Enedina Cásarez Vásquez
(b. December 20, 1945)
Biographical note
A native of San Antonio, Texas, Enedina Cásarez Vásquez is a
poet, playwright, and visual artist. She was a teacher at St. Peter
Prince of the Apostles Catholic School for ten years, and she is
recently retired. Vásquez also served as Poet-In-Residence for
the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) from
1990-96. She is the author of Recuerdos de Una Niña (1979,
Oblate Fathers Publishers), a collection of her memories of
growing up in San Antonio along with accompanying artwork.
Her poetry is included in the performance piece Woman’s Work,
which has received critical acclaim in San Antonio and New
York. She is also the author of La Virgen de San Juan do los
Lagos, a play recounting the events surrounding the apparition
of the Virgin Mary. This play was performed at the Virgen de
San Juan de los Lagos Church in San Antonio. Her play titled
The History of the Catholic Church in Texas was performed at
San Antonio’s Municipal Auditorium during the Catholic Church’
s celebration of its sesquicentennial year in the State of Texas.
Her short story “The House of Quilts” has been published by
Third Woman Press, Riverhead Book (Putnam Publishers), and
Arte Publico Press. Recently her poem, “Bad Hair Day,” was
included in Flor y Canto Sí (Penguin, USA). Vásquez’s art is
also discussed in Speaking the Other Self, a work of scholarly
criticism (University of Georgia Press). Her poetry has also been
published in other publications including: Caracol, Mujeres
Grande Anthology, Artist’s Alliance, and Tonatzín.
From 1986 to 1991 Vásquez served on the Fine Arts
Commission for the City of San Antonio.
Her Dia de Los Muertos Altar exhibit is included in Chicano
Now: American Expressions. This traveling exhibit is sponsored
by Cheech Marín, the Smithsonian Institution, and Target
Stores. The exhibit started in 2001 and will be traveling to
various cities for 5 years.
In 2003 she was selected to paint 2 basketballs for the San
Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan Art Ball Program. Proceeds from
the sale of the basketballs went to the Breighton School in San
Antonio.
Ene-Art (1987-2004)
Starting in 1987 Enedina Cásarez Vásquez and her husband,
Arturo Vásquez, produced a very popular array of folk-art
pieces under the name of Ene-Art. Their products, inspired by
the synthesis of the Catholic faith and Native American/Chicano
culture, included wooden nichos (niches), jewelry, and
furniture. Their work was displayed and sold in over 30 art
galleries and museum gift shops throughout the United States.
For several years Enedina and her husband were in charge of the
design and construction of the Dia de los Muertos (Mexican Day
of the Dead) exhibit during the month of November at the Witte
Museum.
Locally, Ene-Art pieces can be seen at The San Antonio
Museum of Art Gift Shop, Plaza Flowery in Market Square, The
Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, The Witte Museum, and Viva
Bookstore.
Vásquez also donates work to such organizations and causes
as Our Lady of the Lake University’s Center for Women,
Missionary Catechists of the Divine Providence, St. Peter Prince
of the Apostles School, The San Antonio Museum of Art, The
Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, MexicArte, The Mexican-
American Business and Professional Women’s Association, The
Girl Scouts, Sunshine Cottage School for the Deaf, and
Visitation House (University of the Incarnate Word).
Major Awards, Honors, etc.:
• 2010, May - Graduated in Education for Ministry from the
University of the South, Sewanne, Tenn.
• 2010, May - Awarded Scholarship to the Episcopal Seminary
of the Southwest (Austin, TX) for a Masters in Spiritual
Formation.
• 2010, Feb.- Served as guest lecturer at Vanderbilt University
• 2009 - Designed the Angela De Hoyos Award, Guadalupe
Cultural Arts Center.
• 2008 Recognized by the San Antonio Public Library Board of
Trustees for service to the board.
• 2007 appointed to the City/County Commission for Elderly
Affairs representing San Antonio District 5.
• 2003 Distinguished Alumna. Louis W. Fox Academic and
Technical High School. San Antonio, TX.
• 2002 Distinguished Service Award. Sunshine Cottage School
for Deaf Children. San Antonio, TX.
• 2001 Alumna of the Year for Service to the Community. Our
Lady of the Lake University. San Antonio, TX.
• 1996 First Estrella Award. Hispanic Women’s Network of
Texas.
• 1991 Citation from the City of San Antonio for service on the
Arts and Cultural Advisory Committee.
• 1988 San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Inductee for Literary
Arts. San Antonio, TX.
• 1980 The Hidalgo Award and The Empressario Award from
the City of San Antonio and Bexar County, TX.
