Texas Art's Mexican Roots: Jerry Bywaters' Vision Challenges Lone Star Isolationism
The artistic landscape of Texas, shaped by its 'Lone Star' identity, is deeply intertwined with international influences, particularly from Mexico. Jerry Bywaters, who served as the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts director from 1943 to 1964, was a key advocate for this perspective. In 1928, he journeyed to Mexico under the mentorship of Diego Rivera, foreseeing a growing American appreciation for Mexican artistry. His 1939 artwork 'Century Plant, Big Bend' showcases Rivera's impact. Bywaters also curated a 1948 exhibition featuring modern Mexican art, resulting in acquisitions by Rivera and José Clemente Orozco by 1951. A 1953 Look Magazine photo, orchestrated by Bywaters, highlighted a blend of Texas art. Contemporary creators like Rolando Briseño and Octavio Medellín embody this cross-cultural style. The article critiques the omission of Texas from the Whitney Museum's 2020-2021 'Vida Americana' initiative, advocating for a narrative of 'Texas vida.'
Key facts
- Jerry Bywaters directed the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts (now Dallas Museum of Art) from 1943 to 1964.
- Bywaters traveled to Mexico in 1928 and was mentored by Diego Rivera.
- Bywaters organized a 1948 exhibition of modern Mexican art focusing on Rivera, Siqueiros, and Tamayo.
- The Dallas museum acquired works by Rivera, Orozco, Siqueiros, Tamayo, and others in 1951.
- Bywaters' 1939 painting 'Century Plant, Big Bend' reflects Mexican muralist influences.
- A 1953 Look Magazine photo staged by Bywaters featured works by Otis Dozier, Charles Umlauf, and Rufino Tamayo.
- Contemporary artists Rolando Briseño and Octavio Medellín continue this cross-border Texas-Mexico artistic dialogue.
- The article critiques the exclusion of Texas from the Whitney Museum's 2020-2021 'Vida Americana' project.
Entities
Artists
- Jerry Bywaters
- Diego Rivera
- José Clemente Orozco
- David Alfaro Siqueiros
- Rufino Tamayo
- Jackson Pollock
- Alfredo Zalce
- Carlos Mérida
- Castro Pacheco
- Jean Charlot
- Carlos Romero
- Miguel Covarrubias
- Juan O'Gorman
- Otis Dozier
- Charles Umlauf
- Rolando Briseño
- Octavio Medellín
- Carmen Lomas Garza
- Santa Barraza
- Emmy Lou Packard
- Francine Carraro
- Michael Grauer
- Paula Grauer
- Yolanda Fauvet
- Paulina H. Marroquín
- Alonso Álvarez de Pineda
- Carlos Merida
Institutions
- Glasstire
- Dallas Museum of Fine Arts
- Dallas Museum of Art
- Whitney Museum of American Art
- Southern Methodist University
- Dallas Morning News
- Southwest Review
- Smithsonian Institution
- Archives of American Art
- Dallas Museum of Fine Arts School
- Look Magazine
- University of Texas Press
- Moody Center for the Arts
- Dallas Museum of Fine Arts (Dallas Museum of Art)
- Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution
Locations
- Texas
- Mexico
- United States
- Dallas
- San Antonio
- Brownsville
- Mexico City
- San Francisco
- Detroit
- New York
- Los Angeles
- California
- Central America
- Europe
- West Texas
- Big Bend
- Chisos Mountains
- Tenochtitlán
- Washington, D.C.
- Michigan
- Aztlán
- Switzerland