BORN:
Ft. Worth, TX, USA, 1946
RELATED STUDIES:
Painting: Martha Eagle, Oil, 1974-75, Okla. City, OK
Maria de la Jeune,
Oil, 1977-79, Okla. City, OK
David Leffel, Life drawing, 1982, Okla. City, OK
Arnie Anderson, 1980, Watercolor, CSU, Edmond, OK.
Printmaking: Ron Pokrasso, monoprint, 1993, Santa Fe, NM
Manuel Rodrigues, Bellas Artes, 2007, San Miguel de Allende, MX
Gilberto Guerrero Sanchez, Bellas Artes, 2007, San Miguel, MX
Dreamwork: Ann Yeomans, MA LPCC, 1994-96 Galisteo, NM
Writing: Joan Logghe, 2002, Santa Fe, NM
Barbara Rockman, 2003, Santa Fe, NM
Hollis Walker, 2001-02, Santa Fe, NM
Bookarts: Carol Tyroler, 2003, SFCC, Santa Fe, NM
SOLO EXHIBITIONS: 2009 Mensajes Guardados, Galeria6, Mineral de Pozos, Gto,MX Enigmas, Sol y Luna Contemporary, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco.MX 2008 La Noche Verde, Sol y Luna
Contemporary, Puerto Vallarta,
Jalisco, MX Silencio y Otros
Sueños, El Museo de la Ciudad, Queretaro, Qro, MX Otros Sueños / Other Dreams, Lena Bartula Studio, Pozos, Gto,MX 2007 El Silencio: Homenaje a Sor Juana, El Museo Indumentaria, el Claustro de Sor Juana, MX, D.F. From Here to There,
Carole’s Design Studio, Knoxville,
TN, US The
Color of Words, Sol y Luna Galeria,
Puerto Vallarta, Jal., MX 2006 Homage to Sor Juana, Lena Bartula Studio, Mineral de Pozos, Gto, MX Talking Pictures, Teatro Santa Ana,
San Miguel de Allende,Gto, MX Un
Poco de Todo, Lena Bartula Studio,
Mineral de Pozos, Gto, MX Visions and Variations, A Muse Gallery,
Columbus, Ohio, US Adelante!, Galeria
Magnol,
Punta Mita, Nayarit, MX 2005 Spanish Lesson, Lena Bartula Studio
Gallery, Mineral de Pozos, Gto,MX 2004 Ambos Lados, Galeria Izamal,
San Miguel de
Allende, Gto, MX Full Circle, Crossroads Contemporary,
Santa Fe, New Mexico, US 2003 Segni di Luce, Circolo Filologico, Milanese Milan, IT La
Mezcla Poetica, Buchanan Gallery,
Galveston, Texas, US 2002 La Mezcla Poetica, Guadalupe Fine Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico, US The
Air Between Notes, Harwood Art Center,
Albuquerque, New Mexico, US 2001 The Journey, Guadalupe Fine Art,
Santa Fe, New Mexico, US Memoires d'un futur voyage," Charite Ste.Eutrope,
Gordes, Provence, FR 2000 Ceremony, Guadalupe Fine Art,
Santa Fe, New Mexico, US 1999 Anamnesis, Guadalupe Fine Art,
Santa Fe, New
Mexico, US 1998 Between the Lines, Guadalupe Fine Art ,Santa Fe, New Mexico, US 1997 Earth and Spirit, Guadalupe Fine
Art, Santa Fe,
New Mexico, US 1996 Dreams and Visions, Off the
Wall, Santa Fe,
New Mexico, US 1995 Leftover Dreams, Harry's
Roadhouse, Santa
Fe, New Mexico, US 1994 Recent Paintings, Cafe
Romana, Santa
Fe, New Mexico, US 1993 Woman Stories, Amuze Gallery,
Santa Fe, New
Mexico, US
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2009 Illumine, 2-person show, the TORSOS series, Arthaus66, Albuquerque, NM, US "Fibras de la Vida" 3-person show, Galeria 6, Mineral de Pozos, Gto, MX
2008 Con Amore, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Sol y Luna Contemporary, Puerto Vallarta,Jal.,MX Gran Venta de Grabados, Bellas Artes, San Miguel de Allende, Gto, MX International Artists, A Muse Gallery, Columbus, OH,US 2007
Corazon, El Palacio
Legislativo,
Xalapa, Veracruz, MX Miniatures,
A Muse Gallery,
Columbus, Ohio, US Recent Works,
2-person show, A Muse Gallery
Columbus, Ohio, US
2006 A Celebration of Light, Galeria Sol y
