Captured in Time

Debbie Backal is very familiar with the term “La Adelita.”

The phrase, which is a diminutive form of the name, “Adela,” has been used as a symbol for strength and character in the image of the modern Mexican woman. However, for Backal, a collector and educator from Mission, “La Adelita,” is much more than a standard depiction.

On a 32-inch by 48-inch painting hanging at the Brownsville Heritage Complex, Backal’s “La Adelita,” is apparent to anyone who walks into the museum’s south gallery. The painting, a 1960’s scene of the woman posing at a festival, was created by a Mexican artist known only as “Demetrio.”

It is one of 17 original oil and canvas paintings featured in the exhibit, “Mexican Calendar Paintings from the Backal Collection,” an exhibit which uses calendars and paintings to reflect social themes and issues pertaining to Mexico’s recent history.

Backal, 42, and her husband, Ricardo, 43, are owners of Half Spoon, a company that promotes art from Mexico and South Texas in museums and schools throughout the Rio Grande Valley.

They said that the collection is one of 20 exhibits that their family has obtained over a course of 50 years and includes samples of calendars, advertisements, books and documents that were distributed throughout Mexico during the 1960’s. Their collection features illustrations from a variety of Mexican artists including Jesus de la Helguera, Josè Bribesca Ruvalcaba, and Eduardo Cantaño.

Jessica Villescaz, curator of Special Collections and Archives for the Brownsville Historical Association, said that the exhibit contains iconography portraying not only strong women, but also folk scenes, volcanoes, and traditional dress.

She said that shortly after the Mexican Revolution of 1910, printing companies in Mexico would hire painters to create profitable images to be displayed on their products. Villescaz said that at the time that many of these depictions were created, the country was experiencing a revival of nationalism and companies used iconography to sell their items.

“The companies goal was to market a product,” Villescaz said. “At the time nothing was more sheik and modern than a indigenismo movement. It never really went away for a lot of people.“

Villescaz said that many of the images used in the exclusive calendars portray the artist’s view of the ideal woman in different regions in Mexico. Through paintings such as Denmetrio’s “Escena Popular Michoacana,” and “Escena Popular del Sureste Mexicano,” different types of cultural dress and icons are celebrated and recognized.

Villescaz said that the illustrations appeared on everything from soda trays to cigarette packages and were used in both exclusive, as well as line calendars. She said that as these illustrations were created and then reprinted, many people would keep them as they had powerful aspects of Mexican identity.

“People were trying to refine Mexican roots and what it is to be Mexican,” Villescaz said. “It’s kind of deep rooted in a lot of people’s heritage. We’ve seen these all our lives.”

Villescaz said the museum decided to display the exhibit in honor of “Hispanic Heritage Month” which occurs Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 in the United States. She said that the exhibit is a tribute to Mexican artists and coincides with Mexico’s Independence Day, which is September 16th.

What: The exhibit, “Mexican Calendar Paintings from the Backal Collection”

When: The exhibit will run through Sept. 29.

Where: Brownsville Heritage Complex- 1325 E. Washington St. in Brownsville.

For more information, call (956) 541-5560.