Anna Marie Varela:
CLASS OF 1979
Edcouch-Elsa High SchoolClass of 1979
Edcouch, TX
Anna Marie's Story
Autobiography
My parents were pioneers traveling throughout the United States in search of employment. I received a diversified education in the process, and my siblings and I became familiar with different cultures and ethnicities. My home language was English. After many travels, my family settled in the Rio Grande Valley. It was here where I learned so much more about the Mexican culture and learned to speak Spanish. It was here that I met my husband, got married, became an educator and evolved into an artist. Interestingly, my culture has played a significant role in the depiction of the scenes found in my work and in the decisions I have made throughout my life. My experiences as a child, and as an adult involved in the Mexican American culture have become my influences in the creation of the characters found in my work and in the teachings I have conducted.
In 1970, my parents settled in Elsa, Texas. We finally received a steady education and became familiar with the Mexican culture and language. Elsa became our permanent home for many years. Humberto Salinas became my high school sweetheart, my husband and my children¿s father. We married two weeks before my graduation in 1979.
In 1992, I decided to go to college. I graduated with a degree in All-level Art Education. In 1992, my husband and I graduated from The University of Texas Pan American in Edinburg, Texas. He became a special education teacher, and I became an art teacher. I utilized my Bachelors of Art degree teaching 8th through 12th grade art at Santa Rosa I.S.D., Kindergarten through 8th grade art at Monte Alto I.S.D., 9th through 12th grade art at Pharr-San Juan-Alamo I.S.D, and currently at Edcouch ¿Elsa Junior High School.
I was content with teaching, but I felt something was missing in my life, so I decided to go back to school and enrolled in the Masters of Fine Arts program. For my submission into the program at The University of Texas Pan American, I chose to submit several paintings that depicted children with expressions of ...Expand for more
confusion, sadness and anger in earth tone colors as my theme. My experiences as a child and as an adult had a major impact in my choice of depictions. The children represented pain and suffering that endured in the lives of children in general. I believe God placed me on this earth to become a visual artist to portray domestic life of the Mexican American culture.
As I was completing my last class, I received the most devastating news. My husband Humberto was diagnosed with cancer and quickly deteriorated. I was not present for the last class with Professor Spalding. I had to attend at that point a more important matter to be with my husband as mush as I could. The days before his passing, we reconfirmed our wedding vows. That occurred on Wednesday May 12, 2004. Humberto passed away on May 16, 2004. It was the most devastating time in my life. I thought my life had ended. I could not paint for about a year.
My experiences at U.T.P.A. led me to paint professionally. I made a dramatic change in the depiction of my artwork. I changed from a realistic earth tone color scene to a cartoon
like scene with humorous expressions. My paintings now represent the Rio Grande Valley border life and culture. My family continued to give me the inspiration I needed to create the
facial expressions of my characters.
I felt that the graduate art courses helped prepare me for a position as a visual arts supervisor. I needed a degree in administration for that position, especially if I wanted to remain in the public schools. The experience I had as a leader overseeing all the art teachers at Pharr, San Juan, Alamo North High School inspired me to seek that position. Nevertheless, the Masters in Administration will make the learning and experience complete when I go out into the world and spread my pedagogy.
At this moment and time I remarried to an outstanding artist name Benjamin Varela. Together we opened a new gallery located on the corner of Commerce and Jackson Street in Harlingen, Texas.
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