Enedina Casarez Vasquez
Enedina Casarez Vasquez a native of San Antonio, Texas, Enedina Casarez Vasquez is a poet, playwright and visual artist. She was a teacher at St. Peter Prince of the Apostles Catholic School for ten years, and she is recently retired. Vasquez also served as Poet-In-Residence for the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) from1990-96.
She is the author of Recuerdos de Una Nina (1979, Oblate Fathers Publishers), a collection of her memories of growing up in San antonio along with accompanying artwork. Her poetry is included in the performance piece Woman's Work, which has received critical acclaim in San Antonio and New York. She is also the author of La Virgen de San Juan do los Lagos, a play recounting the events surrounding the apparition of the Virgin Mary. This play was performed at the Virgen de San Juan de los Lagos Church in San Antonio. Her play titled The History of the Catholic Church in Texas was performed at San Antonio's Municipal Auditorium during the Catholic Church's celebration of its sesquicentennial year in the State of Texas.
Her short story, "The House of Quilits" has been published by Third Woman Press, Riverhead Book (Putnam Publishers), and Arte Publico Press. Recently her poem, "Bad hair Day," was included in Flor y Canto Si (Penguin, USA). Vasquez's art is also discussed in Speaking th eOther Self, a work of scholarly criticism (University of Georgia Press). Her poetry has also been published in other publications including: Caracol, Mujeres Grande Anthology, Artist's Alliance, and Tonatzin.
From 1986 to 1991 Vasquez served on the Fine Arts Commission for the City of San Antonio.
Her Dia de Los Muertos Altar exhibit is included in Chicano Now: American Expressions. This traveling exhibit is sponsored by Cheech Marin, the Smithsonian Institution, and Target Stores. The exhibit started in 2001 and will be traveling to various cities for 5 years.
In 1993 she was selected to paint 2 basketballs for the San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan Art Ball Program. Proceeds from the sale of the basketballs went to the Breighton School in San Antonio.
Ene-Art
Starting in 1987 Enedina Casarez Vasquez and her husband, Arturo Vasquez, produced a very popular array of folk-art pieces under the name of Ene-Art. Their products, inspired by the synthesis of the Catholic faith and Native American/Chicano culture, included wooden nichos (niches), jewelry, and furniture. Their work was displayed and sold in over 30 art galleries and museum gift shops throughout the United States.
For several years Enedina and her husband were in charge of the design and construction of the Dia de los Muertos (Mexican Day of the Dead) exhibit during the month of November at the Witte Museum.
Locally, Ene-Art pieces can be seen at The San Antonio Museum of Art Gift Shop, Plaza Flowery in Market Square, Th eGuadalupe Cultural Arts Center, The Witte Museum, and Viva Bookstore.
Vasquez also donates work to such organizations and causes as Our Lady of the Lake University's Center for Women, Missionary Catechists of the Divine Providence, St. Peter Prince of the Apostles School, Th eSan Antonio Museum of Art, The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, MexicArte, The Mexican American Business and Professional Women's Association, The Girl Scouts, Sunshine Cottage School for the Deaf, and Visitation House (University of the Incarnate Word).
Major Awards, Honors, etc.:
- 2008 Recognized by the San Antonio Public Library Board of Trustees for service to the board.
- 2007 appointed to the City/County Commission for Elderly Affairs representing San Antonio District 5.
- 2003 Distinguished Alumna. Louis W. Fox Academic and Technical High School. San Antonio, TX.
- 2002 Distinguished Service Award. Sunshine Cottage School for deaf Children, San Antonio, TX.
- 2001 Alumna of the Year for Service to the Community. Our Lady of th eLake University. San Antonio, TX.
- 1996 First Estrella Award. Hispanic Women's Network of Texas.
- 1991 Citation from the City of San Antonio for service on the Arts an dcultural Advisory Committee.
- 1988 San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame Inductee for Literary Arts. San Antonio, TX.
- 1980 The Hidalgo Award and The Empressario Award from the City of San Antonio and Bexar County, TX.