Over 20 artists from Brownsville and Matamoros came together Saturday to help support South Texas artist Daniel Maldonado’s family through a fundraising art auction from 12 to 6 p.m. at Puente Art Studio in Brownsville.
Titled “Unidas Por Un Amigo” or “United By A Friend,” around 50 donated artworks hung on the walls for sale to help raise money to support the funeral costs and other expenses for Maldonado’s wife and seven children following his death.
Attendees paid a $10 entry fee.
Daniel Maldonado, who was 64, was assaulted on Dec. 21, resulting in a brain injury, and died on Dec. 29, according to a Gofundme page started by his daughter Cassandra Rodriguez.
Roberto Juarez, Humberto Jimenez, Nohemi Espinoza, Alejandra Zertuche and Anthony Antinori helped to organize the show over the past week.
Anthony Antinori of Antinori Art Studio says he has known Maldonado for at least 20 years, and they often attended the same art events.
“As long as we are supporting the family, any funds we will be glad to get,” he said of the fundraising event.
Maldonado was an artist with a career of over 40 years, studying at Instituto Regional de Bellas Artes in Matamoros and in workshops at the Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires. He studied under artists like Felipe Enkenberg, Luis Nishizawa, Luciano Spano and Gabriel Macotela.
He also had a passion for teaching, both in Brownsville and Matamoros. Cassandra Rodriguez, his daughter, says he taught art, piano, guitar and singing at his studio, the Maldonado Art School and Gallery in Brownsville.
“I want people to remember him as the good teacher he was,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez says that through the event it has been an experience to see how many friends her father has in the community.
“It is pretty amazing how a lot of artists have joined together. I knew my dad knew a lot of people, but seeing them together, it’s like, ‘ah they are real,’” she said.
The organizers are planning future fundraising shows for the family in Brownsville and Matamoros in the coming days.
To donate, visit www.gofund.me/712461ea.
