PBS The Last Conquistador: controversy among people

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EuskoSare
Global Basque Community

2008/07/18

The Last Conquistador filmmakers, Cristina Ibarra and John Valadez say, "The film is less about the statue, and more about people seeing the statue, and peoples' inability to see the perspectives of others in their community." The film will be showing this week on PBS. Find out what reactions have occurred in the El Paso community since the statue's making.

The tallest horse sculpture work of art in the world was recently finished by John Houser. The El Paso City Council had commissioned him to create a large-scale statue of the Spanish conquistador, Juan de Onate. Onate may be to some degree of Basque descent. Houser has dedicated his career to making larger than life public sculptures. However, before even finishing this statue, he began to realize the public's reaction was turning into a community controversy.

In this film to be aired on PBS, The Last Conquistador, by filmmakers, John Valadez and Christina Ibarra, the mood and misunderstandings of the local people take main stage. According to Valadez and Ibarra, the film is not so much abut the sculpture, but about the inabilities of people with different perspectives to listen and understand each other.

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Comments:

1. Hello, As the sculptor of the Onate monument it may be interesting to know that the monument is only one part of a much larger project called the XII Travelers Memorial of the Southwest, a sculpture walk across four centuries at El Paso del Norte (El Paso TX -- Cd. Juarez MX). Each of twelve monuments stands as a chapter heading for a different historic period. The Onate monument represents the Spanish settlement of the Southwest from 1598 to 1680. It is important to see this sculpture within this larger context.

Don Juan de Onate (born in Mexico) was the son of Cristobal Onate who was born in the Basque village of Pueblo Onati. In researching this project I visited Pueblo Onati, met the Alcalde and town historian. When I returned to the US I modeled a relief of the town crest of Onati which adorns the monument on the rider's breast plate.

One should realize that the film maximizes the controversy without adequately explaining the artist's intentions or the impact of Onate's cntribution to the development of the Southwest.

I have a great appreciation for the Basque history, culture and beautiful landscape. One of my favorite authors is Pio Baroja.

You may access my website; johnsherrillhouser.com
Published by 1 John Sherrill Houser, sculptor of the Onate monument - 2008/07/18 06:39:51 pm

2. Genocide!

Should we erect a statue to Hitler?

Its a statue honouring a Genocide!

I am totally against it.
Published by 1 James - 2008/09/19 04:42:29 am

3. I appreciate the artists talent and commitment but, I feel the peoples pain simply in watching this documentary.

How must the decendants feel, who know their ancestors died with this brutal bloody action?
Published by 1 James - 2008/09/19 04:46:45 am

4. If I were them, I would destroy it.
Published by 1 James - 2008/09/19 04:48:00 am

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Chat with basques all over the world! - val - 2008-09-25 00:17:52
PBS The Last Conquistador: controversy among people - James - 2008-09-19 04:48:00
PBS The Last Conquistador: controversy among people - James - 2008-09-19 04:46:45
PBS The Last Conquistador: controversy among people - James - 2008-09-19 04:42:29
Chat with basques all over the world! - sherine - 2008-08-21 16:42:19