Jose Vives-Atsara

Texas' own adopted Spanish-born master artist, Jose Vives-Atsara, left us on Tuesday, January 13, 2004, to join his one and only true Master who had blessed him and guided his talents for so many decades. Jose's magnificent works will always fill and enrich the many special spaces of all who cherished his art. He was loved by all, not only as the gifted painter that he was, but also as the kind, against-all-odds, self-made and charitable man that he personified.

Jose Vives-Atsara is survived by his loving wife of 57 wonderful and unforgettable years, Emilia; son, Joseph H. Vives; daughter, Yvonne Vives-Atsara Varney, and husband, Don; his seven adored grandchildren, who called him "Avi" and used him as a role model every chance they had, Kimberly Vives, Alison Vives, Joseph H. Vives, Jr., James Vives, M. K. "Kenny" Woodward, III, Shane Woodward and Danielle Woodward; his brother, Juan Anton Vives Atsara of Spain, and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins of the extended Vives, Hill, Atsara and Domenech families of his native Catalonia Province, Spain.

Jose Vives-Atsara was born on April 30, 1919 in Vilafranca del Penedes near Barcelona, Spain. Jose dedicated himself completely to art at the age of 11, studied his calling at the Colegio de San Ramon, and had his first one-man show when he was 14 years old. In spite of serving in the Spanish Civil War, being a prisoner of war, and enduring many other hardships, Jose continued to develop and grow as an artist upon his return to Vilafranca. After six years of courtship, Jose married his sweetheart and the love of his life, Emilia Hill Domenech. Following a brief honeymoon in Mallorca, Jose and his bride with child traveled to the new world in 1947 aboard a tramp steamer, with his ultimate and undying goal being his cherished United States of America. After eight years in Venezuela and Mexico, Jose and his family finally arrived in San Antonio, Texas in September of 1956. The rest is history.

Jose's contributions to art in San Antonio, his state and the nation are well known and too numerous to detail, but range from the faculty of then Incarnate Word College; his famous "Artist in Action" series in San Antonio, Hollywood and elsewhere; his very special works depicting the San Antonio Missions and his beloved San Antonio River; special commissions for governors, presidents, kings, heads of state and Pope John Paul II upon his visit to San Antonio, and, of course and foremost, providing happiness and beauty to countless collectors throughout the southwest and the nation. Jose's artistic contributions were also from the heart and very generous. His willingness to actively participate in and contribute his works to worthwhile causes is well known to many charitable and civic organizations.

Jose Vives-Atsara's love for San Antonio and Texas was only surpassed by his great love for his adopted nation. Jose personified the term "Proud to be an American." His patriotic zeal for America was unmatched and his determination to speak forcefully about "these great United States of America" gained him recognition before many patriotic and historical groups and organizations. The United States District Court for the Western District of Texas regularly invited Jose to share his thoughts and advice with new naturalized citizens on what "Coming to America" was all about and what it meant to be an American. On such occasions, he was honored and he loved it, and his new fellow Americans loved it too.

Jose, Josep, Papa, Avi and Pepe as some of his closest friends called him, will be missed dearly. However, his extraordinary expressionism and soul will be a constant with us all in those splendrous skies and sunsets, flower bursts and rugged mission walls, magnificent light and shadows and transparent distances, all of which were his trademarks. We will feel the wind and smell the flowers when we enter that special space where he hangs in our homes, workplaces and public buildings. Jose Vives-Atsara will forever be with us.

The family wishes to convey its heartfelt gratitude to the magnificent team of surgeons and physicians under the capable stewardship of Robert N. Schnitzler, M.D.; to the loving and caring staff of Southwest Texas Methodist Hospital and to the Oblate Fathers, for their pastoral care and support during the past difficult weeks.

Pallbearers: E. Glenn Biggs, James M. Cavender, III, Tom C. Frost, Jr., James W. Gorman, Jr., George B. Irish, Joseph R. Krier, Robert L. Mooney and H. Bartell Zachry, Jr.

Honorary Pallbearers: Juan Anton Vives Atsara, Josep Domenech Turne, Juan Sole Bordas, Hon. Solomon Casseb, Jr., Charles Cheever, Rev. Buckner Fanning, George E. Fischer, Brig. Gen. Robert F. McDermott, Walter Muehlhause, Howard Nolan, Dr. Ruskin C. Norman and Hon. Nelson Wolff.