ETTORE "TED" DEGRAZIA - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 05/04/1975 - HFSID 296197

ETTORE "TED" DeGRAZIA
The artist writes about his upcoming book De Grazia paints the Papago Indian Legends and about an exhibit of his Navajo Painting Collectionas part of a Bicentennial Commemoration at the Petrified National Forest.
Typed Letter signed: "Will See You/Soon/DeGrazia", 1 page, 8½x11. Tucson, Arizona, 1975 May 5. On letterhead of his Gallery in the Sun and addressed to Kitty Graves, San Diego, California. In full: "Dear Kitty: Enclosed are some of our latest brochures chowing some of the new items. My newest book will be released the fall: " De Grazia paints the Papago Indian Legends. " I'll be having an autographing party at Robinson's in San Diego, from September 4th from 11:00 - 1:00. Shorty will also be at Robinson's with some of his work. His new brochure is enclosed. From June through December, as part of the Bicentennial Commemoration, the Petrified National Forest will have a show of my Navajo Painting Collection. Most of these paintings appeared in the August 1967 issue of the Arizona Highways Magazine. We also have two new puzzles on the market - "Angels and Ocotillos" and "Hope". The two sheets will show you the designs. Sincerely" Ettore "Ted" DeGrazia (1909-1982), the son of an immigrant Italian miner in the Arizona Territory, played trumpet and led a small band before becoming so impressed with Mexican muralist Diego Rivera that he signed on as Rivera's apprentice. In the 1940s, DeGrazia began selling his own artwork in Tuscon, creating what grew to become the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun Historic District. His pastel paintings feature the American Southwest, and especially Native American children. His "Los Niños" was featured as a UNICEF Christmas card in 1960. In 1976, incensed by inheritance taxes which would appraise his art at current market prices (leaving his heirs with a large debt but no money to pay it), DeGrazia burned 100 of his paintings in protest. (Legend has it that he buried many art works, inspiring treasure hunts since his death.) Normal mailing fold. Soiled. Creased. Lightly worn and toned at edges. Otherwise, fine condition.