Miguel Miramontes Carmona, regarded as one of Mexico’s greatest living artists, will come into the spotlight for a public tribute to be held Thursday, October 18, 7 p.m., at the La Vela Plaza, on the far west end of Chapala’s waterfront Malecon.
The event honoring the community’s leading resident sculptor is being organized by the Chapala branch of the Guadalajara Chamber of Conference.
In addition to highlighting the distinguished octogenarian’s career and accomplishments, the program will also feature live performances of Mexican music and dance.
Miramontes was born in Guadalajara in 1918. As a young man he learned trades as a tailor, silver jewelry-maker and carver of religious images before deciding to seek his fortunes as a sculptor. In 1947 he headed off to Mexico City to enroll at the San Carlos Art Academy, honing his skills as a disciple of Fidias Elizondo, Luis Ortiz Monasterio and Ignacio Asunsolo.Returning to Guadalajara in 1958 for an exhibit at the Oliveti Gallery, he was recruited to take charge of the sculpture workshop at the University of Guadalajara’s budding School of Plastic Arts, He remained on the teaching staff there until his retirement in 1983, developing the talents of many of Jalisco’s most noted modern day artists. In 1993 he left the city to settle in the more peaceful environs of Chapala with wife Teresa and their young daughter.
Skilled in the use of diverse sculpting materials such as bronze, wood, granite, rock crystal and terra cotta, Miramontes often employs plaster as a quick technique to model his works.
As a scholar well versed in Mexican history he has received numerous government commissions to create images of national heroes and other important people. He authored 17 of the 28 figures that are ensconced in the Rotonda of Illustrious Jalisco Citizens located across the street from the Guadalajara Cathedral.
Among many other notable pieces found in the metro area is the whimsical fountain titled Los Niños that is situated in the heart of the city. It originally portrayed four naked boys at play in the water, including one in the process of relieving himself. Sadly, in the course of this year two of the figures have been snatched by thieves. One was quickly recuperated from a junk yard, broken in half. The second one is still missing.
Lakesiders can see his statue of famed composer Pepe Guizar standing at entrance way to downtown Chapala the north end of Avenida Madero, and a relief portrayal of the legendary Niños Heroes (Boy Heroes) graces the monument set opposite to the Palacio Municipal (city hall). Seven of his more artistic sculptures are included in the permanent collection at the Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo (old train station). The garden and workshop of his Las Redes home is chock-full of finished pieces and works in progress.
The works of Miramontes are also found all over Mexico and beyond its borders, including a bronze likeness of the father of Mexican independence that graces Hidalgo Garden in Houston, Texas.