Marina Pombar

Last updated
Marina Pombar Cabrera
PombarCabrera006.jpg
Pombar with Clemencia in her home in Mexico City
Born1947
Detroit, Michigan
NationalityAmerican
CitizenshipUSA, Mexican
OccupationSculptor
SpouseAlejandro Flores Pinto
ChildrenMarina and Manolo [1]
Parents
  • Thomas A Pombar (father)
  • Olga Cabrera Guimera (mother)

Marina Pombar (born 1947, Detroit, Michigan) is a former beauty queen noted for presenting the Beatles onstage. She is currently a sculptor who has exhibited in Mexico, the U.S. and Europe. She is also known for working to establish physiognomy as a field in Mexico.

Contents

Early life

Pombar was born in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Cuban parents who immigrated to the United States, Thomas A. Pombar and Olga Cabrera Guimera. [2] [3] She has Spanish grandparents on her father's side. [4] She considers herself to be Cuban, Spanish and American by heritage, with her Cuban heritage evident still by making Cuban coffee the way her father taught her. [1]

She graduated from Pershing High School in Detroit and worked as a receptionist for the North Detroit General Hospital along with part-time modeling and hostess jobs during her beauty pageant years. In an interview in 1966, she stated that she wanted to study psychology, but would settle for marriage. [3] In 1971, Pombar moved to Mexico and has lived in the country ever since. This long residency, as well as her Mexican citizenship, gives her Mexican identity as well. [1]

Career as beauty queen

Her interest in beauty pageants began young. [5] She studied modeling at the Patricia Stevens Career College and Finishing School, and started doing modeling jobs by age 14. [4] [6] Pombar began entering beauty pageants at age 15, entering any and all contests, becoming professional. [3] [4] The rigor of this life left little time for socializing or dating. [3]

Pombar's crowns include Miss Metropolitan Beach (1964), [7] Miss Suburban Architectural Bowling League (1965), Miss Autorama 1966, [4] Miss Detroit AMVET (1966), and a finalist for Miss Michigan Universe (1966). [3] [5] Her aim was Miss Universe. [3] [6] Her wins led to work in modeling and commercials. [6]

Her participation in this field also allowed her to meet and work with various local celebrities such as Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, as well as international figures. [3] At a Detroit radio station, she met Mick Jagger as both were scheduled to be interviewed. He asked her out, but her father would not permit it, concerned about drugs. [8] [9] She introduced the Beatles at their first performance at Detroit in 1964 at the Olympic Arena. [6] [10] In a later interview she stated, "It was strange at that time because the Motown sound was big then and the Beatles seemed just like any other group. At that time I didn’t realize who I was really with. During the performance girls started throwing things, then all of a sudden it got really wild, everything sort of went out of control and we were all literally carried off stage – and that was it. Everything was a mess. It wasn’t until later, looking back, that I completely understood the phenomena." [6] [9]

Career as a sculptor

Pombar working on a bust of one of the Beatles at her workshop in Mexico City PombarCabrera009.jpg
Pombar working on a bust of one of the Beatles at her workshop in Mexico City

In several interviews she stated that she had an interest in beauty and its composition from a young age and had always worked with her hands. [6] [11] However, it was not until later in life that she began an artistic career. [12] She was working as a translator for PEMEX in Mexico when she decided to study art. [13] Initially, she was interested in carving wood, and took a class. The instructor asked the class to copy a piece, and Pombar was the only one who made an exact copy. [6] Despite this, she still did not realize she had talent. She also took some classes for beginners with the Escuela de Artesanías Mexicanas and Academy of San Carlos. [14] [15] At a sculpture workshop, she learned that there were names for the techniques that she was developing on her own. [6] Ultimately, she asked Mexican artist Gabriel Ponzanelli to teach her, but he refused, stating that she had her own style and should work on developing that. He has supported her work in other ways, such as exhibitions. [6] [16] She belongs to no group, gallery or movement, but feels accomplished for what she has created. [17]

Pombar has exhibited her work in collective and individual shows since 1977. [15] Main shows include: Centro Iberoamericano de Convenciones (1977) [18] Escuela de Artesanias Mexicanas (1978) [18] American Embassy in Mexico (1980) [18] Centro Americano Ejecutivo de Idiomas y Murguia Garcia SA La Piramide Cultural Center (1984) [18] Forma, Color y Movimiento in El Pedregal restaurant in Tamaulipas (1986). [19] Dos pinceles, dos cinceles at the Galeria Art Centrum in Polanco (1991) [16] Sentimientos in Tamaulipas, Veracruz and Mexico City (1995), [15] [20] [21] Temperamento y Bronce in Mexico City (1997) [22] and Las Jaulas in Polanco, Mexico City. [15] She placed first at the Ventrina degli Artisti Latinoamericani Biennale in 2001 in Florence, Italy. where she identified as a Mexican artist. [14] [17] [23]

