We visited the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C. last weekend. On the third floor of the museum we spotted an acrylic on canvas painting that looked like it was from Central America. Upon closer inspection we were taken back to find the artist - Harry Fonseca - was from Sacramento. The photo above (excuse me for the poor light, as it was captured without flash) is from a section of the painting titled "Creation Story, 2000". The wonderful painting (6’ 1” x 17’ 3”) was a gift to the Smithsonian from Peggy and George Wessler, avid collectors of Fonseca's works.

Fonseca, of Maidu, Hawaiian, and Portuguese heritage, studied art for a period of time at Sacramento City College. He presently has a studio in Santa Fe.

I think I've become a Fonseca fan.

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive