Micaela Martinez DuCasse

Micaela "Kai" Martinez DuCasse (1913–1989) was an American artist, author, and educator, known for her murals and sculptures.

Biography

Micaela Martinez was born on August 26, 1913 to Elsie Whitaker Martinez and painter Xavier Martinez.[1] Although her father was born in Mexico, he never spoke Spanish at home and never taught her.[2] She started drawing at the age of 3, studying with her father.[1] At the age of 7 she expressed wanting to become a religious painter.[3] Neither of her parents were particularly religious but she was sent to attend classes at the Catholic convent.[3] At age 14 she enrolled in classes at California School of Arts and Crafts (now known as the California College of the Arts or CCA) in Oakland.[3] At CCA she studied sculpture with Ralph Stackpole and showed natural talent.[3]

From 1955 to 1978, she was a Lecturer and taught Liturgical Art classes at San Francisco College for Women at Lone Mountain.[1][3][4] She also served as a Lecturer at Holy Names University (previously College of the Holy Names) in Oakland.[4] She had been active in the Regional Oral History Office at the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

She died May 5, 1989.

Personal life

In 1944, she married artist Ralph DuCasse (1916–2003); however the marriage ended in divorce.[5][1] Together they had two daughters, with their daughter Jeanne McCreary becoming an artist.[3] She lived in her childhood home at 324 Scenic Avenue in Piedmont, California until her death, and this was also where she maintained her art studio.[1][6]

Bibliography
  • DuCasse, Micaela; Riess, Suzanne B. (1985). Renaissance of Religious Art and Architecture in the San Francisco Bay Area, 1946-1968. Berkeley, CA: Regional Oral History Office of the Bancroft Library.

References
  1. Hughes, Edan Milton (1986). Artists in California, 1786-1940.
  2. "Martinez House". Five Views. State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Historic Preservation. 1988. p. 226.
  3. "San Francisco Bay Area Writers and Artists, Elsie Whitaker Martinez". Calisphere. California Digital Library, The Regents of The University of California. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  4. "Program to Cover State Art". Newspapers.com. The Californian. 15 September 1971. p. 8. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
  5. "Licenses to Wed". Newspapers.com. The Californian. 3 February 1944. p. 10. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
  6. "San Francisco Bay Area Writers and Artists, Elsie Whitaker Martinez". Calisphere. The Regents of The University of California, California Digital Library. Retrieved 2020-10-30.


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