Chat with beloved Puerto Rican painter Luis German Cajigas

// June 25th, 2009 // 2009 NAHJ Conference, Video

By Rosaleen Ortiz

Walk into any government building in Puerto Rico, and you’re likely to see a painting by German Cajigas. The same is true for many family homes here and those of Puerto Ricans living abroad.

Cajigas is one of the most famous and beloved Puerto Rican contemporary painters, having, since the ’50s, been inspired by the island’s landscapes almost exclusively. His paintings have been exhibited in museums around the world.

“They have traveled more than me,” he says.

He invited me and Astrid Rivera to his Old San Juan gallery, which is also his studio and home, for a chat about his life and undying love for the “Island of Enchantment.”

5 Responses to “Chat with beloved Puerto Rican painter Luis German Cajigas”

  1. steve dougherty says:
    June 25, 2009 at 9:08 pm

    Beautiful piece, Rosaleen and Astrid. The art is instantaneosly evocative of a feeling I’ve had from the time we arrived here in Puerto Rico. You really captured something.

  2. ASTRID D. RIVERA says:
    June 29, 2009 at 9:36 pm

    Thanks for the opportunity… I really enjoy doing this interview with Rosaleen…It was such a great learning experience to get to talk to Cajigas. He is more than what we see in his paints. His love for Puerto Rico and the history behind his work is amazing. I am really proud of him and as he said: “America is the most beautiful place in the world and Puerto Rico is the most beautiful place in America.”

  3. Hilda Pacheco says:
    September 14, 2009 at 11:48 am

    Hace muchos años que tuve el placer de visitar la galería de Don Gajigas y comprar algunas serografías de las que el tenía allí. Me gustaría saber si tiene algun catálogo con su pinturas que sepudiera ordenar. Ahora hace mas de 15 años que vivo en Florida y todavía lo recuerdo con cariño. Dios lo bendiga.

  4. Barbara Pena says:
    November 3, 2009 at 7:06 am

    Astrid / Rosaleen

    My third grade son is working on a show and tell about Luis Cajigas. The information we have found in the internet is not much. Do you know where we can find more information about him? My son love your video.

    Regards,

    Barbara

  5. Astrid says:
    November 7, 2009 at 6:06 pm

    Hi Barbara… after going to see him in San Juan, I wrote a piece for http://www.exolimited.com here is the link http://www.exolimited.com/component/k2/item/145-cajigas.html

    It was wrote in Spanish I hope this work for you… thanks

    my email is adaynicerivera@yahoo.com

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