21/03/2024
José Manuel Benítez Espinoza
Ixtlán del Río, Nayarit, México
Artist Representatives (USA):
•Lucy Spears (909) 775-3789
•Jerry Henson (Bizzart Gallery)
- Educator, Painter, Muralist, Sculptor, Poet and Narrator of autodidact training.
- Divides his time in the fields of teaching, literature, and the fine arts.
- His current work seeks to rescue endearing images of the past that remain and take on new meaning, while comparing them with the space of present experiences.
Trajectory as Poet and Narrator:
- As a writer he has obtained on three occasions, the first place in state invitational poetry contests.
- In 2000, he wins the XIV National Floral Games “Amado Nervo” of the Autonomous University of Nayarit.
- He obtains in two occasions (1999 y 2000), the State Poetry Award Dr. Julián Gascón Mercado, of Trapichillo, Nayarit.
- In 2001 he receives the State Award of Literature granted by the National Council for the Culture and the Arts (CONACULTA) and the Government of the State of Nayarit, throughout CECAN.
- In 2002 he triumphs in the First National Biennial of Poetry Alí Chumacero, convened by the Álica Foundation, A. C. of Nayarit.
- In 2003 he obtains the firsts places in the Poetry and Story categories in the contest convened by the Special Fund for Lecture Promotion of Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico.
- In 2004 he wins again the above award, first place in Poetry.
- In 2007 he obtains the State Award of Poetry of the Floral Games in Ahuacatlán, Nayarit, Mexico.
- In October 2009 he wins the National Floral Games of Zapotlán El Grande, Jalisco, Mexico.
- His work has been published in cultural magazines such as Tierra Adentro (No. 80 of June - July, 1996 and No. 112 of October - November, 2001). La Rueda (2001). Álica (2003), etc.
- They have been edited his books of poetry Otro Cielo (2000), Hender el Agua (2001), Trazos para Cúpula (2002) and the winner book of the National Award Amado Nervo, of the UAN, Trayecto de Sombras (2011).
- He has unpublished, Trazos para Cúpula (winner book of the National Biennial Alí Chumacero) and Veinte Poemas Sueltos, compilation of winner poems of the four editions of the State Literature Award, convened by CECAN-CONACULTA.
- He is currently contributor to the literary magazine La Rueda, of Guadalajara, Jalisco.
- In May 2005, within the framework of the Cultural Festival Amado Nervo, of Tepic, Nayarit, he receives the Annual Tribute as an Outstanding Poet of the State of Nayarit, by the State Council for the Culture and the Arts of Nayarit.
- In 2010 is co-author of the Antología de Narradores de Centro Occidente, Fabulaciones in Memoriam. María Luisa Puga, of the Zacatecan Institute of Culture.
- In 2016 he edits his Poetry book Ascua de Luna – Poema para pintar, published by the State Council for the Culture and the Arts of Nayarit (CECAN).
- In April 10th 2016 he becomes the first writer to present his work in Spanish: Poetry Book Ascua de Luna – Poema para pintar, within the prestigious Los Angeles Times Festival of Books 2016 and his brother newspaper Hoy Los Ángeles.
- Apri 21, 2016. Lecure of his Poetry Book Ascua de Luna (Ember Moon), at the County Public Library of East Los Angeles.
- June 18, 2016. Premiere in México of the Spanish Poetry Book Ascua de Luna, with presentation at the Cultural House of the Magic Town of Jala, Nayarit. On July 14, 2016, it was also presented at the Cultural House of his hometown Ixtlán del Río, Nayarit, México.
Trajectory as a Painter:
- As a painter he has exhibited his work in galleries in Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacan, and Mexico City; Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles, California; Plaza Mexico of Lynwood, California; Mijares Gallery of Whittier; ChimMaya Art Gallery of Montebello; Cathedral of Hollywood Forever; and El Portal of Pasadena, California, United States of America.
- In 1991 he obtains honorific mention at the National Competition Emilia Ortiz.
- In 1993 he wins the only prize in the State Contest of Visual Arts Aramara, awarded by the Government of the State of Nayarit.
- He is Scholar in 2001, of the State Fund for Culture and Arts of Nayarit, category of Creators with Trajectory (Fine Arts).
- In 2003, he wins the honorific mention award at the State Sculpture Competition Adolfo Riestra.
- In 2003 he displays his paintings in Mijares Gallery (Featuring Fine Mexican and Ethnic Art) of Whittier, California, USA.
- He is promoted in the United Stated as the Featured Latino Artist, by the curator and community activist Sara Zapata Mijares (prominent Latina, January 2004, “National Latina Business Women's Association”, of Los Angeles (http://latinola.com/story.php?story=1496).
- In 2004 he shows is artwork at the gallery of the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- In 2005 he organizes and presents The Two Borders (Nayaritan art sample) in the hall Grandeza Mexicana of the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles, California.
- In 2006 he obtains the State Prize of Painting, Emilia Ortiz.
