Caravaca de la Cruz, Museo Carrilero, the art and sculptures of Jose Carrilero 

A Little information about the artist, Jose Carrilero Gil 

Jose Carrilero Gil was born in 1928 in Caravaca de la Cruz, in the building which now houses a museum dedicated to his works, the Museo Carrilero.

His father was head of the Guardia Civil in Caravaca de la Cruz, and at this point in history, the former Palacio Munoz Otarola was the headquarters of the organization.

When he was 3, his father was transferred to Murcia, and the family moved to the capital, to a house opposite the Cuartel de Artilleria.

His studies in art began with a drawing course in La Sociedad Economica de amigos del Pais, and from there he attended the Escuela de Artes y Oficios de Murcia from the age of 13, with  Luis Garay and Clemente Cantos amongst his professors.

 In 1952 he went to la Escuela de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid, where he remained for 5 years before going to the Academia de Espana in Rome for 3 years.

Here he enjoyed a variety of new influences, and used free time to travel extensively, gaining exposure to an eclectic range of art movements and artists, from all the great galleries and studios of Europe.

Returning to Rome, he worked for the Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre, ( the mint) producing several series of bronze medallions.

In 1964 he was appointed as professor of drawing in the Escuela de Artes Aplicadas y Oficios Artísticos  in Madrid, becoming Director of section number 4 a year later, a post which he held for 14 years.and also taught sculpture for two courses at the Universidad Autónoma in Madrid

 

During this time he became part of a group of six sculptors, mainly ex-students from the Academia in Rome, namely Venancio Blanco, Carrilero, Donaire, Montaña, Mustieles and Valverde, all of whom were teachers at Artes y Oficios, sharing a common vision for sculptural art.

Together they celebrated their first exhibition in the Dirección General de Bellas Artes de Madrid, in 1964. under the  banner of  Nueva figuración.

 

This period was a prolific time, both as an individual and a group, and several important projects and exhibitions were fruit of this part of his life.

 

He finally returned to Murcia with an exhibition in the Almudi, Murcia in 2002.

 

His work in the museum

This museum houses a broad collection of his works, ranging from commemorative bronze medallions, through the naturalistic representations of trees and nature to his later works, the female form.

His obsession is with the form, not the detail.

Looking carefully at his works it can be seen that he places very little emphasis on the face of his subjects, it is the volume which he captures, the shape, the essence, the movement, details of features are irrelevant, the beauty or facial expression of his subjects of no importance, so the clear message which he wishes to convey is received loud and clear without the pointless clutter of detail, so these pieces  are robust, expressive and authorative in their execution.

 

Different techniques and influences can clearly be seen: in some pieces the indentation of an emphatic thumbprint  created in the energetic and definitive manipulation of the original piece,  others are ragged, jagged , brutally naïve and potently earthy in their overtones, whilst one or two are sensually curved, with an air of sophistication and bygone glamour.

 

Look at the finishing, some have a rough, scratched texture, others are finely polished to smooth perfection, each making a strong statement of intent, with unabashed honesty in the representation of forms and their personalities, echoing different eras, movements, artists and histories.

 

There are minotaurs in this room, Etruscans torn from the earth, Art Nouveau, modernism, avant-garde, Moore, Maillol, and something indefinable and unique, Jose Carrilero..

 

Location of the museum 

Plaza Escultor Jose Carrilero

Caravaca de la Cruz

 

From Plaza del Arco, walk down Gran Via then take the first left into Calle Raimundo Rodriquez. You'll see the museum tucked away in a courtyard almost as soon as you enter the street.

 

Opening Times

From 1st May to 30th September

Monday-Frida 10am-2pm and 4pm-8pm

 

From 1st October to 31st December

Monday-Friday, 10am-2pm and 4pm-7pm

Saturday and Sunday 10am-2.30pm and 4pm-7pm

 

Guided visits can be arranged for groups by prior reservation. Please contact Caravaca Jubilar on 968 70 56 20

 

Entrance price Standard 2 euros, Reduced 1 euro

 

Location of other sculptural works:

Many substantial pieces are to be found in Santander, and his works are scattered throughout the world in private collections, galleries and municipal collections.

 

Bronze sculpture in the  iglesia de Cerro Prieto, Móstoles.

Rekief in the  Residencia de Ancianos de Cazoña, Santander.

Large relief in el Banco Herrero, Santander.

Feliefs in the  Residencia de Niños de Polientes, Santander.

Large relief in the  Paseo de María Cristina, Santander.

Monumento a los Hombres del Mar, Santander.

Doors and reliefs in  the Astilleros Españoles, Santander

Monumento al Agricultor, Madrid.

 

 

 

We have a whole section of the site dedicated to Caravaca de la Cruz as it is such an important site of pilgrimage. For more information about Caravaca and it's Holy Year and Fiestas, Click Caravaca de la Cruz

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