- R. C. Gorman
Infobox Artist
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name = R. C. Gorman
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birthname = Rudolph Carl Gorman
birthdate = Birth date|1931|7|26
location =Chinle, Arizona nearCanyon de Chelly ,Navajo Nation
deathdate = death date and age|mf=yes|2005|11|3|1931|7|26
deathplace =Albuquerque, New Mexico
nationality = Navajo, American
field =Artist Oil painter Lithographer Sculptor
training = Arizona State College (nowNorthern Arizona University );
Mexico City College (nowFundación Universidad de las Américas, Puebla )
movement =
works =
patrons =
influenced by =Diego Rivera David Siqueiros Rufino Tamayo
influenced =
awards =Rudolph Carl Gorman (
July 26 1931 -November 3 2005 ), born to Carl Nelson Gorman and Adelle Katherine Brown, was a Native Americanartist of the Navajo nation. [ [http://rcgormangallery.com/bio R.C. Gorman biography] ] Referred to as "thePicasso of American art" by the "New York Times ", his paintings are primarily of Native American women and characterized by fluid forms and vibrantcolors , though he also worked in sculpture, ceramics, and stone lithography. He was also an avid lover of cuisine, authoring four cookbooks, (with accompanying drawings) called "Nudes and Food". [Gorman, R. C with (editor) Virginia Dooley, "Nudes and Foods: Gorman Goes Gourmet". Northland Press, Flagstaff, AZ, 1981 (ISBN: 0873582942)]Biography
Gorman was born in
Chinle, Arizona . His mother wasAdele Katherine Brown , and his father,Carl Gorman , was a noted Navajo painter and teacher who later became acode talker duringWorld War II .Gorman grew up in a traditional Navajo
Hogan and began drawing at age 3. His grandmother helped raise him, recounting Navajo legends and enumerating his geneology of artist ancestors. She kindled his desire to become an artist. While tendingsheep in Canyon de Chelly with his aunts, he used to draw on the rocks, sand, and mud, and made sculptures with the clay, with his earliest subjects includingMickey Mouse andShirley Temple .He credited a teacher, Jenny Lind at
Ganado Presbyterian Mission School , for his inspiration to become a full-time artist. After he left high school, he served in theNavy before entering college, where he majored in literature and minored in art atNorthern Arizona University .Notable achievements
In 1958, he received the first scholarship from the
Navajo Tribal Council to study outside of the United States, and enrolled in the art program atMexico City College , [ [http://www.mexicocitycollege.com/Home.html Mexico City College history] ] where he learned of and was influenced by the workDiego Rivera . He also later studied art atSan Francisco State University and worked as a model.Gorman moved from California to
New Mexico , opening hisNavajo Gallery in Taos in 1968. It was the first Native American-owned art gallery.In 1973, he was the only living artist participating in the “Masterworks of the American Indian" show held at
Metropolitan Museum inNew York . One of his pieces was selected for the cover of the exhibit's catalog.Recognition and collectors
In 1983,
Stephen Park andChuck Henningsen published "R.C. Gorman: A Portrait".Harvard University recognized him for "notable contributions to American art and Native American culture" in 1986, and MayorDianne Feinstein ofSan Francisco declaredMarch 19 to be "Gorman Day".His famous friends and collectors of his work included
Elizabeth Taylor ,Danny DeVito ,Arnold Schwarzenegger ,Barry Goldwater ,Gregory Peck ,Erma Bombeck ,Lee Marvin ,Jackie Onassis and even fellow artistAndy Warhol , who silk-screened a portrait of Gorman that hung in his bathroom.Late life
In October 1997, the FBI began collecting information regarding numerous suspected sexual relationships RC Gorman had with children that spanned over 20 years and involved transporting children across state and international boundaries for illegal sexual activities. The investigation lasted more than a year and no charges were filed. The FBI concluded that although the investigation had uncovered credible evidence that Gorman participated in child sexual abuse, the only provable cases had occurred many years prior to the five year statute of limitations. [cite news
last = Sharpe
first = Tom
title = Gorman accused as pedophile
publisher = The New Mexican
date =2006-08-05
url = http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/47435.html
accessdate = 2006-12-17]In 1998, he donated art for
Tom Udall 's campaign for election to theU.S. House of Representatives , and in 2003, donated his personal library toDiné College inTsaile, Arizona .On
September 18 2005 , Gorman fell at his home and was taken to Taos’ Holy Cross Hospital. OnSeptember 26 , he was transferred toUniversity Hospital (inAlbuquerque ). He died at age 74 onNovember 3 . New Mexico governorBill Richardson ordered flags flown at half-staff in his honor.Influences
Gorman learned about the work of the Mexican social realists:
Diego Rivera ,David Siqueiros , andRufino Tamayo . [ [http://www.rogallery.com/gorman_rc/gorman-biography.htm Brief biogaphy of R.C. Gorman] ] He became inspired by their colors and forms to change from abstraction to abstract realism, using abstract forms and shapes to create his own unique, personal realistic style, recognizable to all who are acquainted with his work. While in Mexico, he also learned stone lithography from a master printer, Jose Sanchez. He used lithography throughout his life as a means of making original multiple images of his inspirations, often working by drawing directly on the stones from which the lithographs were printed.Gorman collected many Taos artists including several oil paintings by
Bill Rane , whom Gorman said was his favorite Taos painter.fact|date=September 2008 Bill died on September 2, 2005 and Gorman fell ill only 16 days later. They both had long time galleries on Ledoux Street in Taos, New Mexico. Following their deaths it was often stated in Taos that it had been a very sad fall (Autumn, 2005) on Taos' Historic Gallery Row, Ledoux Street, home of Gorman's Navajo Gallery and Bill Rane's RANE Gallery next door. It was, indeed, the regretful end of one more important era in the history of Taos, the yet small town--and still--the Western Dowager Queen of the American Visual, and Literary, Arts.Awards and honors
*Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts, College of Ganado, Ganado, Arizona (1978)
*R.C. Gorman Day, State of New Mexico (January 8, 1979)
*Doctorate of Humane Letters, Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, New Mexico (1980)
*R.C. Gorman Day, San Francisco, California (March 18, 1986)
*Humanitarian Award in Fine Art, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts (May 1986)
*New Mexico’s Governor’s Award of Excellence (1988)
*Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona (1995)
*Alumnae of the Year Award, National Association of Colleges and Universities (November 1993)
*Honorary United Nations 50-year Chairman for New Mexico (1995)
*Camino Real Award, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Santa Fe, New Mexico (1995)
*Los Amigos del Turismo Cultural Award, Santa Fe, New Mexico (1996)
*After Gorman's death, New Mexico governor Bill Richardson ordered flags flown at half-staff in his honor (2005)References
External references
* [http://rcgormangallery.com/ RC Gorman's Gallery Page]
* [http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/features/3439772 Houston Chronicle Obituary]
* [http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/34626.html Article in the Free New Mexican]
* [http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/34600.html Obituary in the Free New Mexican]
* [http://www.abqtrib.com/albq/nw_state/article/0,2564,ALBQ_19863_4212369,00.html Albuquerque Tribune Obituary]
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