Ernesto Pedregon Martinez Artist - Muralist - Educator Ernesto is a renowned international self-taught artist and muralist. He was an illustrator/artist for the federal government for more than 35 years, and a professor of Mexican!American art at El Paso Community College for nine years. He was born and raised in the poor barrios of South El Paso and understands first hand the daily struggles of the Mexican people, the focus of his works. Ernesto is considered one of the nation's leading Mexican-American artists. As a recognized figure of achievement in the field of art, he has been a frequent guest and speaker at many civic, religious, and military functions, many times with national and international personalities. This includes an appearance in Mexico City on the international program "Siempre en Domingo" with Raul Velasco. Ernesto Martinez has been active in local community service and has commendably served our country in the military service. He served in W.W. II with Gen. Terry Allen's famed 104th "Timberwolf" Division in Europe. He was awarded the Bronze Star in combat, Combat Infantry Badge, and Battle Stars. COMMUNITY SERVICE Commander Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #9173 Vice-Commander American Legion #36 Disabled American Veterans Westside 1st Vice-President - Paisano Lions Club Scoutmaster for Troops 17 and 39 Boy Scouts of America District Executive Knights of Columbus Ruben Salazar Foundation L.U.L.A.C. Contributing writer for the "EI Pasefio" newspaper art column Ernesto is a frequent speaker in elementary and high schools. He also speaks at drug abuse centers to help abused and high risk children. Speaker at Oberlin College, Ohio Speaker at U.T.E.P. conferences Member of the Executive Advisory Board for Border Aids Partnership Active in the "Chicano Movement" of 1960-1970 HONORS IN ART Selected "Texas State Artist" in two-dimensional works of art for 1997-1998 by the Senate of the State of Texas Honored with "Resolution H.R. No. 755" by the State of Texas House of Representatives of the 75th Texas Legislature, 1997 Honored by U.S. Congressman Silvestre Reyes with a reception and Art Exhibit in El Paso offices, 1997 Honored by more than 350 people from the community and including state and city officials with a reception at the El Paso Museum of Art for being selected as the State Artist of the Year, 1998 Featured in "The Voice of America" U.S. Government overseas television program, 1998 Featured in the following University books: a. "Perspectives" Voices of Latinos, Massachusetts, 1996 b. "Colors on Desert Walls" The Murals of El Paso, 1997 c. "Chicano Studies" survey and analysis book, 1997 (UTEP) d. "Chicano Art", University of Texas, 1997 "Who's Who in American Art," 1976, 1993-1994 Featured in "Palette Talk" National Art Magazine published in New York Honored by El Paso City Council for outstanding contributions to Mexican-American culture, 1977 "Artist of the Year" L.U.L.A.C. #9,1974; #664,1975 Commissioned by Governor Dolph Briscoe of Texas as "Admiral in the Texas Navy," 1978 "Honor Book of Distinguished Americans" Library of Congress, 1980 I.R.S. and D.E.A. Intelligence Center (speaker and exhibitor), 1990 Many Ft. Bliss and White Sands military functions (guest and speaker) Grand Marshall of Houston, Texas "Ethnic Parade," 1978 Deputy Grand Marshall of Veteran's Day Parade, El Paso, Texas, 1977 Radio and television interviews and personal appearances in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas . One of the national Hispanic artists selected for the 1990 C.A.R.A. Exhibit. The exhibit included more than 100 works of national Hispanic artists, sculptors, poets, etc. that toured the United States for three years. Among the galleries selected were The Wright Gallery (U.C.L.A.); Denver Art Museum; San Francisco Museum of Modem Art; The Smithsonian National Museum in Washington D.C.; Field Museum of Chicago; Albuquerque; Tucson; El Paso; The Bronx Museum of Art, New York City One of the national artists invited to exhibit at the prestigious New England Fine Arts Institute of Boston, MA, 1993 Artist-in-Residence for Chicano Studies Department at University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Keynote speaker for "The Holocaust Services" at Fort Bliss, 1998 COMMISSIONED MURALS "Pre-Columbian Mexico," Cafeteria Bowie High School, El Paso, 1976 "Congressional Medal of Honor," Veterans' Clinic, El Paso, 1977 "The Resurrection," main altar of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Houston, Texas "Love of Country" and "Disabled American Veterans" murals Veterans' Hospital at Tor C, New Mexico. Commissioned by the State of New Mexico "Labyrinth of the Americas," mini mural University of Texas at El Paso "Desert Storm," military mural commissioned by the Junior League (Los Murales Project) of EI Paso. Commissioned for 1991 and 1992, the mural is located at Stout Gym in Ft. Bliss. It is a tribute to our armed forces, and measures 50 ft. x 8 ft. Commissioned by the Veterans' Administration to paint a second medal-ofhonor mural at the new V.A. clinic next to Beaumont Army Hospital, 1995