Most creative people, regardless of the media they work in, can appreciate creativity in other fields. I love art, and in Alaska in the spring of 2012, I became aware of a contemporary watercolor artist whose work I was unfamiliar with. I was amazed and delighted to make such a wonderful discovery.
▼ Image Credit: Mark Kelley
Image Source: alaskapublic.org/news/2015-04-09/
▼ Image Credit: Mark Kelley
Image Source: alaskapublic.org/news/2015-04-09/
The artist Rie Muñoz, who passed away on April 6, 2015 in Juneau at 93 years of age, was and is still considered an Alaskan State Treasure. Her art work captured the natural beauty and majesty of the Alaskan landscapes and show cases the Alaskan culture and wildlife. Her artwork highlighted a deep connection to the land and the people.
Her works have been chosen by the State of Alaska for their Heirloom Birth Certificate, an unofficial commemoration of an Alaskan birth.
health.alaska.gov/heirloom-birth-certificate/
Her works have been chosen by the State of Alaska for their Heirloom Birth Certificate, an unofficial commemoration of an Alaskan birth.
health.alaska.gov/heirloom-birth-certificate/
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The Embrace by Rie Muñoz, Polar Bears by Rie Muñoz,
Source of Images: health.alaska.gov/heirloom-birth-certificate/
Rie Muñoz’ paintings are fresh, spontaneous, and full of fun. She conveys the subtle messages everyday life in her work. About herself, she writes:
"My artwork can best be described as expressionism. The term applied to work that rejects camera snapshot realism, and instead, expresses emotion by distortion and strong colors. My paintings reflect an interest in the day-to-day activities of Alaskans such as fishing, berry picking, children at play, crabbing and whaling. I am also fascinated with the legends of Alaska's Native people. While I find much to paint around Juneau, most of my materials comes from sketching trips taken to the far corners of Alaska."
Rie wasn't born in Alaska. She was born Marie Mounier in Van Nuys, CA, in 1921, but spent much of her early life in Holland where her Holland-Dutch father was a partner in a business magazine. He wrote stories about business in America, so he traveled to the US often with the family. In 1939, when Germany threatened to occupy Holland, Rie was sent to the US with a younger brother to live with friends in Plainview, NJ.
Since the US gave visas only to parents with minor children living in the US, her parents applied and received visas. A few days before they were scheduled to leave, Hitler attacked Holland. Rie's parents weren't able to come to the US until 1947.
After one year of high school, she joined her older brother in Hollywood, CA, where she had to earn a living with a job decorating windows in a North Hollywood dime store.
At some point she moved to Seattle. While living there, in 1951, she traveled to Alaska on vacation, taking the Inside Passage by steamship. When the ship stopped in Juneau, she fell in love with the city and its surroundings. She writes that she gave herself the one day before the ship sailed to find a job and a place to live.
After walking a few blocks, she went into the offices of the Daily Alaska Empire newspaper, where she was hired on the spot. Next she walked along Seventh Street and saw a woman hanging laundry out to dry. She asked the woman if she knew of anyone with a place to rent and the woman said, "I have a place for you." So Rie moved in with a Finnish woman and her husband, paying them $5 a week.
After she collected her belonging from the steamship two days later, she called her parents and told them she wasn't coming back. That was some gutsy lady, if you ask me.
And Alaska was her home ever since, except for a short time in 1957 living on Mercer Island, Washington where her husband Juan was employed as a geologist. Later they returned to Alaska.
In Juneau, her first painting was of the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church on Fifth Street downtown. She worked in oils in the beginning before perfecting her craft in watercolors.
Source of Images: health.alaska.gov/heirloom-birth-certificate/
Rie Muñoz’ paintings are fresh, spontaneous, and full of fun. She conveys the subtle messages everyday life in her work. About herself, she writes:
"My artwork can best be described as expressionism. The term applied to work that rejects camera snapshot realism, and instead, expresses emotion by distortion and strong colors. My paintings reflect an interest in the day-to-day activities of Alaskans such as fishing, berry picking, children at play, crabbing and whaling. I am also fascinated with the legends of Alaska's Native people. While I find much to paint around Juneau, most of my materials comes from sketching trips taken to the far corners of Alaska."
Rie wasn't born in Alaska. She was born Marie Mounier in Van Nuys, CA, in 1921, but spent much of her early life in Holland where her Holland-Dutch father was a partner in a business magazine. He wrote stories about business in America, so he traveled to the US often with the family. In 1939, when Germany threatened to occupy Holland, Rie was sent to the US with a younger brother to live with friends in Plainview, NJ.
Since the US gave visas only to parents with minor children living in the US, her parents applied and received visas. A few days before they were scheduled to leave, Hitler attacked Holland. Rie's parents weren't able to come to the US until 1947.
After one year of high school, she joined her older brother in Hollywood, CA, where she had to earn a living with a job decorating windows in a North Hollywood dime store.
At some point she moved to Seattle. While living there, in 1951, she traveled to Alaska on vacation, taking the Inside Passage by steamship. When the ship stopped in Juneau, she fell in love with the city and its surroundings. She writes that she gave herself the one day before the ship sailed to find a job and a place to live.
After walking a few blocks, she went into the offices of the Daily Alaska Empire newspaper, where she was hired on the spot. Next she walked along Seventh Street and saw a woman hanging laundry out to dry. She asked the woman if she knew of anyone with a place to rent and the woman said, "I have a place for you." So Rie moved in with a Finnish woman and her husband, paying them $5 a week.
