Rodolfo Escalera

Infobox Artist
bgcolour = silver
name = Rodolfo Escalera


imagesize =
caption =
birthname =
birthdate = 1 June 1929
location = Mexico
deathdate = 25 Jan 2000
deathplace = Mexico
nationality = American
Mexican
field = Oil Painting
specialty =
movement =
works =
awards = ----

Timeline of Events

• 1949 - Worked as a stencil cutter at Galindo and Burroughs, Los Angeles California.
• 1950 - Worked as an artist for Hollywood Production Art.
• 1962 - Opened Escalera Production Art Inc., his own agency.Created movie posters for Azteca Films Inc., Entertainment Ventures Inc., as well as advertising for many corporations.
• 1981 -Introduced to the porcelain collectible plate industry. Contracted with Hackett American Plates and went on to become a best selling artist traveling throughout the country giving exhibitions of his work. ( NewYork, San Francisco, San Diego and Beverly Hills California, Southbend Indiana, ScottsdaleArizona, Orlando Florida as well as others.)
• 1983 -Awarded the official license by the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee to design and create nine paintings (that would become limited edition commemorative collectible plates) depicting many of the different sporting events. The plates were then awarded the designation of “The Official Gift of the 1984 Olympics” and presented to a “whose who” of visiting dignitaries throughout the world. The list included the following:
"President Ronald Reagan"
"Juan Antonio Samaranch" – Then Chairman of the IOC
"Tom Bradley" – Then mayor, Los Angeles Calif.
"Paul Ziffren" – Then Chairman of LAOOC
"William E. Simon" – Then president of the USOC
"Peter V. Ueberroth" – Then president of the LAOOC
"F. Don Miller" – Then executive director of the USOC
"George Deukmejian" – Then Governor of Calif.
"Harry L. Usher" – Then vice-president of the LAOOC
"Grace Montanez Davis" – Then deputy mayor of Los Angeles
"City of Los Angeles"
"United States Olympic Committee"
"The Smithsonian Institute"
"The Calif. Museum of Science and Industry"
"The Calif. Museum of Natural History"
"The Children's Museum of Los Angeles"
• 1985 -Contracted to design and create a painting that would be converted into a limited edition commemorative collectible plate for the 1986 World Cup Soccer Championship held in Mexico City, Mexico.
• 1986-2000 - Retired and moved back to Gomez Palacio, Durango Mexico. Built his "dream hacienda" in Lerdo, Durango Mexico to pursue oil painting.
• 2003- Escalera Art Inc. was founded in July 2003 by Escalera's children, Laura Presutto (director), Rodolfo Escalera Jr.(director), Roberto Escalera (president) and Rachael Woods (director). The corporation was founded with the goal to promote Escalera's body of work to the mainstream art world and the world at large with the intention of establishing Escalera as one of the most important artists of the 20th century to emerge from Mexico.

----

Paintings

To see images or Escalera's paintings please click on one of the following links.
http://photos.vvdailypress.com/files/multimedia/soundslides/escalerass/
http://www.escaleraart.com

Art Exhibits from 1986 to 2000

Museo De Arte Moderno en la Casa De La Cultura, Gomez Palacio, Durango Mexico Casa De La Cultura, Matamoros, Coahuilla Mexico Teatro Alvarado, Gomez Palacio, Durango Mexico Casa Del Cerro, Torreon, Coahuilla Mexico Technologico De Monterrey, Torreon, Coahuilla Mexico Presidencia Municipal, Gomez Palacio, Durango Mexico Presidencia Municipal, Lerdo, Durango Mexico Teatro Isauro Martinez, Torreon, Coahuilla Mexico Open house at Hacienda Escalera, Lerdo, Durango Mexico 100 Years of Tijuana, Tijuana Mexico

----

Recognitions Received

• Named “Valor Lagunero” by the City of Torreon, Coahuilla Mexico
• Named “Ciudadano Distinguido” by the City of Lerdo Durango, Mexico
• La Casa De La Cultura in Gomez Palacio, Durango Mexico named its largest exhibit room after him, calling it: “Sala de Exhibiciones de Maestro Rodolfo Escalera Vizcaino”
• Made the cover of Plate Collector Magazine. February 1984 edition.
• Awarded the privilege as the only Olympic Licensee in 1984 for the creation of limited edition collectible plates (series of 9). The set of plates eventually went on to become the “official gift” of the 1984 games.

----

Philanthropic Pursuits

• Donated original Olympic plate sketches to the “Special Olympic” organization.
• Donated an original set of Olympic plates to the Children's Museum of Los Angeles.
• Donated his time and talents at various local church functions in his hometown in Mexico as well as in the United States. Providing caricature drawings for the masses.
• Created a painting that in turn was re-created into a collectible porcelain plate for the 8th Air Force Squadron (a World War ll squadron) All monies received were donated to charity.
• Created a painting of entertainer Marty Robbins that later was presented to Mr. Robbins’ widow at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville Tennessee.
• Donated original painting of St. Jude] to the Danny Thomas St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
• Family donated painting “The Mailman” to Mr. Hugh Hefner’s private collection (2003).

----

External links & References

*http://www.escaleraart.com/
* http://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/268447.recorrido-por-la-historia-y-el-arte.html

* http://www.elmojave.com/more.php?id=1378_0_1_0_M
http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/father_3961___article.html/escalera_art.html

* http://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/70051.al-otro-lado-del-puente.html
* http://www.oem.com.mx/elsoldedurango/notas/n116587.htm