Rosa Estebañez
Rosa Estebañez | |
|---|---|
| Born | Rosa Livia Estebañez–Martinez April 28, 1927 |
| Died | December 17, 1991 (aged 64) San Rafael, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Rosa Estebanez |
| Children | 1 |
Rosa Livia Estebañez (April 28, 1927 – December 17, 1991)[1] was a Cuban and American sculptor, known for her large scale memorials and monuments.[2] She lived in Petaluma, California for many years, where she owned an art gallery.[3]
Life and career
Rosa Livia Estebañez–Martinez was born in April 28, 1927, in the Luyanó neighborhood of Havana, Cuba.[4][5] She graduated with a master's degree in 1951 from the National Art School (Escuelas Nacionales de Arte) in Havana.[2]
She worked as the official sculptor for the Cuban government under President Fulgencio Batista, where she worked on the facades of many government buildings and created public monuments.[2] Estebañez fled to the United States in 1960 with her young son Jorge, during the time when Carlos Manuel Piedra served as the interim President of Cuba right before Fidel Castro took power.[2] They briefly lived in Florida,[6] and settled in Petaluma, California to be near her brother.[2] She was naturalized in the United States in 1964.[2][4]
By the mid-1960s, Estebañez taught evening sculpture classes in adult education at Petaluma High School.[2] Estebanez hosted a 7-part television series entitled, "How to Sculpt with Rosa" (1977) on KQED Open Studio.[2] Estebañez opened an art gallery in 1978 named La Galeria de Rosa, in Petaluma.[2] In the 1970s and 1980s, Estebañez started getting commissions from churches and local governments to make memorials and historical busts.[2] Some of her notable works include the Fred J. Wiseman monument (1968), Bust of General Mariano G. Vallejo (1975), and the Bust of Bill Sobrates Arm Wresting (1988).[2]
Death and legacy
Her son Jorge Estebanez–Ricoy died in 1979 at age 29, in a car accident.[7][6] Rosa Estebañez died on December 16, 1991, in a hospital in San Rafael, California.[8][9]
Estebañez's archives are at the Sonoma County Library.[10] Her artwork is included in the collection at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.[3][11][12]
List of works
- Fred J. Wiseman Monument (1968), Wiseman Park, Petaluma, California[2]
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaque (1969), Walnut Park, Petaluma, California[3]
- Madonna and Child, St. Sebastian Catholic Church, Sebastopol, California
- Bust of Chief Solano (1973), Vallejo City Hall, Vallejo, California[13]
- Bust of Francisca Benicia Carrillo de Vallejo (1973), Vallejo City Hall, Petaluma, California[14]
- Bust of General Mariano G. Vallejo (1973), Vallejo City Hall, Vallejo, California[15]
- Bust of General Mariano G. Vallejo (1975), Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park, Petaluma, California[16]
- The World's Ugliest Dog Statue (1977)[17]
- Jesus as a Young Child (1980), St. James Catholic Church, Petaluma, California[12]
- Great Seal of the State of California (1986), 18 feet (5.5 m) tall sculpture, California State Government Office, 505 Van Ness Street, San Francisco, California[8]
- Helen Putnam Memorial (1987), Putnam Plaza at Helen Putnam Regional Park, Petaluma, California[18]
- Bust of Bill Sobrates Arm Wresting (1988), corner of East Washington and Petaluma Boulevard, Petaluma, California[19]
- Jesus with Saints (1988), Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, California
- St. Rose of Lima (1989), Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, California[11]
- St. Francis, St. Francis Winery and Vineyard, Santa Rosa, California
References
- ^ Holman Parmer, Janet (June 27, 1993). "Sculptor Rosa Estebanez remembered". The Press Democrat. p. 66–67. Retrieved January 14, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Martell, Maci (May 4, 2023). "Photos: Cuban-born artist Rosa Estebanez sculpted Petaluma's history for the city she loved". The Press Democrat. Archived from the original on January 14, 2026. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ^ a b c Hansen, Jamie (March 21, 2013). "New life for old plaque". Argus Courier. Archived from the original on January 14, 2026. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ^ a b "California, Northern U.S. District Court Naturalization Index, 1852–1989". FamilySearch.org. 1964.
- ^ "Rosa Livia Estebanez Vital, California, Death Index, 1940-1997". FamilySearch.org. December 17, 1991.
- ^ a b "Two Petaluma Youths Killed in Auto Crash". Petaluma Argus-Courier. August 20, 1979. p. 1. Retrieved January 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Jorge Estebanez". Petaluma Argus-Courier (Obituary). August 20, 1979. p. 2. Retrieved January 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Rosa Estebanez, local sculptor". The Press Democrat (Obituary). December 18, 1991. p. 14. Retrieved January 14, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Goodbye to a special lady". Petaluma Argus-Courier. December 18, 1991. p. 4. Retrieved January 14, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Rosa Estebanez (1927-1991)". Sonoma County Library.
- ^ a b "St. Rose of Lima, (sculpture)". Smithsonian Institution (in Spanish). Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ^ a b "Jesus as a Young Child, (sculpture)". Smithsonian Institution (in Spanish). Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ^ "Chief Solano, (sculpture)". Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
- ^ "Francisca Benicia Carrillo Vallejo, (sculpture)". Smithsonian Learning Lab.
- ^ "General Mariano G. Vallejo, (sculpture)". Smithsonian Learning Lab.
- ^ "Guide to the Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park Photographic Collection". oac.cdlib.org. Archived from the original on July 20, 2024.
- ^ "Article clipped from Petaluma Argus-Courier". Petaluma Argus-Courier. June 12, 2014. p. 5. Retrieved January 14, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "(Helen Putnam Memorial), (sculpture)". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
- ^ "A big makeover for Petaluma's smallest 'park'". Petaluma Argus-Courier. August 11, 2016. p. 2. Retrieved January 14, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
- Rosa Estebanez, Sculptor. Vallejo Art and Architecture Walk (2017 video)