Anonymous notes on Alfredo Bustinza

Anonymous said...
I read the post on Alfredo Bustinza and did a bit of research. This is what I located...

Alfredo Bustinza attended Ebony Heights Elementary, Cummings Junior High, and was a 1976 graduate from Homer Hanna High School. At the age of 18, Bustinza, a talented artist, presented his first exhibition, “All Mixed Media,” in Houston, Texas.

Shortly after his high school graduation, Bustinza, began his college education at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas where he eventually earned a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts and remained on the National Dean’s List for the majority of his undergraduate program. Upon graduation from Texas Tech University in 1980, Fred moved to New Brunswick, New Jersey to attend Rutger’s University and, in 1983, received a Master of Arts in Fine Arts degree. While in graduate school, Bustinza furthered his artistic career by displaying his art at various galleries throughout the nation. During the late 1980s, Bustinza held countless exhibitions, among them include: the Lerner Heller Gallery in New York City; the University of Tampa; the Lachaven Art Center in Tampa; the Museum of Contemporary Hispanic Art in New York City; the Lubbock Fine Arts Center in Lubbock; the Blue Starr Group in San Antonio; the Midtown Art Center in Houston; the Multicultural Center in Corpus Christi; and the Blue Collar Gallery in San Antonio. Throughout the 1990’s, Bustinza held exhibitions at The Visual Arts Annex Gallery in San Antonio, the Art Museum of South Texas in Corpus Christi; and the Robinson Gallery in Houston.

Aside from his countless exhibitions, Bustinza’s work was recognized by a number of the world’s most renowned institutions. He was nominated for “Awards in the Visual Arts” sponsored by the Equitable Life Insurance Society, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Another nomination was made by the Texas Arts Award for “Distinguished Contributions to the Arts.” Bustinza was also a recipient of an artistic grant funded by the Pollock-Krasner Foundation and another grant financed by the National Endowment for the Arts. He was later granted a fellowship by the Jentel Artist Residency Program to further develop his skills and hone his artistic talent.

In 1997, Mr. Bustinza received the greatest accolade of all. His work was archived into the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. as a part of a permanent collection of the American artists who were bestowed grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Most recently, Alfredo Bustinza sought pleasure in giving back to the community which had been so kind to him by donating artistic works to different philanthropic causes throughout the greater Brownsville area. He led a mural painting project at the Good Neighbor Settlement House and participated in a “Wine and Cheese Art Auction” to benefit abused children.

Throughout the latter part of his career, Alfredo continued to travel the nation exhibiting his works at such galleries as the Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland, Florida and Closson’s Art Gallery in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Throughout the years, The Brownsville Herald published several articles about this artist's work and accomplishments. For more information, follow the links listed below.

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/comments.php?id=20094_0_1_0_C


http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/comments.php?id=20515_0_1_0_C


http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/comments.php?id=25386_0_1_0_C


http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/comments.php?id=30858_0_1_0_C


http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/comments.php?id=35018_0_1_0_C

It is a shame that such an accomplished and talented individual was not more readily recognized in his hometown.

TAOB NOTES : This research was posted as a comment Aug. 25 2005 here on TAOB ... I encourage anyone having any pictures or more information, any special stories "prehaps in specifics " about his life and or art you may want to share... on Alfredo Bustinza send it in to : brownsvilleartform@yahoo.com to post here on TAOB blog in order to better understand the work and the artist....... Also want to give a formal thanks to who posted this research comment.. send in your name would like to give you recognition for your great and honorable work...