Carmel Magazine

106-109 Jo Mora_Layout 10/26/13 10:54 AM Page 3 From momentos in the family archives, it is certain that the Moras clearly enjoyed celebrating the holidays. This mural, in recognition of Christmas, is an outstanding example of their joy. creations remain on display throughout Monterey County. Some work hangs in the courthouse in Salinas. Mora also made decorative elements for King City High School's auditorium as part of a 1930s Works Progress Administration project. In addition to the Mora Chapel Gallery at Carmel Mission and the statue at Camino Del Monte and Alta, the artist crafted clay-glazed figures now in the El Paseo Building courtyard in Carmel. "If you look at those pieces and then look at the cenotaph at the Mission, you see three very That versatility helped Mora earn a living personal interactions and cultural explorations different techniques. The feeling from the three inspired pen-and-ink drawings, watercolors, pieces is very different, yet they're all equally "Over the course of his career, his work was sculptures, and a continued interest in the engaging and interesting," Hiller says. fairly evenly divided between two-dimensional American West shaped many of his future art and three-dimensional work. He was gifted at and writing projects. solely through art. Mora also worked with Carmel Dairy, fashioning murals, menus, calendars and decorations both," says Hiller. "He was always hustling and Mora and his family came to Carmel in 1920, in exchange for milk, butter and cheese. He cre- looking for work, but by the same token, he and his Carmel Mission cenotaph honoring ated an exterior light sconce with two cows was fortunate to have enough work coming his Father Serra was dedicated in 1924. The artist that still hangs on the former dairy building at way that he was able to comfortably take care reportedly considered the life-sized bronze Ocean and Mission. Mora made Christmas of his family." monument, and a corresponding cross and altar, cards distributed by the business, too, and Mora eventually moved to Arizona and spent one of his most significant achievements. Locally, designed cards sent by his own family. Each fea- time living in Hopi and Navajo communities. His it's one of his most well known, but other Mora tures an intricate illustration that puts a playful Even an intricate image like this Christmas greeting card came easily and naturally to Jo Mora. His son, Jo Jr., always spoke with admiration about father's artistic abilities. 108 C ARMEL M AG A Z I N E • H O L I D AY 2013

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