(b. December 20, 1945)
Biographical note
A native of San Antonio, Texas, Enedina Cásarez Vásquez is a
poet, playwright, and visual artist. She was a teacher at St. Peter
Prince of the Apostles Catholic School for ten years, and she is
recently retired. Vásquez also served as Poet-In-Residence for
the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) from
1990-96. She is the author of Recuerdos de Una Niña (1979,
Oblate Fathers Publishers), a collection of her memories of
growing up in San Antonio along with accompanying artwork.
Her poetry is included in the performance piece Woman’s Work,
which has received critical acclaim in San Antonio and New
York. She is also the author of La Virgen de San Juan do los
Lagos, a play recounting the events surrounding the apparition
of the Virgin Mary. This play was performed at the Virgen de
San Juan de los Lagos Church in San Antonio. Her play titled
The History of the Catholic Church in Texas was performed at
San Antonio’s Municipal Auditorium during the Catholic Church’
s celebration of its sesquicentennial year in the State of Texas.
Her short story “The House of Quilts” has been published by
Third Woman Press, Riverhead Book (Putnam Publishers), and
Arte Publico Press. Recently her poem, “Bad Hair Day,” was
included in Flor y Canto Sí (Penguin, USA). Vásquez’s art is
also discussed in Speaking the Other Self, a work of scholarly
criticism (University of Georgia Press). Her poetry has also been
published in other publications including: Caracol, Mujeres
Grande Anthology, Artist’s Alliance, and Tonatzín.
From 1986 to 1991 Vásquez served on the Fine Arts
Commission for the City of San Antonio.
Her Dia de Los Muertos Altar exhibit is included in Chicano
Now: American Expressions. This traveling exhibit is sponsored
by Cheech Marín, the Smithsonian Institution, and Target
Stores. The exhibit started in 2001 and will be traveling to
various cities for 5 years.
In 2003 she was selected to paint 2 basketballs for the San
Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan Art Ball Program. Proceeds from
the sale of the basketballs went to the Breighton School in San
Antonio.
Ene-Art (1987-2004)
Starting in 1987 Enedina Cásarez Vásquez and her husband,
Arturo Vásquez, produced a very popular array of folk-art
pieces under the name of Ene-Art. Their products, inspired by
the synthesis of the Catholic faith and Native American/Chicano
culture, included wooden nichos (niches), jewelry, and
furniture. Their work was displayed and sold in over 30 art
galleries and museum gift shops throughout the United States.
For several years Enedina and her husband were in charge of the
design and construction of the Dia de los Muertos (Mexican Day
of the Dead) exhibit during the month of November at the Witte
Museum.
Locally, Ene-Art pieces can be seen at The San Antonio
Museum of Art Gift Shop, Plaza Flowery in Market Square, The
Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, The Witte Museum, and Viva
Bookstore.
Vásquez also donates work to such organizations and causes
as Our Lady of the Lake University’s Center for Women,
Missionary Catechists of the Divine Providence, St. Peter Prince
of the Apostles School, The San Antonio Museum of Art, The
Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, MexicArte, The Mexican-
American Business and Professional Women’s Association, The
Girl Scouts, Sunshine Cottage School for the Deaf, and
Visitation House (University of the Incarnate Word).
Major Awards, Honors, etc.:
• 2010, May - Graduated in Education for Ministry from the
University of the South, Sewanne, Tenn.
• 2010, May - Awarded Scholarship to the Episcopal Seminary
of the Southwest (Austin, TX) for a Masters in Spiritual
Formation.
• 2010, Feb.- Served as guest lecturer at Vanderbilt University
• 2009 - Designed the Angela De Hoyos Award, Guadalupe
Cultural Arts Center.
• 2008 Recognized by the San Antonio Public Library Board of
Trustees for service to the board.
• 2007 appointed to the City/County Commission for Elderly
Affairs representing San Antonio District 5.
• 2003 Distinguished Alumna. Louis W. Fox Academic and
Technical High School. San Antonio, TX.
• 2002 Distinguished Service Award. Sunshine Cottage School
for Deaf Children. San Antonio, TX.
• 2001 Alumna of the Year for Service to the Community. Our
Lady of the Lake University. San Antonio, TX.
• 1996 First Estrella Award. Hispanic Women’s Network of
Texas.
• 1991 Citation from the City of San Antonio for service on the
Arts and Cultural Advisory Committee.
• 1988 San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Inductee for Literary
Arts. San Antonio, TX.
• 1980 The Hidalgo Award and The Empressario Award from
the City of San Antonio and Bexar County, TX.
