Arnold Belkin

Art Brokerage: Arnold Belkin Canadian Artist: b. 1930-1992. Arnold Belkin has been referred to as "the Canadian son of Mexican muralism". Belkin was born in Calgary, Alberta in 1930 and raised in Vancouver. He began drawing and painting at an early age and completed his initial studies at the Vancouver School of Art. Arnold's father was a left-wing Russian Jew who had quite a prominent name in the Vancouver Jewish community, and his English mother was responsible for instilling a very strong sense of culture in her son. In 1947, after finishing high school, Belkin moved to Mexico to further his study of painting. He was attracted to the political public art of the Great Mexican Muralists - Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros. Upon arrival in Mexico City, Belkin entered la Esmeralda School of Painting and Engraving. As are all residents of Mexico City, Belkin was surrounded by murals that contained bold images of revolution by the poor, dark skinned, oppressed peoples of Mexico. Belkin was very much attracted to the politics of public art that was covering the walls of the city and he soon enrolled as a student and assistant to Siqueiros. Siqueiros taught Belkin invaluable lessons in quality and standards that he maintained throughout his career. In Mexico there was a problem of generations. The older, well-established artists dominated mural production. It was a struggle for young artists to get involved and be recognized in their own right. The first mural project that Belkin received was at a new federal penitentiary. He was not paid for this project, but the warden came up with the money for the materials and this provided a great opportunity for Belkin to get his "foot in the door" as a muralist. A mural that some consider one of Belkin's best compositions was completed at the Child Welfare Centre in Mexico City. Entitled "A nuestra generación corresponde decidir" (It Rests with Our Generation to Decide) the work was whitewashed soon after it was finished. The mural was destroyed because the wife of then Mexican president (also the honorary head of the Centre) thought it was too sad. Belkin's easel paintings also enjoyed much success during his time in New York. His paintings sold well at the galleries and increasingly addressed controversial political themes such as: the "My Lai Massacre in Vietnam", the killings at Kent State, the assassination of Che Guevara, and the military coup in Chile. Listings wanted.