Luna, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, MX 2005 Celebrando el Dia Internacional de la Mujer,
Museo Gene Byron, Marfil,
Guanajuato, MX 2004 Insight Out, Curator:Mary Bennett, Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico, US Santa Fe/San
Diego Joint Exhibition, San Diego, CA & Santa Fe, NM, US 2003
Mark My Words; Text in Visual Art,
Magnifico, Albuquerque, New
Mexico, US
“See-Worthy; Boats
and Vessels,” UNM Gallery
,Marquette, Michigan, US
2002
"Word, Text and Story," Sangre de Cristo Art Ctr., Pueblo, Colorado, US
"The Poetry of
Women," A Muse Gallery,
Columbus, OH, US
"Mail Art," Mira
Costa College,
Oceanside, CA, US
“Point and
Counterpoint,” Bosque Gallery,
Corrales, NM, US
2001
"Spirited Wanderings: santa fe art at the threshold", Marquette, MI, US
2000
"The Cup Show," Segreto Contemporary, Santa Fe, New Mexico, US
"Landscapes,"
Canyon Road Contemporary, Santa Fe,
New Mexico, US
1999
"The Cup Show," Karan Ruhlen
Gallery, Santa
Fe, New Mexico, US
1998
"Monothon 12," Site Santa Fe,
Santa Fe, New
Mexico, US
"Voices and
Visions"
Santa Fe and Las Cruces,NM, US
"A Show With
Heart," Robins-Hyder,
Santa Fe, New Mexico, US
1997
“Madonna, The Modern Matriarch," Karan Ruhlen, Santa Fe, New Mexico, US
"A
Celebration of Trees," State Capitol,
Santa Fe, New Mexico, US
"Ladies of the
Night," Guadalupe Fine Art, Santa
Fe, New Mexico, US
1996
"Nuestra Senora II; Trad’l Visions," Govr's Gallery, Santa Fe New Mexico, US
"Death
and Transformation," Guadalupe Fine Art, Santa Fe New
Mexico, US
"Earthbound
Madonna," Zaplin-Lampert, Santa Fe
New Mexico, US
1995
"Nuestra Senora," Copeland
Rutherford,
Santa Fe New Mexico, US
"Night
Visions;Women & Their Dreams,"HahnRoss ,Santa Fe,
New Mexico, US
"El Mundo Del
Arte," Palacio del Gobierno,
Guadalajara, Jalisco, MX
1993
"Visions of Excellence," Fine Arts
Gallery,
Albuquerque New Mexico, US
"Wild Woman
Invitational," The Opening Scene,
Taos New Mexico, US
WORKSHOPS, LECTURES, READINGS: 2009 Video presentation, "Mensajes Proyectados", Galeria 6,Mineral de Pozos, Gto, MX AudioVisual presentation, "Women's Blouses, Women's Histories", Int'l Women's Day,Biblioteca Publica, San Miguel, MX Audio/visual presentation, "Huipil As Enigma", Biblioteca los Mangos, Puerto Vallarta, Jal., MX
2008
Slide Presentation and Artist Talk, Cuale Centro de Cultura, Puerto Vallarta, Jal, MX
2007
“The Creative Journey,” Slide presentation,Teatro de Santa Ana, San Miguel de Allende, Gto., MX
Reading,
“Works in Progress,” Authors’ Sala, San Franciso Hotel, San Miguel de Allende, Gto, MX
2004
“Write Into Art,” Art and poetry workshops with Barbara Rockman, Santa Fe, NM
2003
“Signs& Symbols; A Ten-Year Retrospective,” Southwestern College, Santa Fe, NM
“Women
Poets; On Compassion,” reading at The Awakening Museum, Santa Fe, NM
Tribes Coffeehouse, reading with WordDancers, Santa Fe, NM
2002
“La Mezcla Poetica” reading and performance w/ Matthew Andre, Santa Fe, NM
''Guadalupe:
La Diosa Sin Fronteras, '' Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, NM
'Guadalupe: La
Diosa Sin Fronteras,'' Goddess GATE, Anglican Center, Mexico City
2001 Curator's Talk, “Spirited Wanderings,” Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI
"The Artist's
Journey; Premise and Process," Guadalupe Fine Art, Santa
Fe
Gallery Talk, Santa Fe Conference on The Matriarchal Aesthetic," Union Institute.
