Title
The First Thanksgiving
Creator
Website
Description
Pen, ink, and color pencil, 21 in. x 31 in. Cisneros has produced many drawings of the “First Thanksgiving” on what is now United States territory. This historical event, which predates the Jamestown pilgrims, relates to the entry of Don Juan de Oñate into El Paso del Norte (modern Ciudad Juárez and El Paso, Texas area). After completing their last league of their expedition passing through Chihuahua desert, it is believed that here Oñate, the colonizers, and Indian allies, gave thanks after the long journey. José Cisneros (1910-2009) has been described as a leading historical illustrator of the Southwest. While he was a painter, wood carver, writer and muralist, his primary focus was recording the history of the Southwest border region through his illustrations. Born in Villa Ocampo, Mexico, Cisneros eventually moved to Juarez with his family in 1925 where he obtained a school passport to attend the Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso, Texas. While enrolled in a painting class, he discovered during one of the lessons that he was color blind. Two years later, he was forced to quit school to help financially support his family. He procured a position at El Paso’s White House Department Store, where he designed displays and began to draw on Poster Board. He introduced himself to artist Tom Lea, which led to an invitation for Cisneros to exhibit his work at the El Paso Public Library in 1938. His work was so popular that his exhibit was extended for two weeks, and he was eventually exhibited in Juarez. Later, he was invited to illustrate many books and printing projects through a long-term collaboration with Carl Hertzog, the famous typographer, book designer, and publisher. During this time, he designed the coat of arms for the city of Juarez, and eventually the seal for The University of Texas at El Paso. Among his many honors are the Americanism Award given to him by the Daughters of the American Revolution; he was knighted by Pope John Paul II in 1990, and he was given the Order of Civil Merit by King Juan Carlos I of Spain in 1991. In 2001, he received the National Humanities Medal presented by President George W. Bush. José Cisneros remained a lifelong resident of El Paso, Texas up until his death on November 14, 2009.
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