Alfredo Santos  (late 20th Cen)

Alfredo Santos lived with us in Mexico
My family owned the Hotel Anita in Ajijic, Mexico (south of Guadalajara) in 1963-1964 during which time Alfredo Santos lived with us. He paid us in part with two paintings. One, done in browns of people entering stairs to a Church. I donated that to the Latino Center in Omaha, NE after my parents passed away. I kept the other one which is of a bridge connecting two cities over water. It is done in shades of blues and greens. He was always quite charming and nice, but I was only 13 years old. Now I read he was "on the lamb" which would explain why he and his beautiful girlfriend always stayed secluded in their suite. Katharine

Alfredo in San Diego & the movies
DOCUMENTARY FILM: I am working on a documentary of Alfredo's life and art. I would love to hear from people who have art and the story(ies) that goes/go along with the art. I am not sure how we might or might not use them, but we will decide that once we collect them.

UPDATE ON ALFREDO TODAY: Alfredo was scheduled for major surgery in San Diego today, but the doctors decided at the last minute NOT to operate; their judgment was that he needs to gain some weight and strength.

We interviewed him two days ago and he was seemingly strong and in terrific spirits. But I have always known him to be that. As you might imagine, recent developments have left him more than a bit down. He has always been ruggedly independent and truly a free spirit, and now his life and future are largely in the hands of strangers. We all hope, I am sure, that he can gain the strength in short order that will enable him to endure this critical surgery.

I shared some of the comments on this blog with him yesterday morning before he went in to the hospital and he seemed quite pleased and energized hearing from so many of you!

So, if you have wishes for him, as well as an art story for me, please send them along to me via email. Please forgive me for not responding to each, but I will make sure that Alfredo receives your good wishes and prayers.

Best to all and apologies to those closest to Alfredo for this most unlikely place to receive such news,

Paul Sutton, Ph.D.
School of Public Affairs
San Diego State University
psutton@mail.sdsu.edu

An Alfedo Santos sculpture
I have a sculpture done by Mr. Santos in 1962. It is a group of street musicans{bandos} made of wood and wire. Have no idea of it's value.Have read a lot of articles on Mr. Santos, but have been unable to find any information on this piece of art. It was left to us by a relative who bought in 1962.
Since he is now deceased, we have no way to determine it's value. We would appreciate any information that is available .

Alfredo painted mural on my bedroom wall
My family was very close with Alfredo in the 1960's and my mother sold many of his paintings for him in Connecticut and in the Catskills. Her name is Nora Wolf.

It would be awesome connecting with him again since I live here in San Diego. Perhaps I can help him out in some way?

Alfredo's work influenced my own creativity when I was a teenager. He painted a magnificent mural on my bedroom wall and I used to spend many hours staring at it and envisioning myself as an artist, bringing joy to others through my own painting. I would, at the very least, like to thank him for making a difference in my life. I still have several of his early wood paintings and I've often wondered where he ended up. I am pleased to hear he is getting more recognition for his masterful accomplishments.

If you have a way to contact him, please let him know that Sheila Wolf, Nora's daughter, is trying to get in touch. Or, if you can send me some information of his whereabouts, please do. It would mean so much to me and to my Mom. She was so excited to hear he is still doing his art.

Thank you,

Sheila Wolf

619 287-3151

A wood statue of Jesus
Hola Alberto, I bought a wonderful wood carving of Jesus at your studio in Guadlahara in 1963 for 85 pecos. I asked for you to sign it but your wife signed it instead. I do have a receipt with your name and signiture. I love it and wonder about the current value. I have property in Puerto Penasco and love Mexico

rene santos
rene santos is my uncle

Alfredos whereabouts
alfredo is my grandfather he lives in the plias in mexico we just moved him ther i was just told they are doing a move on his life story in San Fransisco i am vere happy for him. if you wold like to writ him i will get his adress and share it with you he wold love some mail regarding old pantings and good stores of his art. u may not get a respons he is about 83 but next time i talk to him i will ask about the bowl of fruit

alfredo santos
My wife and I have four of the artists paintings which we bought at his studio in Mexico City around 1966. We had met him at Sullivan Square where he was displaying some of his things and were invited to visit his studio after we were at the bullfights. Jazz music was playing and we were sharing rum and cokes. We were in our late 20's and without a lot of income - but we liked what we bought and have enjoyed the works over the years. It is great that his work is now being recognized.

