A great artist in Col. Santa Maria la Ribera – GONE!
When I first moved to Col. Santa Maria la Ribera in December 15, 2009, I not only loved the neighborhood but meeting an 81-year old artist, Humberto Martinez.
Mr. Martinez sketched everyday Monday through Saturday at the Café Alameda on Salvador Diaz Miron and on Sunday, he was at the Café Santa Maria on Dr. Atl. He sketched with a passion, well that was how he made his living – selling his sketches for $50 & $100 pesos, depending on the size of the sketch you selected.
I found Martinez’s prices to be a bargain for they were original and very detailed; Sketches he drew with a fine point Bic pen. I always bought Martinez’s sketches, especially when he mentioned that he had not sold anything in a couple of days and he needed money for medication. Though I never found out if this were true, I always bought work from Martinez – I mean he did need to eat. Or really to buy and drink his strong espressos that he drank the whole time he was at the café – while smoking his filter less cigarettes.
When I was able to get a short story of Martinez published in the Dallas Morning News and the Los Angeles Times he was thrilled. Martinez displayed the copies of his stories on the table to display to customers. After the articles were publish, Martinez was most happy to see that people were coming to pay him a visit and to purchase his art. I always took guests from Dallas to meet Martinez.
But all this attention was short lived. I had not seen Martinez in a couple of weeks. The first week I thought maybe Martinez had maybe gone out of town. But the week turned to two and three. I went looking for Mr. Martinez at the Café Alameda. I asked, where was Mr. Martinez and the young lady at the cafe frowned and said, he died.
I was shocked but not surprised. I guess one cannot live forever on espressos and filter less cigarettes. I miss seeing Martinez sketch and bringing him new customers that always wanted to meet THE artist of Col. Santa Maria la Ribera.
Click photo above of Martinez’s work for a short slideshow.
my tribute to a man that had made the world
& Col. Santa Maria a better place.
This is sad news indeed. I remember your original post well, and had ever since been meaning to pop through the area and find him. Alas, I dithered and dallied, and never got round to it – much like our coffee meeting. Now all is too late. We best have that coffee soon before one of us pops our clogs too!
Gary I know what you mean. Though I saw him almost daily, during the last few weeks I only waved at him – it was the holidays :-( But I have lots and lots of his work, something I will always admire.