The José C. Teran “Naret” Scholarship Fund was recently endowed with $15,000 to support students at the University of New Mexico interested in fine arts. The endowment was officially established at a recent signing at the University Art Museum.
Photo: Gustavo de Unánue, consulate of Mexico, and Yvett Vazquez-Elias, niece of José C. Teran, sign an agreement establishing the José C. Teran “Naret” Scholarship Fund at UNM.
The fund supports a full-time undergraduate or graduate student at UNM, preferably enrolled in the College of Fine Arts. Recipients must maintain a grade point average of 2.75 or higher, and preference is given to a Hispanic student or a student from Mexico or of Mexican descent.
“The guidelines are perfectly aligned with what we’re trying to do in our college,” including recruiting more Latin American students, said Christopher Mead, dean of the College of Fine Arts.
Teran was unable to attend the signing due to a family illness. His niece, Yvett Vazquez-Elias, signed on his behalf. Vazquez-Elias also signed on behalf of Maria Estela de Rios, president of the Mexican Education Foundation of New Mexico. Also signing were Gustavo de Unánue, consulate of Mexico, Christopher Mead, dean of the College of Fine Arts, Joyce Szabo, chair of the Department of Art and Art History, and John Stropp, president of the UNM Foundation.
Vazquez-Elias said Teran became interested in forming the scholarship fund while he was in Albuquerque for an exhibit at the University Art Museum.
Teran donated art to be sold at an auction to benefit the endowment. In addition to the paintings, cash donations were contributed by Vazquez-Elias and the Mexican Education Foundation of New Mexico. Funds were also provided by UNM’s Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.
Teran, known as Naret (his surname spelled backwards), was born in the foothills of the Sierra Purica Mountains in the mining village of Nacozari, Sonora. He studied at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. In the late 1940s, he arrived in Mexico City and started his career as an art director in advertising. He was the founder of the TERAN\TBWA advertising agency, one of Mexico’s principal agencies.
In the 1980s he began to dedicate more time to painting. His work is inspired by the biodiversity of the Sonoran desert, rock and cave paintings, the floral beauty of Xochimilco and the Mayan Riviera, as well as recent work in abstract art. Vazquez-Elias said Teran’s work brought attention to Xochimilco art.
Donors may contribute to the fund through the UNM Foundation. Call (505) 277-4503 or visit UNM Foundation.
Posted by scarr at November 7, 2008 12:21 PM