Pombar created a monumental work for the ASPCA of Missouri displayed in Memorial Park, and her work is promoted in Spain by the Grifé y Escoda Gallery in Barcelona. [10] Her apartment in Mexico City also serves as a gallery and workshop. [24]

Pombar has stated in interviews that as a beauty queen the attention she received was superficial, focused only on her exterior. However, work in sculpture brings respect for her mind and allows people to appreciate her for who she is. [6] [23] Working at her home studio (which also serves as a gallery), [2] she creates works exclusively in bronze, preferring its hardness and durability. She makes her models first with clay, with the final product cast with the lost wax method. [12] [17]

For her, art is a means of communication, with most of her pieces figures of men and women conveying attitudes and emotions through their body language and facial expressions. [14] [15] [25] “I don’t write poems, I model them.” she states. [14] She does not do self-portraits, [23] and her figures look neither at each other (even if intertwined) or at the observer. Instead, they seem introspective. [11] Her non-artistic work in physical fitness, and psychology and physiognomy are evident as well, as she focuses on muscle structure, stating that in the face muscles are actors which control expression. [23] Texture is also important to her work, often a study in contrasts. [12]

Pombar's work allows her to express the sadness she has experienced in her life as well as the strength to continue. [24] One episode in her life which is prominent in a number of her work is her battle with breast cancer, which led to reconstructive surgery on one side. The art for her has been therapeutic, as well as a basis for raising awareness of breast cancer through exhibitions and giving talks on health to various groups. [23] [26] Pieces related to her cancer experience include Intruso (Intrusion), Mi Matador (My Matador), Clemencia (Clemency), Templo (Temple), Inerte (Inert), La mutilación (Mutilation), Renacimiento (Rebirth), Después de Ti (After You) and Sueños (Dreams). [5] [26]

Pombar considers her works as her children, as they are born from her emotions and experiences. [23] At the 1986 exhibition Forma Color y Movimentos she refused to sell her work saying that “one becomes possessive with their works, they are like children and have to find their own way without their parents.” [18]

Life in Mexico

Pombar moved to Mexico in 1971, not long before her 30th birthday. [23] [24] Before and in addition to sculpture, she has been involved in a number of projects and activities, stating as a youth that she gets bored easily, [3] and today still works constantly. [14]

She worked as a translator for various Mexican government agencies and ran the Centro Dinámico de Idiomas language school in Mexico City from 1975 to 1985. [10] In the latter 1980s, she started a gym in her home in Tamaulipas as a hobby. Soon someone asked her to train them and she eventually became certified in both the US and Tamaulipas as a fitness instructor. [15] She founded the Women to Women, Professioal Health and Fitness Center in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas in 1985 which she ran until 1991. [10] Here she worked almost exclusively with women, noting that many felt "dead" by the age of forty. [6] In 1991, she moved the business to the Polanco neighborhood in Mexico City after her divorce, making it a mixed-sex gym, working with many men with sedentary computer/desk jobs. [1] [5] [6] At its peak, the business had 245 clients but her breast cancer battle in this decade caused her to lose the business. [1] [5]

Her interest in physical structure/fitness and psychology has led her to regularly give talks on health in Mexico City. [6] It has also led to studies in justice and criminality studies. Combing these with psychology and art, she has made herself an expert in physiognomy, focusing on the face in particular. [8] [10] This is not a well-developed field in Mexico, so she was worked training public officials and presented af various psychology conferences in Mexico. [27] She has been consulted to analyze faces of notable suspects, political candidates and other famous people. [28] [29] [30]

Publications

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamaulipas</span> State of Mexico

Tamaulipas, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tamaulipas, is a state in the northeast region of Mexico; one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 43 municipalities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ciudad Victoria</span> City in Tamaulipas, Mexico

Ciudad Victoria is the seat of the Municipality of Victoria, and the capital of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. It is located in the northeast of Mexico at the foot of the Sierra Madre Oriental. It borders the municipality of Güémez to the north, Llera to the south, Casas Municipality to the east, and the municipality of Jaumave to the west. The city is located 246 km (153 mi) from Monterrey and 319 km (198 mi) from the US - Mexico border. Ciudad Victoria is named after the first president of Mexico, Guadalupe Victoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sara García</span> Mexican actress (1895–1980)

Sara García Hidalgo was a Mexican actress who made her biggest mark during the "Golden Age of Mexican cinema". During the 1940s and 1950s, she often played the part of a no-nonsense but lovable grandmother in numerous Mexican films. In later years, she played parts in Mexican telenovelas.

Eliseo Valdés Erustes is a Cuban artist specializing in sculpture, painting, and drawing.

