Arturo Olivas

Jesus Arturo Olivas was born on September 10, 1958 at Seaside Memorial Hospital in Long Beach, California. He was the third of five children born to Elisa Alva and Jose Natividad Olivas, both natives of El Paso, Texas. Arturo was raised in Wilmington, California, the heart of the harbor, and attended Hawaiian Avenue Elementary School from 1964 to 1971. He went on to Dodson Junior High School in San Pedro, California from 1971 to 1973. He attended Phineas Banning High School in Wilmington from 1973 to 1976. In 1976 Arturo graduated from Banning High School. He moved to New Haven, Connecticut, and attended Yale University from 1976 to 1979. Arturo then attended UCLA from 1980 to 1984. Arturo received his BA in history in 1984 and his masters of education in 1985, both from UCLA.

In 1984, Arturo met his partner, best friend, longtime companion, and his life’s love, Christopher James Gibson. They were to share over 33 years of life together.

Arturo began his teaching career with the Los Angeles Unified School district in 1985 where he taught at Gompers Junior High School from 1985 to 1986 and Budlong Avenue Elementary School from 1987 to 1997. He taught history and social studies at Mira Costa High School from 1986 to 1987 in the Redondo Union School District. In 1997, he and Christopher moved to New Mexico where Arturo taught for 14 years at the following schools: 1997-2001, bilingual teacher at Rio Rancho Elementary school, Colinas del Norte Elementary School, and Enchanted Hills Elementary School. He taught bilingual education at Puesta del Sol Elementary School from 2001 to 2011. In September of 2011 Arturo was diagnosed with “incurable and inoperable” Stage IV, non-small cell lung cancer, and given a 4 to 12-month life expectancy. He went on medical leave for 3 months after his diagnosis and then officially retired in December 2011.

Arturo was an award-winning artist, a member of the Spanish Colonial Art Society from 1994 to 2012. He exhibited his work annually in the summer Spanish Market. He is best known for his retablos, images of Catholic saints painted on pine panels. He was a foundation member of the National Hispanic Cultural Center and founding member of the National Hispanic Culture Center of New Mexico Arts Community where he and Christopher taught art workshops together from 2002 to 2017. Arturo’s art work has been exhibited and collected by the Museum of International Folk Art, the Denver Museum of Art, the Regis Museum, the Albuquerque Museum, the National Hispanic Culture Center Museum, the Gene Autry Museum, the Southwest Museum, the Heard Museum, the Eiteljorg Museum, and by scores of private collectors around the world.
Arturo, or Art, as he was known by his family, friends, and colleagues enjoyed a profound love for his parents and other family members. He was devoted to his numerous nieces, nephews, grand nephews and grandnieces. He always wanted to be a teacher and being without children of his own, he devoted his life to children of all ages as a life-long bilingual educator. It was not uncommon for him to go to a movie theater, restaurant or store and have a young adult come up and hug him, and tell him what an important influence he had been in their lives.

Arturo had a deep devotion to his Catholic faith, to Our Lord, to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to all the saints, especially to St Francis of Assisi. It was this love for the saints that led him to become a santero, a painter of saints in the New Mexican tradition. He used his art as a means of spreading knowledge and love of God and of His saints. He was a registered parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he served as CCD teacher, Confirmation teacher, RCIA and Adult Catechesis teacher and member of the parish council. He also wrote the guide to A Tour of the Sacred Art of Our Lady of Fatima Church. He was admitted to the Secular Franciscan Order on September 23, 2007 and made his permanent profession on March of 2010. After vows, he and Christopher continued to share a home. Christopher continued as caregiver for the duration of his lengthy illness. From 2012 to 2015, he served as servant minster for the Franciscan Fraternity of St Anthony. One of his most admirable traits was his compassion and charity, especially to the poor and immigrants. On numerous occasions he could be found giving his hat, umbrella, gloves, and even the coat off his back to a person in need. He was a strong advocate for the rights of immigrants.

Art was known as “the life of the party” because he loved to dance. Everyone wanted the opportunity to dance with him. He loved controversial dialogs with friends which he always used as a “teachable moment.” His interests were vast and included art, history, pedagogy, social justice, and ethnic self-identity. His passion was gardening and often waxed, if he could do it all over again, he would have been a gardener.

This bright, vibrant, loving, intelligent, adventurous, courageous and generous man passed from this world on November 18, 2017, after a six-year sojourn with cancer. He is survived by Christopher Gibson, his devoted companion of 33-years; his father, José N. Olivas of Fountain Valley, CA; brother José F. Olivas of San Diego, CA; his sisters Beatrice Esparza of Wilmington, CA, Annamarie Santana of Fountain Valley, CA, and Marina Hernandez of Fountain Valley, CA. He is also survived by 16 amazing nieces and nephews.

Arturo stopped painting this year as his disease progressed. For those who are interested in having a piece of his work, reproductions of his retablos are available for purchase through Trinity Stores ( https://www.trinitystores.com/store/artist/Arturo-Olivas ) True to his generous spirit, all royalties received from the sales of his work are distributed to The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, who through their San Juan Diego Friary, feed and clothe the poor of Albuquerque.
Que en paz descanse