My dear friend, Portuguese American Artist, Nathan Oliveira died today at home Stanford, California. We lost a great master and human.
The great Portuguese American Artist died today at home Stanford, California.
Nathan Oliveira 1928 – 2010 Nathan Oliveira was born in Oakland, California to parents of Portuguese descent. As a youth he was interested in art and music, and considered the possibility of becoming a clarinetist in a jazz band. However, during his high school years he visited the California Palace of the Legion of Honor where he saw a Rembrandt painting that profoundly influenced the course of his life.
For a time he attempted to study advertising art before enrolling in the California College of Arts and Crafts –
http://www.askart.com/AskART/artists/biography.aspx?searchtype=BIO&artist=31999
Of all the awards Nathan Oliveira received over his illustrious career, the “Commander” in “The Order of the Infante D. Henrique” awarded by the Portuguese government was the one he kept in his office. He loved his Portuguese heritage, and he was so proud that the country of his father and grandparents recognized him by awarding him the Commander of The Order of the Infante D. Henrique which he received from the President of Portugal in 2000.
I recall every time we listen to fado live or in CD he would say that one day he wanted to go live in Portugal or one day maybe die there. His health didn’t allow for these wishes but I got some sand from the Azores as he asked me to have a jar of this sand placed in his casket one day, the day has arrived! ‘You will be buried with Portuguese sand my friend!’
The last TV interview Nathan Oliveira did, I had the privilege of asking the question and Nuno Braga did the filming for RTPi TV California Contact, he loved his Portuguese heritage, with Portuguese subtitles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wE-Nz-6q
Nathan Oliviera talks about his work in etching, lithography, using what you see, and how colors are like food. Nathan Oliviera at Crown Point Press www.youtube.com
João de Brito
Nov. 15, 2010
