So my maternal grandfather Emmanuel Pierre Menager was something of a coyote trickster — an itinerant artist, a womanizer (an occasional bigamist), but a rather magical person when he showed up at our house. Though I suspect my parents — especially my father was less than pleased (despite the fact that Pierre was […]
Wily Rascal: My Grandfather, Pierre Menager Read More »
In the midst of all my work (and looming deadlines) I received this unexpected gem in the mail and wanted to share it. A gentleman in Madrid, NM had discovered the remnants of the 36 ft wooden statue of Jesus my grandfather, Pierre Ménager built for the Christmas light show in Madrid, New Mexico in
Jesus on The Fence Read More »
The internet has been very good to me lately. I think it’s an electronic version of Hades where in the ancient world the living, depressed and uncertain, could slip down to it’s muddy banks to search for help among the shades of their ancestors. Just so it seems in a personally difficult year, I have
Pierre Ménager: A Portfolio of Six Block Prints of Old New Orleans Characters Read More »
Here is the small mural in the old kitchen — over the stove no less! I love the charming look of the either Franciscan or Dominican style monk — pan and spoon in hand. Pierre was himself quite a good cook, sharing in the cooking duties when he was with Rosalie Murphy of Santa Fe's
Pierre Menager’s Murals Painted in 1937 Joesler House: The Kitchen Read More »
I am so happy to be able to share photos of this wonderful lampshade my grandfather Pierre Ménager painted in 1945. I love the way the figures circle the shade, the rich colors — even after so many years, and just the humor and élan of the piece. Many thanks to Pinky Werner (whose parents
Pierre Ménager: The Painted Southwest Lampshade Read More »
I received a wonderful surprise in my email today from someone who discovered that I had been writing about my grandfather Pierre Ménager on this blog. She sent me a gorgeous watercolor painting of Ojo Caliente, New Mexico that Pierre painted in 1944. The painting originally belonged to her grandparents, then her mother, and now
Pierre Menager and Ojo Caliente, New Mexico Read More »
When I was about five years old, (in the late-fifties) we went to Santa Fe to visit my grandfather, the artist Pierre Ménager. As well as being a wonderful painter and sculptor, he was also a fabulous cook…well he was French. But he cooked a mixture of Southwest and Creole — especially as a portion
Pierre, Rosalea, and The Pink Adobe Read More »
Taos Indians, Madrid New Mexico, July 4, 1930 The mining town Madrid, New Mexico became quite famous in the late twenties and into the forties for its most amazing Christmas Light Shows — its extraordinary themed dioramas and its “Toyland” — a Christmas wonderland built by the miners for their children. I have posted earlier
A Glimpse into Madrid, New Mexico, 1929 to 1945 Read More »
I almost forgot about this little drawing which my grandfather drew in one of his letters…makes me want to forget email, forget text-messages, and return to the art of illustrated letters. His spelling in English was whimsical, but I loved his handwriting with its bold flourishes and the margins (sometimes even the middle of
Pierre’s Desert Easter Drawings Read More »
I never cease to be amazed at the ability of the internet to suddenly draw connections between people. Yesterday I posted examples of my grandfather's marginal drawings from a letter dated 1962. And that night I received an email with a photograph of a painting made by Pierre Ménager in 1962. It was commissioned by
Pierre Manager Zuni Shalako Ceremony Read More »