Totally and completely captivated!
I shop thrift stores for old cookie jars and pottery. My eye caught a glance of a beautiful painting. Upon seeing the signature "Alfredo Santos "62", I rushed to go online to find out about him. I am totally enchanted with this artist and his life story. It could easily be made for film. This painting is on masonite board and it is a peasant woman carrying a basket of fruit...at first glance. Then the picture transforms as though the picture is of the artist with his arms around a beautiful Mexican maiden carrying a bowl. Love to find out if what I am seeing is true? Only Mr. Santos would know for sure. Can we e-mail or write him?

Alfredo in San Diego
Alfredo is alive and well in San Diego. The taco shop he used to eat in when he was 14 is now an art gallery and sculpture studio. The sweet folks there have told him that if he wants to paint again he can use their space and come anytime. One of the school's students told him that if he ever needs or wants to paint, it would be his pleasure to buy his supplies. Its really inspiring. I am keeping my fingers crossed that Mr. Santos may want to paint in the studio and possibly have a show around Christmas time. He could use the money and the love, that's for sure. I hope anyone within 50 miles who admires him and his work would come out support him and bring their checkbook!

Alfredo Santos
This letter was sent to the L.A. Times in reference to the article: “Artist is a prisoner of fate,” by Mike Anton, May 9, 2008.

As a student of Art History and of murals in particular, I was amazed to read the article about Alfredo Santos in today's L.A. Times. Los Angeles, which has been considered the mecca of murals in the world, has recently lost valuable murals, whitewashed by political reasons or cultural ignorance (i.e: K. Twitchell’s Ed Ruscha). I'm delighted Alfredo Santos' 1953 murals at San Quentin have been preserved to remind us of our California history and that sometimes good judgment about preserving our art and our history is not necessarily related only to museums and art galleries. Thank you San Quentin for a job well done! Thank you Mr. Santos for your amazing work!
Isabel Rojas-Williams
Alhambra

Maratchis and horse
My family has many many of his peices including the beutifull horse made out of wood and the wooden marachis.

contacting Alfredo Santos
Hi all, Im a student at San Diego State University and two years ago I went on a prison tour that lasted one week, out of the prisons the class visited, was San Quentin.. One of the things that I remember to this day is the wonderful mural by Alfredo Santos. Im taking a class this semester on CJ film making and the subject would be prison art. I would love to have the opportunity to talk with Alfredo Santos, (going on a prison tour, walking past level 4 yards full of inmates.. theres many impacts in that..)but even then, his mural was one of the things that stays with me until today. Does anyone here (seems like most people here if not all have some history with him) know where I can contact him? My professor handed me his previous phone number but it seems to be disconnected. I would really appreciate it! Cynthia

Carlos Rene Santos
Can anyone post photos of Alfredo's
work? Also, is anyone familiar with
Rene Santos. Thanks.

Lost friend & artwork
I was one of many who knew Alfredo from Fleischmanns in mid-70s. Being a native Woodstocker (NY), I grew up w/ appreciation for art & artists and Alfredo is the quintessential artist in my book. Lost touch after running into him in Woodstock in early 80s. I had a cherished wood bird sculpture given to me by Alfredo that, alas, was lost during a separation from an old boyfriend. Boy, do I regret that now! By chance I stumbled on a recent show of a bit of his work in Fleischmanns & very much regret missing seeing him in person lo these many years later. I have to agree with other writers: must we wait until he is gone before the rest of the world can appreciate the genius of this man? Just seeing his work again reminded me how unique and talented he is. Where is the well-deserved recognition? If anyone has contact with Alfredo, please send my regards and best wishes. Mi amigo, you are truly missed back here in the Catskills. Vaya con Dios.

