Vilma G. Holland
Vilma G, Holland | |
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visual artist |
Vilma Isabel Gonzalez Cordova Holland (November 5, 1928 - January 26, 2005) was a
Early years
Holland (birth name: Vilma Isabel Gonzalez Cordova) was born in
Education
Holland attended high school in her hometown of Caguas. Her teacher, Victor Torres Lizardi, a painter from Caguas, taught her pen and ink along with watercolors.[5] After some spirited family discussions, Holland followed her artistic interests majoring in art at Nazareth Junior College in Bardstown, Kentucky (currently Spalding University).[4] She received her diploma on June 3, 1948. Upon graduation, Holland returned home and enrolled at the University of Puerto Rico, UPR. One of her art teachers was Professor Guillermo Sureda.[6] He took an interest in her and continued her education with watercolors. Sureda was from Spain and his wife, like Holland, was from Puerto Rico. Professor Fran Cervoni, another art teacher, taught design to her.[3] Professor Cristobol Ruiz introduced Holland to oils.[3] Holland graduated with a bachelor's degree in art on May 27, 1949.[4] The UPR recognized her design abilities and Cervoni helped Holland obtain a fellowship to the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City[4] where she studied under various artists, including Arnold Burchess.[5] Holland received an Associate in Applied Science from FIT on June 11, 1964. During this time she divorced her first husband, Emigdio Buonomo.
After college, Holland taught art at the University of Puerto Rico. She also worked in the corporate world where she specialized in corporate identity and product design. At this time, she and Senora Teresita Abella founded the Thomas Alva Edison School Caguas, Puerto Rico, a private school with an initial enrollment of five students. The school continued to grow, and currently serves over 600 pupils.[4] For this and other contributions to her home island, Holland was honored as one of the “Grandes Mujeres De Puerto Rico” (Grand Ladies of Puerto Rico).[3]
Venezuela
In the late 1960s, Holland and her mother rented a loft apartment in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. Shortly after moving in, Holland met her future husband, PJ Holland. They were married about one year later and moved to Caracas, Venezuela.
Politics and art
Meanwhile, Holland continued to paint and exhibit. She steadily built a reputation in the Venezuelan art community. Her work was usually developed around a theme and very often touched upon controversial subjects. Her personal crusade became addressing the plight of the indigenous
Influence of Arana
In late 1976/early 1977, her husband was transferred to Puerto Rico, so Holland continued her career of painting and expanding her artistic vision. During this time, Holland met artist
Final years
In early 1990s her husband retired and within a few years the couple moved to the United States. They bought a home in Conyers, Georgia. Holland was not as active in the arts community as she had once been. Her memory was beginning to fail. She had given up painting relying only on pen & ink for her artistic release. Her husband continued to be active in the local arts community. A few artists reviewed some of Holland's paintings and they encouraged him to exhibit her work.[9] The local newspaper published an article devoted to Holland's art.[4] By this time, her overall health had shown increasing signs of marked deterioration, and a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease was made. After six years of home care and two years of nursing home care, Vilma G. Holland died on January 26, 2005.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b Certificate of Death for Vilma Holland. Local File Number 05-034: Georgia Department of Human Resources/Vital Records Service. 2005.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Decimoquinto Censo de los Estadow Unidos: Poblancion-Puerto Rico, Caguas. Hoya No. 24-A: Distrito de Enumeracion No. 56-2. 1930. pp. Sheet 43, Line No. 17.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ a b c d Kruger Torres, Lola (1975). Enciclopedia Grandes Mujeres de Puerto Rico Tomo IV. Hato Rey, Puerto Rico: Ramallo Bros. Printing, Inc. pp. 59–60.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Sexton, Beth (August 8, 2001). "East Metro Plus - Exhibit gives overview of artist's life, works - Vilma G. Holland". The Citizen, Conyers, GA. pp. 1B, 3B.
- ^ a b c Pinana Vives, Teresa (1976). Anuario De La Pincura Venezolana. Venezuela: Carnencita Vazquez Losada. pp. 57, 129.
- ^ Kruger Torres, Lola (1975). Enciclopedia Grandes Mujeres de Puerto Rico Tomo IV. Hato Ray, Puerto Rico: Ramallo Bros. Printing, Inc. pp. 59–60.
- ^ Torregrosa, Angela Luisa (2 April 1974). "Primera Dama De Venezuela". Mujer: 6–8.
- ^ "Exposiciones de pintura inauguradas ayer en Maracaibo". Panorama. 3 May 1976.
- ^ "Center Street Arts Gallery". Vilma G. Holland. 2001.