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When writing about the skill of watercolor painting in his book, Painting as a Pastime, Winston Churchill advised, "The first quality that is needed is Audacity." Del Mar-based artist Maura Harvey, who treasures her copy of Churchill's book, could not agree more. "You just have to jump in," she affirmed.
Harvey's vibrant, mixed media canvasses scream boldness. Churchill would be proud. A reflection of her audacious creativity, Harvey's bold expression hi the fine arts is equally matched with her literary and political accomplishments, A bilingual poet, an author of local history, a local politician and a teacher of Spanish are all facets of the gem that is Harvey's raison d'etre.
Encinitas City Hall is currently displaying 30 pieces of Harvey's mixed media retablos: brightly colored boxed creations containing found objects, embellishments and poetry, lovingly gathered then artfully assembled.
Reminiscent of early 20th century assemblages, like those created by Kurt Schwitters, Harvey's three dimensional mini works of art are also a personal memoir of sorts. She often incorporates mementos from her world travels and littie keepsakes that friends pass on to her: earring backs, costume jewelry, or old watches. It's all a source of great inspiration for Harvey.
Part of the goal that Harvey hopes to achieve wilh her retablos is to create happy, fun and meaningful objets d'arts. The inspiration for these works came from an art show Harvey attended in 2003. "I went to the show at the San Diego Museum of Art called Axis Mexico, which represented Mexican artists working in a variety of genres, one of whom had used found objects from the dump, to ultimately create exquisite collages." explained Harvey.
Originally retablos were noi made of found objects but were crafted as portable mini alters for spiritually-inclined travelers and later by soldiers going into battle, said Harvey.
Although today the meaning has changed, retablos are still very portable, and may convey a story with their contents, which are artfully placed. "We have so much excess and when we put discarded items together in the right way, it can create beauty."
Harvey has always considered herself a fanatical recycler. "My garage is full of these things that possibly someone could need later. It's hard for me to put things into the garbage can." Harvey saves a lot, including her dolls from her childhood, and a collection of costumes gathered from around the world that she wears when appropriate.
The idea of using and reusing items, taking bits of old jewelry and fabric and creating something of beauty, began when, as a child, Harvey would make things out of discarded or broken objects. "It was part of what we as a family considered valuable," she said. "At Christmas time we would take a tree bauble, that was a little tattered, and instead of throwing it away we would cover it with ribbon or beads and remake it into something special."
Most of Harvey's childhood was spent in Riverside, "I was fortunate because my family took me to a lot of museums constantly," said Harvey about the early influences in her life. A love of languages and a budding fluency in Spanish, began when she was in sixth grade taking lessons after school. Then she became an exchange student in Mexico City at age 13. The father of her first exchange family, was Luis Echeverria, Mexico's under secretary who later became president in 1970.
Harvey connected with Mexico so much so that she wonders if she has a Mexican soul, she said. "I definitely feel like I have sisters all over the world," said Harvey who still has a close connection with some of the women who were her exchange partners as a child. These yearly visits to Mexico City would prove to later have an effect on Harvey's creativity, as would her father's influence.
"My father was a fine artist and a poet and an art teacher, who later wenr on to become school principal and coordinator of art and foreign language for Riverside Schools. He was very versatile," Hurvey said of her father, James MacWhinney. A charming man of Irish descent, he would prove a major role model for Harvey.
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When Harvey's parents moved into the Olivenhain area in 1988, her father became closely involved with the San Dieguito Heritage Museum, writing a play, staged on several occasions by the museum, which was inspired by local history. Harvey mirrored her father's love of local history as she also had strong ties to that organization. Writing vignettes on San Dieguito history, in the late 80s, her collection was then compiled and published in book form.
Her close connection with people in the community people also brought about Harvey's place in Enciniias politics. From 1990-1994 she served on the Encinitas City Council, being elected mayor in 1993. "People urged me to run for office. They felt that there was a need for a new voice on council and I filled that need," explained Harvey.
When her father died in 2001, Harvey's sadness was channeled into creative action. During his illness, she decided to take an art class at Palomar College. "It was the best thing for me at that period. I knew that I was doing this for me but also for him, as a tribute," she explained. This would inspire a new direction for her creativity. Harvey's mother, Julia, still an Olivenhain resident is also a source of inspiration. "My mother is the most supportive person in my life, she's an amazing almost 91 years old. She's in four book clubs, which must be a record, and she is still driving."
Now Harvey, who has a Ph.D. in Latin American from UC Irvine, is able to combine her love of languages, an and poetry, "This year I'm going to be editor of the magazine, California Poets Quarterly. We have four issues a year, and I am also a judge for the annual contest. It's very fascinating to read poems from all over California. It's very inspiring."
Her own poetry has been widely published in both Spanish and English. In 1993, her work appeared in the bilingual collection,
Poemas, published in Venezuela, and has been included in many other published anthologies; several of her poems have garnered awards.
Although painting was something that was postponed until later in life, Harvey is off and running with her work, which is prolific. With her family grown — Harvey has two daughters, one of whom lives in Carmel Valley, and three grandchildren — she is able to concentrate a lot of energy into her art work.
Women feature strongly in her paintings. "I feel that women are still under appreciated and largely unknown," said Harvey. "We tend to see under represented women as stereotypes from some war-torn country or suffering from extreme poverty, yet each one of them is an individual and we need to view them that way."
Harvey has a strong urge to celebrate multicultural women. "To me they are queens who are not appreciated by their kingdoms. We are all somehow connected to each
other; I want to take fheir portraits and make them real for other people to know." Harvey would like to compile her series of women's portraits and juxtapose them in one large canvas or in a book form. "If I put them all together, they would have a new life."
She is also planning lo participate in an art show in Argentina later this year. "I would take my retablos for the exhibition, that's what's so nice about them, they are very portable," explained Harvey. The exhibition would also coincide with a poetry convention that is bring held there.
Harvey sees a future that continues to be dynamically exciting for herself and husband, Bob. As both love to travel, Harvey foresees more inspiration for her paintings. "I have a jumping background, I'm a person who loves changing course," she said. Her next undertaking, another facet to carve into her life's experience, is to master the computer as a tool in her art and so enable her to swiftly reproduce her portraits of women. "I have taken the first step to learning this," she said, adding, "and as I feel that the beginning is one half of the journey, I'm on my way."
To find out more about Harvey's fine art and poetry log on to
www.mauraharvey.com or call her at (858) 509 2130.
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