Jo Mora Trust Curator – Peter Hiller

We will continue to honor the memory of Jo Mora at Vaquero Heritage Days in August 2014.

Curator Peter Hiller endeavors to honor the memory and integrity of Monterey Bay Area artist Joseph Jacinto "Jo" Mora (1876 - 1947). Peter is dedicated to exhibiting and educating the public on Jo Mora's artistic accomplishments which include drawing, illustration, cartooning, sculpture, painting, photography, writing and mapmaking.

California vaquero devotees and fine art collectors agree Jo Mora's unique style captured a rare glimpse into early California life. Well known for his "vaquero" concepts, his art actually covered a much broader scope of subject matter. One strong example was his series of maps (or cartes), historically accurate, humorous, collectable prints.

Jo Mora was born in Uruguay in 1876; raised in the U.S. on the east coast; attended art schools in New York; worked as an illustrator and cartoonist in Boston; drifted into the Southwest working many years as a ranch hand, cowboy and friend to the Hopi and Navajo; then moved to the San Francisco Bay area. In 1920 he moved to the Carmel, CA area to work on what became "his masterpiece" - a bronze and travertine sculpture of Father Serra Cenotaph for the Memorial Chapel in El Camelo Mission, completed 1924.

Although Peter was not able to join us in 2012, a selection of Jo Mora's work was offered by Carpe Diem Fine Books at Vaquero Heritage Days 2012. Carpe Diem supports Peter's efforts in promoting and educating the public on the Jo Mora legacy. 

On behalf of the Jo Mora Trust, Peter Hiller has graciously authorized a selection of Jo Mora art to be used for Vaquero Heritage Days promotional pieces and limited edition collectable posters - proceeds benefit St. Francis Retreat on Historic Rancho San Justo.

Read more about Jo Mora at www.jomoratrust.com.
(Illustration credit Californios Jo Mora)