After she collected her belonging from the steamship two days later, she called her parents and told them she wasn't coming back. That was some gutsy lady, if you ask me.
And Alaska was her home ever since, except for a short time in 1957 living on Mercer Island, Washington where her husband Juan was employed as a geologist. Later they returned to Alaska.
In Juneau, her first painting was of the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church on Fifth Street downtown. She worked in oils in the beginning before perfecting her craft in watercolors.
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St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church – Juneau, Alaska
Image Source: Image Credit: R. Ann Siracusa (2012)
During her years in Alaska, Rie Muñoz lived in a variety of small Alaska communities and has held many jobs including journalist, a cartoonist, editor, teacher, museum curator, artist, and mother to a son.
At one point, she taught 25 Eskimo children on King Island, a 13-hour umiak (a walrus-skin boat) voyage from Nome. Image Courtesy of Juan Munoz ▼ Image Source: alaskapublic.org/news/2015-04-09
Image Source: Image Credit: R. Ann Siracusa (2012)
During her years in Alaska, Rie Muñoz lived in a variety of small Alaska communities and has held many jobs including journalist, a cartoonist, editor, teacher, museum curator, artist, and mother to a son.
At one point, she taught 25 Eskimo children on King Island, a 13-hour umiak (a walrus-skin boat) voyage from Nome. Image Courtesy of Juan Munoz ▼ Image Source: alaskapublic.org/news/2015-04-09
She studied art at Washington and Lee University, Virginia and at the University of Alaska-Juneau. She received the University of Alaska's Honorary Doctorate of Humanities Degree in May of 1999.
She has received numerous awards and recognition for her contributions to the art community. Her art is showcased in various galleries and museums, reflecting her deep connection to Alaska. Muñoz is also known for her printmaking and published several books featuring her artwork.
These are photos I took of some of the signed prints I purchased at her gallery in Juneau.
She has received numerous awards and recognition for her contributions to the art community. Her art is showcased in various galleries and museums, reflecting her deep connection to Alaska. Muñoz is also known for her printmaking and published several books featuring her artwork.
These are photos I took of some of the signed prints I purchased at her gallery in Juneau.
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Dogsled by Rie Muñoz Fishing by Rie Muñoz
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Bathhouse by Rie Muñoz Eskimo Babies by Rie Muñoz
Muñoz carried a sketchbook at all times, drawing whatever caught her eye and capturing emotion in a few strokes. Life in general, fishermen repairing nets, children playing, village life, cannery workers, women bathing. She noted details in the margins, such as colors. These field sketches were used as references for composite sketches, more detailed renditions of the scene that she would paint.
Muñoz carried a sketchbook at all times, drawing whatever caught her eye and capturing emotion in a few strokes. Life in general, fishermen repairing nets, children playing, village life, cannery workers, women bathing. She noted details in the margins, such as colors. These field sketches were used as references for composite sketches, more detailed renditions of the scene that she would paint.
After several, or many, composition sketches, Munoz would take the best one and project the image onto 300 lb. arches watercolor paper using an overhead projector and then spend the next 4 to 5 days finalizing the work in vibrant watercolor expression she is famous for.
Rie Muñoz’s sketchbooks were donated to the Juneau Douglas City Museum in 2022.
JUST SAYIN'
Sources:
https://health.alaska.gov/en/services/heirloom-birth-certificate/
https://www.riemunoz.com/rie-munoz-artist
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rie_Mu%C3%B1oz
https://www.alaskapremierauctions.com/the-art-of-sold/detail/discover-the-unique-world-of-artist-rie-munoz
https://alaskapublic.org/news/2015-04-09/rie-munoz-leaves-a-legacy-of-delight-joy-and-laughter
Images
https://health.alaska.gov/dph/VitalStats/PublishingImages/heirloom/Birth-PolarBears.jpg
https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th/id/OIP.Wuh5Lg00_1nInY0I038KwAHaFd?pid=Api&P=0&h=180
http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc437/asiracusa/Rie%20Munoz/russianchurch_Juneau.jpg
http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc437/asiracusa/Rie%20Munoz/200x300St-Nicholas-Orthodox-Church-Juneau-Copy-1.jpg
Rie Muñoz’s sketchbooks were donated to the Juneau Douglas City Museum in 2022.
JUST SAYIN'
Sources:
https://health.alaska.gov/en/services/heirloom-birth-certificate/
https://www.riemunoz.com/rie-munoz-artist
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rie_Mu%C3%B1oz
https://www.alaskapremierauctions.com/the-art-of-sold/detail/discover-the-unique-world-of-artist-rie-munoz
https://alaskapublic.org/news/2015-04-09/rie-munoz-leaves-a-legacy-of-delight-joy-and-laughter
Images
https://health.alaska.gov/dph/VitalStats/PublishingImages/heirloom/Birth-PolarBears.jpg
https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th/id/OIP.Wuh5Lg00_1nInY0I038KwAHaFd?pid=Api&P=0&h=180
http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc437/asiracusa/Rie%20Munoz/russianchurch_Juneau.jpg
http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc437/asiracusa/Rie%20Munoz/200x300St-Nicholas-Orthodox-Church-Juneau-Copy-1.jpg
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