of art. Collections: Chamizal National Memorial, El Paso Texas - “El Paso Gracias A Dios” Mural El Paso County Court House Building - “Niños del Sol” Mural El Paso Museum of Art - “Four Seasons” (set of 4 paintings) El Paso Public Library: “Life In the Valley” mural installed at the Main Library and Original artwork for Aunt Alice Alligator’s, Animal Alphabet Album consists of 27 original drawings installed, new Main Library children’s section. Franklin High School, - El Paso, Texas - “Visualize World Peace” International Museum of Art – El Paso, Texas “Our Lady of Guadalupe” La La Imports, El Paso, Texas: “El Mercado, Juárez” and “El Paso Navidad” Ronald McDonald House – El Paso, Texas “City of the Sun” St. Pius X Catholic Church, El Paso, Texas Designed twenty one Stain Glass Windows and oversaw the glass creation and installation Stewart Title – El Paso, Texas “Avenida Juarez” Temple Mt. Sinai, El Paso, TX: “Torah In Glass”, “Tree of Life”, “Seven Days of the Creation of the World” Thomason Hospital, El Paso, TX- Conceptual drawing for “El Paso Gracias A Dios” University of Texas at El Paso - Library - 3rd Floor-Mural “My Life, My Friends, My World”; - 2nd Floor-All studies and photo reproductions of “El Mercado Juarez”. - 1st Floor Blumberg Auditorium - two large paintings inspired by the waterfalls at Iguazu, - Brazil. Awards: 1996 – present: Marcus has consistently been voted ‘Favorite Artist’ and ‘Best Gallery’ in contests promoted by local newspapers and magazines. 2003: El Paso Artists Hall of Fame by the International Museum of Art, El Paso, Texas. 2003: 2003 Diamond Award for Hal Marcus image on credit card created by Laster & Associates for Government Employees Credit Union (GECU). 2000: - Telly Award for video “Hal Marcus 2001” by Capstone Productions. Conceived and co-produced by Hal Marcus. Shown on PBS stations throughout the Southwest. Honors: Marcus has received many honors for pro-bono creation of special artwork for the benefit of numerous organizations and for the use of existing images to promote their cause a partial list includes the YMCA, United Way, Candlelighters, Family Planning, Avance and The Humane Society. 2007: El Paso Museum of Art – honors Marcus for service as Chairman of Advisory Board. 2001: Temple Mount Sinai, Marcus was honored during High Holy Days for his donation of “Torah in Glass” a 6’ x 24’ stained glass windows which Marcus designed and oversaw creation and installation. 1996: Hal Marcus Place, El Paso, Texas - street named in honor of the artist. 1999: UTEP- Honored by President, Dr. Diana Natalicio for contributions to the University. 1998: Keystone Archaeological Preservation and Protection Association (KAPPA). Honored Marcus for pro-bono creation image "Pass to the Future" and creative campaign using the image to promote the cause. Hal Marcus is largely responsible for public awareness of the cause. KAPPA was successful in saving and preserving the site which has been turned into a unique botanical gardens, wetlands and archeological preservation site. Other: 2007: Founding member of EEPACO, Early El Paso Art Collectors Organization. 2007: Master of Ceremonies for annual Arts International Art Exhibit, El Paso, Texas. 2005: Speech for Alberto Escamilla’s induction into El Paso Artists Hall of Fame by the International Museum of Art, El Paso, Texas. 2004: Speech for Manuel Gregorio Acosta’s induction into El Paso Artists Hall of Fame by the International Museum of Art, El Paso, Texas. 1999: Initiated and co-curated Manuel Acosta exhibit. Exhibit was held at Mission de Senacu Gallery, Ysleta Entrepreneurial Center and co-curated by Lupe Casillas Lowenberg. Exhibit was held 10 years after the artist’s death, and was instrumental in the release of his estate artwork which had been tied up in legal red tape since the artist’s death. 1998: Houghton Mifflin, Boston, MA secured rights to publish the “El Paso Gracias A Dios” mural in the first bilingual history textbook. 1996: Created the children’s book, Aunt Alice Alligator’s, Animal Alphabet Album. Launched year long campaign complete with billboards and mascot, appearing at grammar schools and public libraries throughout Texas. 1995: “El Mercado, Juárez” and “El Paso Gracias A Dios” featured in book on the southwest border culture Two Eagles in the Sun, by Richard Campbell. 1995: Temple Mt. Sinai, El Paso, Texas – Illustrateand co-designed special prayer book (Sidur). 1989: Wrote, illustrated and published the Sign Language Circus. Book released in Washington, D.C. at American Booksellers Association. |