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| ”Renaissance Man of the West” |
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By way of background …
Various people have documented the “West” as they personaly have experienced it. In Los Altos Hills we immediately think of the Pulitzer Prize winning author Wallace Stegner. He was active in the founding of our town in the mid-1950’s. But before the Town existed, was there perhaps another artist who became famous for his works about “The West”, perhaps as it existed earlier before the Bay Area started its real boom after WWII. If so – was it a writer? A sculptor? Perhaps a painter? All of the above – and more. Read on … |
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When hiking at Rancho San Antonio did you ever notice a “Mora Trail”? Or are you familiar with the collection of streets in our Town that make reference to "Mora"? (Mora Drive, Mora Glen Drive, Mora Heights Way.)
Have you ever wondered who or what Mora was? Joseph Jacinto (Jo) Mora was a 20th century American artist who became known as the "Renaissance Man of the West". He was widely recognized as an unique and insightful interpreter of the American West. One of his homes in California was located in what (many years later) was to become the Town of Los Altos Hills, and it is after him that both the trail and the various streets are named. Born in Uruguay in 1876, his family moved to the United State in 1880. The son of famed sculptor, he trained at two prestigious art academies on the east coast and with renowned artist William Merrit Chase. A childhood fascination with cowboys and Native American cultures led him to Solvang California in 1903 where he immersed himself in the Californio ranch culture, becoming a skilled horseman and learning Californio Spanish. He next headed to Arizona, where he spent two years living with, learning about and respectfully and sensitively photographing the Hopi and Navajo ceremonies. In 1907 he returned to California, married Grace Needham and settled in what is now Los Altos Hills. While living there, he was a participant in and a judge at the 1915 World’s Fair in San Francisco. He created California themed sculptures that adorn the buildings of the Native Sons of the Golden West and the Bohemian Club and a statue of Cervantes in Golden Gate Park.
He moved to Carmel-By-the Sea in 1921 and entered his most prolific artistic period. Some of his most prominent works are the cenotaph of Father Junipero Serra at Carmel Mission and a 100 foot long diorama of the Gaspar de Portola expedition at the 1939 World’s Fair in San Francisco, as well as the bronze statue of Christ for the Santa Clara Catholic Cemetery. He was an integral part in transforming Carmel into a thriving and renowned art center. He also wrote and illustrated several prominent books on cowboy life, the Californio culture and history of ranching in 20th century west as well as a very popular children’s book. He passed away in 1949. Today the widest collection of his works is housed at The Monterey History and Art Association. This is home to several exhibitions of Jo Mora’s artwork, and the Association has acquired an impressive representation of his paintings, drawings, cartes, prints, and bronze sculptures. These can be seen at the Stanton Center (5 Custom House Plaza adjacent to Old Fisherman’s Wharf) and the Monterey History and Art Association’s Casa Serrano on Pacific Street. So, the next time you hike the Mora Trail at Rancho remember “The Renaissance Man” of the West!
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