 Máximo
"Max" Luna was an important figure in the resurgence of interest in the "Spanish
Colonial style" during the 1930s. Already an established furniture maker when
he began teaching for the State Department of Vocational Education (SDVE) in 1936,
Luna created hand-carved, mortise-and-tenon furniture for the Harwood Foundation
in Taos. Additionally, he hand-forged all the iron fittings for his pieces and
did ornamental tinwork. Luna was a member of a renowned family of artists--four
generations of Luna's in Taos had been filigree jewelers. The carved pieces shown
here highlight his artistic endeavors. Although he was working with traditional
style elements, his art is distinguished by its delicacy, which bears a relationship
to the work of other family members. In addition to his fine artistry with wood,
Luna painted in oils. Luna taught for 35 years and was named posthumously to the
New Mexico Education Association's Hall of Fame in 1966. He was married to fiber
artist Crisóstoma Luna. | |
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