Maricela Garcia

Maricela Garcia, 70, lived her life till the end just the way she wanted with zeal and a maverick sparkle in her soul, passing away in her home surrounded by family in the early morning hours of June 8, 2014, after a long illness. She was a mother, a sister, a daughter, an entrepreneur, an apparel designer, an art director, a master printer, an importer, a gallery buyer, and a founding executive committee board member of Southtown. Born in Mexico of French descent and venturesome ancestors, she carried the flame that lit the path she could imagine most. Her artistic prowess was recognized at a young age as a commercial artist in Texas. Discovered as a 16 year-old art school prodigy, she began her career as a Joske's department store illustrator, penciling models for the Sunday papers. She eventually started her own advertising agency at 25, and shortly thereafter, was awarded the design contract for San Antonio Fiesta gowns in 1968, designing all 25 gowns that year. Building on her successes in San Antonio, Maricela moved to Dallas to pursue a position at Atkins & Associates Advertising Inc., as art director for several years before moving to Los Angeles, where she worked in the motion picture industry for a time before returning to San Antonio. Discovering a knack for silk-screening she founded Art Basics in Southtown in the early eighties. Producing well over a million T-shirts, she went on to become a prominent fixture in the printing business in San Antonio. In time, Maricela found her true passion in the artists of Oaxaca, eventually opening two stores---one in the San Antonio International Airport, and the other on the San Antonio Riverwalk---collectively known as Arte Sano. Here she began a long relationship with the artisans of Oaxaca, sponsoring some of the first exhibits to San Antonio of folk artists from this region of Mexico. Her adventures lead her to rub shoulders with folk artists, Zapatista rebels and Huichol Indians. It didn't matter if you had a gun in your hand, if you spoke an indigenous language, or if you even tried to rob her. she would find a way to communicate with her indomitable spirit. For Maricela, there was always a way back home and a story to tell. She is survived by her sons, Romney Schrimscher and Danny Bennett, daughter Marissa Rundqvist, and her beloved dog, Lola. It is in this spirit that we celebrate this Saturday June 14, 2014 at The Little Church of La Villita @ 11:00 am, the spirit of Maricela Garcia, and the full circle of life that was hers to tell. After the service we're having a little celebration to be announced, because that's just what she wanted.