Fanny Rabel, born Fanny Rabinovich, was a Polish-born Mexican artist who is considered to be the first modern female muralist and one of the youngest associated with the Mexican muralism of the early to mid 20th century. She and her family arrived to Mexico in 1938 from Europe and she studied art at the Escuela Nacional de Pintura, Escultura y Grabado "La Esmeralda", where she met and became friends with Frida Kahlo. She became the only female member of “Los Fridos” a group of students under Kahlo’s tutelage. She also worked as an assistant and apprentice to Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros, painting a number of murals of her own during her career. The most significant of these is "Ronda en el tiempo" at the Museo Nacional de Antropología in Mexico City. She also created canvases and other works, with children often featured in her work, and was one of the first of her generation to work with ecological themes in a series of works begun in 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sebastián (sculptor)</span> Mexican sculptor

Sebastián is a Mexican sculptor best known for his monumental works of steel and/or concrete in both Mexico and abroad. These include a number of “gate” sculptures such as the Gran Puerta a México in Matamoros, Tamaulipas but his most famous sculpture is the “Caballito” located in downtown Mexico City. His works are found in various countries outside Mexico, such as Japan where two are now used as city symbols.

Francisco J. Serrano y Alvarez de la Rosa was a Mexican civil engineer and architect.

Azteca de Gyves is a Mexican artist from Juchitán de Zaragoza in the state of Oaxaca. She is of Zapotec heritage and one of only two prominent female artists in her city. She has been a member of the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana since 1998 and has exhibited her work individually and collectively in Mexico, Brazil, the United States, Japan and other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">María Luisa Reid</span> Mexican artist

María Luisa Reid is a Mexican artist from Zacatepec in the state of Morelos. She is a member of the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">José Julio Gaona</span> Mexican painter

José Julio Gaona is a Mexican painter noted for his depictions of women and girls in strong lines and bright colors, usually doing ordinary activities. Member of the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana and other professional organizations in Mexico, he has had over 135 exhibitions of his work in both Mexico and abroad.

Luis Y. Aragón is a Mexican painter and sculptor, best known for his sculpted mural work, as well as the design of the Gawi Tonara award which is given by the state of Chihuahua. His mural work can be found in various parts of Mexico, especially his home state of Chihuahua and Mexico City. His work has been exhibited in Mexico and abroad, generally in the Americas and Europe. He is a member of the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana and works in Mexico City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deyanira África Melo</span> Mexican sculptor

Deyanira África González Melo is a Mexican sculptor who generally works in ceramics, depicting elements of the human form, especially the torso, generally with mutilations and other disturbing elements to dispute the otherwise traditional and sensual depictions of the human body. She has exhibited her work since studying at the Escuela Nacional de Artes Plásticas (ENAP) in Mexico as well as in Europe and the Caribbean. Her work has received recognition in Mexico and abroad, and is a member of the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rina Lazo</span> Guatemalan-Mexican artist (1923-2019)

Rina Lazo Wasem was a Guatemalan-Mexican painter. She began her career in mural painting with Diego Rivera as his assistant. She worked with him from 1947 until his death in 1957 on projects both in Mexico and Guatemala. Thereafter, she remained an active painter, better known for her mural works than canvases, although the latter have been exhibited in Mexico and other countries. This has made her one of Guatemala's best-known artists. She was a member of the Mexican muralism movement and criticized modern artists as too commercial and not committed to social causes. She believed muralism would revive in Mexico because of its historical value.

Ernesto Tamariz Galicia was a 20th-century Mexican sculptor specialized in public monuments, religious statues and funerary art.

Nefero was a Mexican painter and founding member of the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana. He was part of the Mexican muralism movement, whose work was particularly influenced by Manuel Rodríguez Lozano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naomi Siegmann</span> American artist

Naomi Siegmann was an American artist who developed her career in Mexico, and was noted for her depiction of everyday objects outside their normal contexts. She began her career after she moved to Mexico with her family, learning to carve wood. She worked in this medium for about twenty years, before moving on to other materials, including recycled ones, in part due to her concerns for the environment. During her career, she had solo exhibits in Mexico and the United States, with participation in collective exhibits in these countries and Europe. She has been commissioned to create monumental works in Mexico and the United States. Her work has been recognized through membership in the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana.

Rosa María Alfonseca Arredondo is a Mexican graphic artist whose work has been recognized with membership in Mexico’s Salón de la Plástica Mexicana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chappie Angulo</span> American-Mexican painter and illustrator

Chappie Angulo is an American-Mexican painter and illustrator whose work has been recognized with membership in Mexico’s Salón de la Plástica Mexicana.

Teresa Serrano (1936) is a Mexican painter, sculptor, and filmmaker. She gained recognition through her work in filmmaking in the mid to late 1990s. Her main focus has been "to make forceful commentaries on power relationships, sexism, and violence against women".

Mariángel Villasmil Arteaga is a Venezuelan actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Venezuela 2020. She represented the state of Zulia at the pageant and represent Venezuela at the Miss Universe 2020 competition.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Contreras Esquivel, Consuelo (January 26, 2008). "Galería para un cáncer de mama". Milenio. p. 8.
  2. 1 2 Montes Z., Erika (July 28, 1996). "Marina Pombar y sus Esculturas Vivenciales". El Sol de México. p. 8D.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Beauty in Contest Swim Can't Go Near the Water". The Detroit News. May 1, 1966. p. 21E.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Larivee, Sr., Bob (2015). Hot Rod Detroit: A Complete History of Hotrodding in the Motor City. Oxford, Michigan: GP Publishing. pp. 15–20. ISBN   978-0-692-30899-8.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Sanchez Forgach, Ernesto R; Erazo Franco, Mauricio Alejandro; Sanchez Basurto, Carlos (2015). Cáncer de mama: Actualidades y controversias. Mexico City: Editorial Alfil SA de CV. pp. 689–692. ISBN   978-607-741-134-5.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Sgambati, Alberto (April 9, 1996). "From Beauty Queen to Artist". The News. Mexico City. p. 15.
  7. "Rain delays opening of beach swimming pool". Daily Monitor-Leader. Detroit. July 13, 1964. p. 7.
  8. 1 2 "Marina Pombar: Autora de 'Psicología del Rostro'". El Nuevo Mexicano. Mexico City. March 1, 2012. p. 12.
  9. 1 2 Flores, Alejandro (2014). The Beatles:Giras Internacionales. Santiago de Chile: Origo. pp. 96–97. ISBN   978-956-316-158-8.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "Marina Pombar". Foto Zoom: Revista de Fotografía y Artes Visuales. 34 (407): 30–31. August 2009.
  11. 1 2 "Marina Pombar". México: Una luz al munco. El Olivo, State of Mexico: Una Luz al Mundo SA de CV: 5–6. 1999.
  12. 1 2 3 Enciclopedia Iberoamericana de Artistas Plásticas Contemporáneos. QCC Gallery Queensborough Community College (CUNY). 2004. p. 116.
  13. "Marina Pombar: alquimista de la forma". Letras Grandes: Publicación especializada para el adulto mayor. 19. 2005.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 Appendini, Guadalupe (March 29, 2003). ""Yo no escribo poemas, los modelo" , Confiesa la Escultura Marina Pombar". Excelsior. p. 3B.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Marina Pombar". Muebles y Decoración. Mexico City: R.G y Asociados SA de CV. 8 (44): 64–65. 1995.
  16. 1 2 Lopez, A. I. (April 16, 1991). "En la Ciudad de México expuso la escultura Marina Pombar". El Mercurio. Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas. p. 5.
  17. 1 2 3 "Marina Pombar fue invitadaa la bienal de Italia". Novedades. Mexico City. 2000. p. 4B.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 Santamaria Ochoa, Carlos (September 24, 1989). "La Escultura: Cosas que no se Den con Palabras:Son Sentimientos Marina Pombar". La Verdad. Mexico City.
  19. "El Miércoles, la Exposición de Artes Multiples "Forma, Color y Movimiento" en el Caladium". El Mercurio. Ciudad Victora, Tamaulipas. May 5, 1986. p. 23.
  20. "Sentimentos en el Llave". El Sol de Orizaba. Orizaba, Veracruz.
  21. "Marina Pombar expone su obra más reciente". El Heraldo. Mexico City. August 20, 1995. p. 7.
  22. "Funden su tempermento en bronce". Reforma. Mexico City. April 11, 1997. p. 1H.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Martinez, Cristina (2006). "Marina Pombar". The Billionaire. 11 (61): 46–48.
  24. 1 2 3 "Marina Pombar plasma su lucha contra el cáncer de mama en su obra". La Salud. Mexico City. October 19, 2006.
  25. "Marina Pombar inauguró muestra". Novedades. February 25, 2001. p. C3.
  26. 1 2 "Marina Pombar expone trabajo escultórico". El Sol de México. Mexico City. March 15, 2007. p. 22.
  27. "Se capacitan agentes ministeriales en psicología facial". El Mexicano. Tijuana. September 27, 2012.
  28. "La 'pareja imperial' no conviene como enemiga José Guadarrama and Silvia Otero". El Universal. November 7, 2014. p. A12.
  29. "Marina Pombar y Luis Miguel". El Universal. May 7, 2008.
  30. Torres, Antonio (May 6, 2012). "Leyendo el rostro de los candidatos". 24 Horas.