2000
"Guadalupe: Our Mythical Mother," Spiritual Traditions of the Southwest, Ghost Ranch,Abiquiu, NM
"A Dialogue
Among Peers," Santa Fe Council for the Arts, Bishops Lodge, Tesuque, NM
Gallery Talk, Santa
Fe Conference on The Matriarchal Aesthetic" for the Union
Institute,Cincinnati, OH
1999
"Guadalupe: A Myth for the Millennuium," EarthWalks , Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu , NM
1998
Curator's Talk, “Art at the Abbey,” Pecos Monastery Gallery, Pecos, NM
"Art & the
Healing Process," EarthWalks, Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu,
NM
"A Dialog Among Peers," Slide Presentation, Inn at Loreto, Santa Fe, NM
BIOGRAPHY: A visual artist for more
than thirty years, Lena Bartula moved from Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2004
to Mexico, where she lives and works full time in San Miguel de
Allende, Guanajuato. Her repertoire includes painting, installation,
constructions, book arts and mixed media, as ‘autobiographical
symbolist abstraction.’ For the last several years, she also includes
writing among her passions. Her art often combines imagery and
pattern, textured layers, and words or letters in English or Spanish,
inspired by her own poetry or that of other writers. Inspired by
Mexican huipiles, she frequently employs her signature words, textures
and layers on canvas and paper in the construction of garments. Out of
this was born a series of contemporary huipiles which pay tribute to
women whose voices and visions have historically been maligned,
silenced or supressed. As a conceptual artist, she creates most of her
work from an original concept, and after much deliberation and
research, chooses her materials and techniques accordingly. She is the community organizer for‘imagina’, an arts event produced by JUNTOS; Artists United to
End Violence Against Women, which she founded in January
2009. Her interests are in feminist issues, human rights and food
safety. Her works are shown in museums and galleries, in her San
Miguel studio, and are found in collections in France, Italy, U.S.,
U.K., Australia, Canada and Mexico.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: 2009: Textiles, paper, paint and words, Abq. Arts, Albuquerque, NM Women´s Blouses‚ Women′s Histories, Atenciõn San Miguel, SMA, Gto, MX Enigmas, Vallarta Tribune‚ Puerto Vallarta, Jal.,MX Enigmas, Slide Presentation by Lena Bartula, Ambito Arts & Culture, Puerto Vallarta
2008
Documentary: Artists of San Miguel, Art Today, Ottowa, Canada
March 7, Noticias, Queretaro, Qro, MX
Ambito Press, cover, Puerto Vallarta, Jal. Mx
La Tribuna, cover of culture section, Puerto Vallarta, Jal. Mx
Atención San Miguel, “Poetry in the Artist’s Heart”
“Soul Connections”, Marcia Wolff, Vallarta Tribune
“Los Poceños”, documentary, American Artist Projects
2007
Atención San Miguel, “The Creative Journey Continues”
San Miguel Authors Sala Anthology, San Miguel de Allende, MX
Ambito, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, MX
Vallarta Tribune, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, MX
Farragut Press, Knoxville, TN
Lunar Calendar, Susana Martins, Portugal
2006
Atención San Miguel, “Un Poco de Todos”, San Miguel, Gto, MX
“Temporary Meaning” (cover image), James Cervantes, Hamilton Stone Press
Gallery catalog, A Muse Gallery, Columbus, OH
2005
Atención San Miguel, “Pozos Art Weekend”, Cynthia Buzzard, San Miguel, Gto MX
2004
Atentión San Miguel, “Soul Mining”, Suzanne Ludekens, San Miguel de Allende, Gto
Albuquerque Journal, “Wowing the World”, Dottie Indyke, Albuquerque, NM
“Insight Out: Reversing Vandalism” Exhibition Catalog
Documentary: “Damaged Books”, Cynthia Buzzard for American Artist
Projects
Lunar Calendar, Susana Martins, Portugal
2003
Video: “Southwest Influences”, Cynthia Buzzard for America Artist Projects
“La Virgen Que
Cruza Fronteras”, Flor de Maria Oliva, The New Mexican, SF,
NM
“Foreign Ground: Travelers’ Tales”, Pronghorn Press, Cody WY
“Mis Palabras”, Paintings/Poetry, Self-published
2002
“Dry Ground: Writing the Desert Southwest”, Pronghorn Press, Cody WY
“La Mezcla Poetica”, Paintings/Poetry, Self-published
ABQ
Arts, Octobe, “Bartula and Condon: Paintings From the
Heart”,Richard Garriott-Stejskal, Albuquerque, NM
June 14, Pasatiempo, “A Woman Reborn”, Eddie Tafoya, Santa Fe, NM
“Know Your Neighbor”, David Pasquale, Santa Fe, NM
Video, “La
Mezcla Poetica”, Cynthia Buzzard for American Artist Projects
2001
June 1, Pasatiempo, "Two Realms of Being", Lynn Cline, Santa Fe, NM.
