Magda Santonastasio

SANTONASTASIO, MAGDA Magda Santonastasio, internationally known artist, died on November 9, 2008, after a short illness. At the time of her demise, she was a resident of Mt. Helix. Ms. Santonastasio was born in Costa Rica where she spent her formative years obtaining her education (including B.A. and M.F.A. degrees in Fine Arts) from the University of Costa Rica. Ms. Santonastasio then taught art to students (K-12) at the Humboldt School and (as a professor) at the University of Costa Rica where she held the watercolor chair. As an artist, she expressed her ideas primarily through etching and watercolor techniques and poetry. Ms. Santonastasio moved to Southern California in 1983, expanding her art world there, as well as globally. In 1984, she began a four-year tenure as Visiting Artist in the Print Department at San Diego State University. Also commencing in 1984 and continuing for several years, she worked at Brighton Press in San Diego where she wrote, printed and published her first four art books ("Via de la Rosa," "Series of Portraits," "Letters to an Owl" and "Meinschatz"). Briefly, each book consists of a number of poems written by her and published in two, three or four languages utilizing hand set print on museum quality paper. There also is enclosed in each art book a series of etching prints produced by Ms. Santonastasio. Subsequently, she produced a number of other art books. Her two most recent art books were "Ko-Koi Noanama" and "Black Edges." These books are now in the permanent collections at The Fine Art Museums of San Francisco at the Place of Legion of Honor (Achenbach Foundation); Konrad Adenauer Foundation (Bonn, Germany); the Joan Flasch Artists' Book Collection (Flaxman Library) at the Art Institute of Chicago; Library of Berlin, Germany; University of California at Berkeley; Beinecke Library at Yale University; Galerie Per Alten Meister, Dresden, Germany; Polk County Museum (Lakeland, Florida); The Athenaeum, La Jolla, California; Herzog August Bibliothek, Germany; The Friend's of Malcolm Love Library Special Collections (San Diego State University); the Public Library of New York (Section of Rare Books); and Stanford University. While permanently residing in California, Ms. Santonastasio had exhibitions there as well as worldwide. They include: Solo exhibit at San Diego State University, 1984, entitled New Revelations in Color Printing. Solo exhibit (etching line and viscosity prints) at National Museum of Art, San José, Costa Rica, 1985. Solo exhibit (etching line and viscosity prints) Lemgo, East Germany, 1986. Solo exhibit (etching line, viscosity and aquatint prints) Enrique Echandi Gallery, San José, Costa Rica, 1988, sponsored by the German Embassy. Series of etchings and poems by Magda Santonastasio entitled Meinschatz exhibited as a part of the major exhibit entitled Tradition to Innovation: 1500-1989 at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, 1989. International Biennial Print and Drawing Exhibition, Taiwan Museum of Art, Taiwan, R.O.C., juried Selection (1989, 1991, 1995 and 2004). Solo exhibit of art sponsored by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Bonn, Germany, and exhibited in Bonn 1991; Cologne 1992; Berlin 1993; Achen 1993; and Munich 1994; University of Michoacán, Morelia, Mexico, 1996; Porter-Troupe Gallery, San Diego, California, 1996; Retrospective Exhibition at Enrique Echande Gallery, San José, Costa Rica, 1998; Manuel Jimenez de la Guardia Auditorium, San José, Costa Rica, 1998; Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco (Achenbach Foundation): The Figure in the 20th Century Artists Books from the Reva and David Logan Collection - 2000-2001) (Artist's Book - "Black Edges", 2000). Stanford University Exhibition (Early to Modern: New Acquisitions in Special Collections and the University Archives-2003) (Case No. 20: Magda Santonastasio (Via de la Rosa -1985). Ms. Santonastasio also was the recipient of a number of awards. Principal awards include: Gold Medal for watercolor, San José, Costa Rica, 1978; Aquileo J. Echeverria Award for printmaking, San José, Costa Rica, 1985; San Diego Print Club-Juror's Award, San Diego, California, 1985. In 1991, Ms. Santonastasio won the Konrad Adenauer Medal for Art (Bonn, Germany). As a result, in February, 1992, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (Foundation) named her as one of the seven most important women in Germany for that year. Ms. Santonastasio's presence is also found in several publications regarding California artists. 1. Silvia Moore (Editor), Yesterday and Tomorrow: California Women Artists, published in Mid March Press (New York)(1989). 2. Les Krantz, The California Art Review, An Illustrated Survey of the State's Museums, Galleries and Leading Artists, published by The American Reference Publishing Company (Chicago)(1989). Ms. Santonastasio was a founding Member of the Women's International Border Club in San Diego County and a Member of the Honorary Board of International Trustees of Project Concern International, San Diego, California. There will be a Memorial Service celebrating Ms. Santonastasio's Life at 11:00 a.m., on December 29, 2008, at Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 7669 Girard Avenue, La Jolla, California. Magda, you will be remembered by many who loved you and by those with whom you shared your art.