" There is always the possibility of a little pleasure concealed at the bottom of the cup!"

 -Old Spanish Proverb

 

The Rain In Spain Does Not Fall Mainly On The Plain . . .

 

 

 

At first I thought the soul of Spain was in its art. But the soul of Spain is in the people . . . the art they create is an expression of the life they live on the land.

I discovered an earthy Spain where heritage, religion and passion mix like the dust and wind that cross the mountains of Asturias and Leon, always repeating the journey anew as if it had never occurred before. It is as if one slept through time, the feeling is ancient.

I felt that I found Hemingway's Spain, the Spain from For Whom the Bell Tolls. It survives in Asturias and Castilla. I experienced it from Oviedo to the Basque country near Hondarribia to the mountains of Leon in a little village called LaMata on a Sunday afternoon.

I saw the faces of Hemmingway's characters Pablo, Pilar, Maria and the old man played out over and

over again in 21st century Spain. Twelve centuries of heritage does not betray the Spanish soul. You see it in the faces of the people you meet, and they wear it with justifiable pride.

 

 

I took a 10 K hike with Jose and the boys to Covadonga, situated in

the mountains of Asturias. The first king of Asturias, Pelayo, began the Reconquista there in 716 AD. The Reconquista came its'

conclusion in 1492 . . . the year Columbus discovered America. In Covadonga one realizes you may easily be standing on the very ground walked by the great king.  A humbling thought for a person whose country is not even 300 years old.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Exhibition

I've never been more proud of being an American then when the paintings of my fellow pastel artists were completely displayed on the Guest Country Wall of Honor in Oviedo.

Jason Chang, Lorenzo Chavez, Doug Dawson, Alan Flattmann, (William Hosner - delegation chair), Jenny M. Lin, Kim Lordier, Richard McKinley, Elizabeth Mowry, Sally Strand and Duane Wakeham.

 

 

 

Without question Jose del Riego and the ASPAS (Pintores Pastelistas Espanioles) team ran a first class exhibition. There was continuous press and media coverage. So much so that for a brief while I thought Woody Allen him self might make an appearance . . . there is a statue of Allen in Oviedo.

The exhibition was very well viewed. I witnessed numerous groups going through for the entire duration. Both university and high school groups (sometimes as many as 40-50 students at a time) were given educational chaperoning. As well, there was a number adult groups from neighboring cities that requested and received tours.

With 27 countries represented and the United States being given the distinction of Guest Country of Honor, the exhibition set an attendance record of over 6,500 in the 2� weeks it ran.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speech at Opening Ceremony

II Bienal Internacional de Pintura al Pastel in Oviedo, Spain in November 2013

 

Thank you Jose . . . good evening Mr. Mayor and good evening ladies and gentleman.

It is a privilege to be here tonight in this great city to represent the United States delegation to II Bienal Internacional de Pintura al Pastel.

Oviedo is the jewel of northern Spain and we are pleased to have the distinction of Guest Country of Honor in this prestigious exhibition. Among our delegation are 6 Pastel Society of America Hall of Fame Honorees . . . the highest honor achievable in the art of pastel in America. 

 

Our artists come from all across the United States, from Oregon and California, from Colorado and Michigan, from Louisiana and New York City.

And tonight we are in good company, with not only some of the best pastel art in Spain, but from around the world . . . 27 countries in all.

We humbly take our seat among them as comrades in the art of pastel.

 

I have never been more aware of that then on my visit to Spain this trip.

From the murals of San Isidoro in Leon, to the great museums of Madrid, to Bilboa, and this evening right here in Oviedo . . . everywhere one looks Spain is art!

Jose del Riego and his ASPAS team have worked tirelessly and we owe them and the city of Oviedo an incalculable debt of appreciation.

Thanks to their efforts new bonds of friendship, across national boundaries, have already begun.

In conclusion I will tell you that there are 3 things I hold close to my heart here in Spain,

First is the art . . . next is the cuisine . . . but closest of all will always be the people of Spain!  -Gracias Espania!

 

-W. Truman Hosner, United States Delegation - Guest Country of Honor

 

 

  

     Hondarriba by W. Truman Hosner -SOLD                             Cabo de Penas by W. Truman Hosner

Spain Exhibition Entries

 

 

If you know me at all you'll know why I have to love a country where the word for pastry is "pastell".

 

There were renewed personal relationships, like Jose del Riego and his family; lovely wife Maribele and two talented sons; Jesus and Guillermo.  They decided to roast a turkey on Thanksgiving Day so that their American guest would feel welcomed being so far away from family. Heaven only knows where they found a turkey it definitely isn't the national bird! The hospitality continued when I was introduced to Jose's father Jesus, mother Pilar, and his two sisters Mercedes and Maria. Pilar treated us all to what Jose assures me is the best Fabada Asturiana in Spain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have never been in a place were so many new friendships were formed.

Rafa & Carmen Cabo, Bora Lombardia, Miguel & Pruden Zabala, Sara Iglesias, Oscar Jimenez, Ruben Belloso, Vicente Romero, Gonzalo & Jesus Rodriguez, Michael Monaghan and wife Nieves Alvarez . . . the names just go on.

From Russian painter Victor Braginski and his wife Tanya to Spanish painter Aurelio Rodriguez and his wife Barbara, to artist Nancy Yang, whom I first met in Taiwan, the exchange of artistic information remained diverse and expansive. 

 

 

 

  Max Altekruse

It took twenty years, but I finally secured a compliment on a figurative work from my friend and mentor Max Altekruse (you'll remember that Max studied with the renowned Frank Reilly at The Art Students League in NYC). Prior to this the most he would say was: "Well you're getting it . . . keep going."

 

 

 

 

                                                           

 Richard Mckinley 

 

The Butler Institute of American Art

 

 

             http://www.mockingbird-gallery.com 

 

 

 

 

 

Weekend of May 9th, 2014  Mockingbird will host 

 

 

 This work is available through Hosner Studio LLC