alfredo santos
I bought one painting on wood, Christ-like image, from the 60's when he had his studio and living loft on Chambers Street. I would also like contact information for Alfredo and his ex-wife Maryann. Lost contact after Fleischmann's. Thanks

butterfly tray
we have a tray made out of butterfly showing the town on rio de janeiro. we dont know how old it is are who made it any input we would love. thanks

Afredo Santos show in Fleischmanns
We are opening a gallery on Main St. in Fleischmanns a few doors down from Santos' former studio. We plan a Santos show this summer. Anyone interested in participating with their pieces?

alfredo santos wish you well.
78 was a good year for all of us going to alfredos place in N C enjoying his company ,drinking wine and watching him do his art .i have 1 of 3 of his wood paintings of mareachis ,i watched him do all 3

Alfredo's early work
We lived in Mexico when I was young. My mother was a casual friend of Alfredo's. We spent time at his gallery in Guadalajara, watched him paint and enjoyed his colorful character. That was in the early 60's. I have four of his paintingsfrom that time. One is on canvas and three on masonite board. I love them all, but particularly a large one of Mexican children's faces. They are all signed and dated and Alfredo wrote a personal note to my mother on the back of the large one, in her lipstick, that remains legible 44 yrs. later. Alfredo also came to our house in Ajijic one day and painted a large Mariachi band mural on the living room wall. I still have photos of that with me sitting on the sofa in beneath it.
I would love to see some more examples of his work if anyone has links to other sites where they're displayed. I've only been able to find the one. Perhaps he never became well known?
We lost touch with him when we moved back to the US at about the same time that he opened a gallery in Mexico City.

My growing collection
I became interested in Alfredo's work and I now own 19 pieces of his work so i guess that makes me a serious collector of his. I have purchased these pieces through various sources in the Catskills but have as yet not been able to get any realistic sense of what any of his work should sell for if found in an art gallery today. Feel free to contact me with info or questions any time.
Ross

I own one of his pieces
I used to live down the street from Santos when he was creating art in Fleischmanns NY
I own a beautiful wood petals flower arrangement in a vase made by him.
I had heard that he had moved to California a long time ago.
It is wonderful to see his art and to know that others have a piece of what I think is one of the most creative artists to date.
I wish I had bought more.
I loved his political satire of Nixon the most.

alfedo
I own about 10 of his works from the 70's and 80's. My favorite is a giant horse head which I think is the best work of art in the world. It is made of wood he must have found in the forest and it is just amazing. I also have a portrait he painted of me at his studio in Fleishmanns, New York.
I never understood why he wasn't the most famous artist in the world.

Alfredo Santos
I have a beautiful wood carved tray with designs made out of butterfly wings and the scene is Rio De Janeiro. Also it has a masonic design. My dad once lived in Mexico and left it to me. It is interesting to read about the artist.

San Quentin Murals
I have just seen and photographed the murals in the cafeteria at San Quentin. This is some of the most remarkable mural art, absolutly stunning in magnetude and detail. Too bad Marin County wants to tear down San Quentin.

Mi Tio'
My cousins and I used to look up to our uncle as if he were an icon. He was incredibly handsome, talented and mysterious. He lived in a loft and wore a black beret. I remember seeing him paint caricatures at Disneyland. Once I asked him to help me with a school project by painting a portrait of a dinosaur. He drew a portrait all right, it was a caricature of Dinah Shore standing on stage belting out a tune! I have some of his works from the late 70's and early 80's as do many of my family members. Hi Rene' from your cuz in Idaho!

alfredo santos
I am the proud owner of 4 works of Santo's work. I met him in the catskills in 1974 and I had the pleasure of spending 24 hours while he created a wood mural of San Fransisco.

alfredo
Having been well aquainted with Alfredo, I own 5 of his works including one of my sister kathy.
those were the days....

alfredo santos
Alfredo's son, Rene' is gathering info. for the website. Email me with any relevent stuff you might have. Thanks