Gilberto Cárdenas, Revered For His Advocacy For Chicanos And Latino Art, Dies At 79

Gilberto Cárdenas, a highly respected sociologist and advocator for advancing Latino and Chicano personality done academia and art, has died.

Cárdenas died Sunday astatine his location successful Austin, Texas, aft a agelong illness, according to a connection released by his family. He was 79.

Born and raised successful San Gabriel, Cárdenas became profoundly entrenched successful nan Chicano activity of nan 1960s and 1970s, which created a societal and governmental personality embraced by Mexican Americans fighting for equality and civilian rights.

Cárdenas advocated for nan origin pinch his camera. He documented marches, meetings and different organization gatherings. He besides loved to admit Chicano artists successful nan activity and often swapped his photos for posters, prints and different artworks. He would prevention posters that were astir to beryllium thrown distant because of their imaginable taste significance.

“Looking astatine each his accomplishments, he was specified a gentle and humble man and really appreciated wherever he came from,” said Richard Flores, a friend and Mexican American studies professor astatine University of Texas astatine Austin. Cárdenas was ever “trying to make a publication not only to nan organization but nan artists he truthful loved.”

He went connected to gain a doctorate astatine nan University of Notre Dame and past was hired by nan University of Texas astatine Austin arsenic a sociology professor. He spent astir 25 years lecturing connected nan sociology of immigration. Cárdenas is credited pinch establishing Mexican American studies there.

In 1999, Cárdenas went backmost to Notre Dame arsenic a module member. In his domiciled arsenic adjunct provost, he created nan Institute for Latino Studies.

In nan meantime he and his wife, Dolores Carrillo García, had amassed a postulation of astir 20,000 pieces of Latino art. In 2023, they donated astir half to nan Blanton Museum of Art astatine nan University of Texas. Other items successful their postulation went to nan Smithsonian American Art Museum successful Washington, D.C., nan National Museum of Mexican Art successful Chicago and nan Snite Museum of Art astatine nan University of Notre Dame.

Cárdenas’ activity earned him an assignment successful 2001 by President George W. Bush to nan President’s Commission connected White House Fellows. In 2008, Bush named him to different committee to research a imaginable National Museum of nan American Latino.

Cárdenas was besides connected nan committee of nan Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund from 1993 to 2012.

In a statement, Thomas Saenz, president and wide counsel of MALDEF, based successful Los Angeles, called Cárdenas “a quiet icon of nan Chicano movement, ne'er adequately appreciated for each he did.”

Cárdenas retired from Notre Dame astir a decade ago, Flores said. He was still progressive successful nan creation world and occasionally gave talks connected his postulation arsenic good arsenic socioeconomic issues.

He is survived by his wife, 2 sons, 3 stepchildren and 9 grandchildren.

A ceremonial Mass is scheduled Saturday astatine St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church successful Austin.

Tang writes for nan Associated Press.