Video : ''The
Artist's Journey ; Premise and Process '', Cynthia Buzzard for
American Artist Projects
"Woman on the Cross", Pierre DeLattre, (cover image) Wild Horse Press
"Living American Artists", 12th Edition, ArtNetwork, Nevada City, CA.
2000
June 15, Pasatiempo, "Mixed Media Paintings Stand on Ceremony", Robert Nott
Video: “Women As Cultural Mythmakers”, Marjorie St. Clair
June 21, Santa Fe Reporter, "Living Faith", Jon Carver, Santa Fe, NM
Sept. 1, Pasatiempo, "Field Notes", Dottie Indyke, Santa Fe, NM
Sept.
10, The New Mexican, "Art As Life Force", David Pascale, Santa
Fe, NM
1999
Ghosts, Spirits and Hauntings,Patricia Telesco (cover image) The Crossing Press,
June 18, Pasatiempo,"What If?", Lynn Cline, Santa Fe, NM
1998 We'Moon , Mother Tongue Ink, Estacada, OR
June 19,
Pasatiempo, "Death & Fire Make Bartula Look Between the Lines",
Craig Smith
1997
We'Moon , Mother Tongue Ink, Estacada, OR
Jan./Feb.,Dream Network, "Between the Dream and the Moon", Moab, UT
Winter
Issue,Calyx, A Journal of Art and Literature by Women, Corvallis, OR
The Aquarian,
Vol. 3 No. 1, " Stereotype or Archetype?" , Marcia Pear, Santa
Fe,NM
Apr.25, Pasatiempo, "Uncensored Imagination", Kathleen McCloud, Santa Fe,NM
Viva
Guadalupe! , Dunnington & Mann, Museum of NM Press, Santa Fe, NM
Blessed Art Thou Among Women, Macmillan Press, NY, NY
1996
Doors and Windows Calendar, Golden Turtle Press, Richmond, CA
Apr.,Espacio
Time, "Frausein-Farbe-Fulle des Wachstums", Teddington, Midllesex, UK
Dec.,The New Mexican, Book Reviews (image), Santa Fe, NM
1995
Doors and Windows Calendar, Golden Turtle Press, Richmond, CA
Aug. 17, Indian Market Calendar, Albuquerque Journal, Alb. NM
Dec.8,
Pasatiempo, "Our Lady of Image and Inspiration", Kathleen McCloud,
Santa Fe
1994
El Mundo del Arte Catalogue, Guadalajara/New Mexico Task Force, Santa Fe,NM
Mar. 18, The New
Mexican, "Uncovering Womanhood With Art", Gussie Fautleroy, Santa Fe NM
Mar. 25, Pasatiempo, Dean Balsamo, Review, Santa Fe, NM
1992
Sep. 13, The New Mexican, "Writing on the Wall", Candelora Versace, Santa Fe, NM
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS:
Capitol Art Collection, Santa Fe, NM
El Museo Cultural, Santa Fe, NM
Santa Fe Community College, Santa Fe, NM
Esperanza Womens’ Shelter, Santa Fe, NM
Leadership Medica, Milan, IT
SELECTED COLLECTORS LIST: Rosalba Ando / Artigianando, Milan, IT
Michael Prowda, Owings Mill, MA, US
Mat and Rika Mar, Oregon, USA
Nick Hamblen, Dallas TX and Pozos, Gto, MX
Jacqui and John Smalley, Boulder, CO, US Terry A. Tomlinson, San Miguel, MX and NY,NY
Jose Pelayo / LebenswerkM, Puerto Vallarta, Jal. MX
Posada de las Minas, Pozos, Gto, MX
Cynthia Sanchez and Mike Perraglio, Santa Fe, NM, US
Jorge Oti, DDS, Santa Fe, NM, USA
Karen and Bob Onderko, NY, NY, USA
Carol Marvin, Dallas, TX, USA
Damien Lievois, Lyons, FR
Gilles Simon, Cedex,FR
Morris Berman, MX
Liz Lanier, Albuquerque, NM
Mexico Advisor, San Miguel de Allende, MX
Cynthia DaCosta, Santa Fe, NM
Charles and Marjean Cole, Tulsa, OK, US
Christopher Billerey, Old Greenwich, CT, US
Pat Bailey, Santa Fe, NM
