Eduardo Arandia Salgado: Home

 

Eduardo Arandia Salgado was a graduate student and staff member in the Department of Botany at the University of Michigan (1940-1946).  As a Rackham Fellow in Painting, Salgado curated solo gallery shows in the Rackham Building, displaying paintings which depicted American life, tours of New York and California, and a series of Philippines and Mexican scenes.  An awardee "for distinguished work in the field of art by the Fine art section....", Salgado participated in the University of Michigan's 15th annual exhibition of sculpture, and showcased his sculpture, "Liberation of the Philippines", which symbolized the friendship between the Philippines and U.S (1944).

 

Born in Manila, Philippines, Salgado obtained his teachers certification in painting and completed master courses at the University of the Philippines (1931-1932). Under the leadership of the University’s director and artist Fabian de la Rosa and Salgado’s professor Fernando Amorsolo, Salgado became a classical artist, using similar techniques as his mentors - painting rural landscapes and portraits. In 1935, he painted a portrait of the former President of the Philippines Manuel L. Quezon, “wearing a barong tagalog (traditional shirt) and holding a salakot (native hat), while the figure of the Inang Bayan (motherland) floats behind him with the Philippine Flag.”

His portraitist skills remained at the University of Michigan, painting a life size image of the University’s Emeritus Professor J. Raleigh Nelson. Professor Nelson received the canvas and hung it in the school’s International Center lounge. Moreover, the President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt accepted Salgado’s “Corregidor” oil painting, “which portrays the stormed island of the Philippine Islands, with figureheads of liberty rising above the smoke and fire of battle. In the foreground, Philippine citizens are shown watching the battle, ready to do their part in the final victory drive of the Allies.” After Salgado sent the painting to the White House, President Roosevelt preserved the gift and to thank him, his private secretary Grace C. Tully, wrote a letter to Salgado:

"My dear Mr. Salgado: The President was touched by the thought which prompted you to send him that painting of "Corregidor." This memento will ever be a reminder of the courage of all those brave soldiers who fought there. He asks me to thank you for the gift" (FDR Presidential Library and Museum, Sept 14, 1942).

Today, the painting is housed at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum which holds a vast collection of about 34,000  materials and artifacts.

 

During his studies at the University of Philippines, Salgado was also a scientific illustrator in the botany department, “where he spent much his time illustrating the history of botany making still life studies of Philippine fruits and flowers....” His knowledge and artistic versatility were deemed valuable at the New York Botanical Garden after Salgado took on multiple projects as a botanical artist (1946). At the Garden, his calligraphy design graced the front cover of the Garden Journal (1951) and illustrated the works of NYBG botanists: Norman Taylor and Henry A. Gleason. As a commercial artist, he also worked with Joseph Donald Novak (Cornell University Professor), James Underwood Crockett (gardener and author), Cyrus Longworth Lundell (botanist), John Johnson Craighead (environmentalist), Ruth Chen - Ying Chou and Chester A. Arnold (botanists).

Specializing in pen, ink and watercolor work, Salgado’s black, white and colored drawings displayed wildflowers, trees and gardening plants across the United States. At Mertz Library, Salgado's black and white original ink drawings are in the New Britton and Brown Botanical Art Collection, 1946-1949.

Having migrated from the Philippines in 1940, Salgado's objective to coming to the United States was "to let the American people learn the truth about the Filipino people and to correct the impression given by misinformed writers." When he arrived to New York he wanted to study and have an art exhibition (NYBG Archives, 1950). Salgado reached his goals, presenting his work at the Bronx Artists’ Guild Exhibition (1948 & 1950), Philippine Cultural Exhibition (1953) and Hunt Institute Exhibition of Botanical Art & Illustration Artists: 3rd International Exhibition (1972-1973). Inspiring and grabbing the attention of Americans, he expressed his truth through visual education, highlighting people, plants and the Filipino culture.

Dispelling the negative narratives of his homeland, Salgado's proven to be just as they described: “one of America’s leading botanical artist” and an “outstanding Filipino” artist.