Micaela Martinez DuCasse

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Micaela "Kai" Martinez DuCasse (1913–1989) was an American artist, author, and educator, known for her murals and sculptures.

Biography[]

Micaela Martinez was born on August 26, 1913, to Elsie Whitaker Martinez and painter Xavier Martinez.[1] Although her father was born in Mexico, he never spoke Spanish at home and never taught her.[2] She started drawing at the age of 3, studying with her father.[1] At the age of 7 she expressed wanting to become a religious painter.[3] Neither of her parents were particularly religious but she was sent to attend classes at the Catholic convent.[3] At age 14 she enrolled in classes at California School of Arts and Crafts (now known as the California College of the Arts or CCA) in Oakland.[3] At CCA she studied sculpture with Ralph Stackpole and showed natural talent.[3]

From 1955 to 1978, she was a Lecturer and taught Liturgical Art classes at San Francisco College for Women at Lone Mountain.[1][3][4] She also served as a Lecturer at Holy Names University (previously College of the Holy Names) in Oakland.[4] She had been active in the Regional Oral History Office at the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

She died May 5, 1989.

Personal life[]

In 1944, she married artist Ralph DuCasse (1916–2003); however the marriage ended in divorce.[5][1] Together they had two daughters, with their daughter Jeanne McCreary becoming an artist.[3] She lived in her childhood home at 324 Scenic Avenue in Piedmont, California until her death, and this was also where she maintained her art studio.[1][6]

Bibliography[]

  • DuCasse, Micaela; Riess, Suzanne B. (1985). Renaissance of Religious Art and Architecture in the San Francisco Bay Area, 1946-1968. Berkeley, CA: Regional Oral History Office of the Bancroft Library.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e Hughes, Edan Milton (1986). Artists in California, 1786-1940.
  2. ^ "Martinez House". Five Views. State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Historic Preservation. 1988. p. 226.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "San Francisco Bay Area Writers and Artists, Elsie Whitaker Martinez". Calisphere. California Digital Library, The Regents of The University of California. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  4. ^ a b "Program to Cover State Art". Newspapers.com. The Californian. 15 September 1971. p. 8. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
  5. ^ "Licenses to Wed". Newspapers.com. The Californian. 3 February 1944. p. 10. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
  6. ^ "San Francisco Bay Area Writers and Artists, Elsie Whitaker Martinez". Calisphere. The Regents of The University of California, California Digital Library. Retrieved 2020-10-30.


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