Jonathan Guttell and Lisa Ansin, Austin, TX, US
TESTIMONIALS:
"Tener la posibilidad de integrarse a alguna de las obras de Lena Bartula, es hacerse de un prueba de la eterna guerra humana de opresión y libertad, pero visto de una forma en la que pareciera que el ser humano, en sus tradiciónes, en sus hábitos y costumbres, suele libertarse cotidianamente de su atadura..." - Marcelo Leos, Guanajuato, Gto, Mx
"An artistic experience, a political experience, and - perhaps most of all - a spiritual experience.... Lena as touched the deep universal soul." - Collette Sell, San Francisco, CA "Descubrir un lenguaje distinto en las artes plasticas es muy satisfactorio." - Guille Garcia, Queretaro, Qro, Mx
"Bartula recreates the cruelty, the ugliness of gender inequality and discrimination even as she shrouds them in beautiful garments made of recycled materials." -Cristina Clarimon, Albuquerque, NM
"Me reconocimiento al ingenio, creatividad, entusiamo y buen
gusto. Espero que otros instituciones y grupos sigan su
exemplo." - Dra. Alicia Quiroz, UNAM, Mexico City
“Her imaginative paintings talk directly to the viewer’s
emotions; they whisper to your inner self’s ear.” –Ambito Press, Puerto
Vallarta
“Bartula's message finds a complimentary vehicle in the mute,
timeless beauty of her medium... she achieves an intriguing
seamlessness between her subject and its physical expression.” -
Santa Fe Reporter
“Like a waking dream, Bartula’s work dances along the fine line
of blurred consciousness; her symbols resonate, touching the viewer’s
sacred spaces.” - Richard Garriott-Stejskal, Albuquerque Arts
“The studio where Bartula works suggests a chapel. Her take
on ceremony may lead you to ask a lot of questions - about faith,
religion, joy, life and hope. Bartula is not offering answers but her
pieces present a realistic look at all those subjects in that the
paintings embrace both dark and light."
-Robert Nott, Pasatiempo, Santa Fe, NM
“ Lena's work is the result of a sacred quest imbued with
symbolic and spiritual significance. Her textures are rich; the light
is luminous and full of energy. The process of creating becomes a
giving experience, a trust, and a faith. It is intuitive and
reverent.”- Virginia K. Freyermuth, /Art Educator, Plymouth, MA
“If it is true that the only reality is psychic reality, then we
saw it in this woman. She lives close to her guts, stays sensitive to
the non-literal, appreciates the 'slender threads' that inform one's
path.”'
- Sally Mayo, Clinical Psychologist, Barington, RI
“One of the high points of our stay in Santa Fe….The theme of
human life as a voyage ran through all (Bartula's) paintings and other
art objects, and we could see, firsthand, the net result of a woman's
open connection with a matriarchal muse.”- Richard Booth,” Creativity
and Spirituality Conference, Santa Fe, NM
“Lena Bartula is a superb and insightful artist whose work brings
a powerful inner message to the viewer, it is mystical, powerful and
evocative. - Douglas Conwell, Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, NM