- In 2009, he receives the Rotary Club Paradise Annual Award, for his outstanding contribution to culture.
- In September 2010 he is honored with the Itztlán Medal, to the artistic and cultural merit, awarded by the City of Ixtlán del Río, Nayarit, Mexico.
- In June 2015 he unveils his Retrospective Art Exhibit in Los Angeles, Rafael de la Colina Hall of the Mexican Consulate; as part of the celebration of the Day of Nayarit in Los Angeles.
- In August 2015 and as part of the Nayaritan Gala of the National and International Federation of Nayaritas in the United States (FENINE-USA), he recibes an award as Nayaritan Painter and Muralist of the Year, before a delegation of state government officials headed by Governor Roberto Sandoval Castañeda.
- In September 2015, he exhibits at El Portal, Restaurant-Gallery of Pasadena, California.
- On October 24, 2015 he unveils his proclaim: New Light/ by Benítez, as a part of the Cathedral Art Exhibit of Hollywood Forever, 16th Annual Day of the Dead Shamanic Visions of the Huichol, at Hollywood, California, USA.
- On October 25, 2015 his artwork is included into the Fall Exhibittion of ChimMaya Art Gallery, the Latino most prestigious art gallery of Los Angeles County (Montebello, California, USA).
- On February 15, 2016 he participates in the exhibit EnAmorArte of MCAU Art Gallery, to support emerging artists residing in Los Angeles, California.
- 2016. Maestro Manuel Benítez has been selected to represent the State of Nayarit, along with his colleague Vladimir Cora, to participate in the exhibit TODO MEXICO (ALL MEXICO), which chooses only two painters per State and is under the general coordination of Clemente Perez Gaxiola. This itinerant exhibit is scheduled to begin in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, on November 25th 2016.
- On November 1st 2016 he began his visual presence in Day of the Dead. The Department of Cultural Affairs of The City of Los Angeles through Plaza La Raza, selected an acrylic portrait painted by Manuel Benitez in life of Alberto Aguilera Valadez, as central theme of the Altar de Mu***os in Tribute to Juan Gabriel, the deceased Mexican singer and songwriter. The exhibit remains three weeks for celebrations plus scheduled visits of Angelino students and the general public.
- On November 5, 2016 he displayed is artwork as special guest into Collective Exhibit El Velorio at Plaza La Raza of Los Angeles, California.
- His paintings are currently on display at the Federations of Nayarit headquarters in the USA
Murals:
- He makes a series of murals, with themes of the Huichol Magic World, for the Mexican cinema diva Mercedes Carreño, which have been exhibited in Mexico City since 2012.
- In August 2010 he ends the mural Bicentennial Ixtlán, in the House of Culture of Ixtlán del Río, Nayarit.
- In September 2010 he makes the mural Heroic Youth, in the Museum Juan Escutia, of Tepic, Nayarit.
- On August 11, 2011 he installs his mural Dialogue of Knowledges (5 m. X 12 m.), in the lobby of the Interactive Science Museum of Tepic, Nayarit.
- On June 4th 2015, he inaugurates his mural Jala Mágico, in the Technological School Ricardo Flores Magón of Jala, Nayarit, México.
- On September 15th 2016, he unveils Fiesta Mexicana at Plaza Mexico of Lynwood, California. A worldwide innovative mural, with itinerant tour throughout various cultural, educational, and public spaces of the United States.
- In September 2016, he launched the itinerary tour of mural Fiesta Mexicana in the cultural space La Cigarra. It will be visiting various cultural, educational, and public platforms of Southern California, as part of the celebrations: 2017, Year of Mexico in Los Angeles.
-On February 19th, 2021he made the great mural A HISTORY OF COMMUNITY SERVICES at the General Hospital of Los Angeles, California
Trajectory as Cultural Promoter:
- In 1999 he receives the titles of Coordinator of Municipal Art and Culture and Director of the House of Culture of Ixtlán del Río, Nayarit.
- During his management, he created the Pinacoteca or Municipal Gallery with pieces of the ten most representative Nayaritan painters.
- From 2001 through 2003 he is responsible of the Municipal Coordination of Culture of the Ministry of Public Education (SEP).
- In 2003 the Nayaritan writers promoted him as Adviser of Literature to the State Council for the Culture and the Arts of Nayarit.
- 2004 serves as juror of CONACULTA in the process of granting scholarships to the artistic creation 2004-2005.
- From 2004 to the current date he has been Tutor of Fellow Nayaritans: two writers and two creators of visual arts.
- From 2006 through 2009 he served as Director of Municipal Art and Culture of Ixtlán del Río, Nayarit.
- He created in Ixtlán del Río, a Gallery and Museum where outstanding national and foreign plastic artists have exhibited, as well as local painters, giving preferential space to the new creators.
- Since November 1st 2014, he is Tutor of the Australian Filmmaker Bernhard Hetzenauer, scholar of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) for stays of artistic creation in Mexico.
