Death of the legendary Mexican folklorist Rita Wallace de Flores Marks end of the era

Note: This obituary was reprinted by Mt. Olivet Cemetery/ Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary

The death of the iconic Mexican folklorist Rita Wallace de Flores on April 27th in Denver marks the end of an era for the Chicano/Mexicano Arts Community in Denver. Rita was viewed by many as Denvers First Lady of Mexican folk art, history and dance.

Your monumental contributions to Colorados Mexican folklore, art and dance culture have been celebrated nationwide for over 40 years. Ritas exhibitions were presented at places such as the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the El Pueblo History Museum, the MSU Denver Center for Visual Arts and more.

Rita was born on April 15, 1937 in Galeana, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, as the son of Eulogio Flores Aguirre and Rita Melendez de Flores. Her father was a hydrological engineer who was employed by the government to travel to the rural areas of Mexico and establish drinking water and develop new agricultural areas. He often took Rita and her brothers with him. During this time, Rita was able to mix with the locals and learn their way of life.

The family moved to Saltillo, Mexico at the age of eight, and where they lived until they were married. She grew up in a house surrounded by talented family members who taught her the many folk arts of Mexico. She studied for many hours in the church considers and learned a large part of her religious embroidery techniques.

When she was eleven years old, her father's brother came to visit and took four of his five children in the house as he went on a business trip. During this trip, his car went off the street and his baby and his wife we ​​killed. Since her uncle was disabled, the surviving children became part of the Rita family – a total of 14 children. Shortly afterwards, the sisters Tia Lilia and Tia Josafina also came in the house with their seven children. A daughter of Tia Dora and two brothers later followed. Rita was the oldest girl and had many tasks within the large household.

When Rita was old enough to help, she got a job in the local department store, the PH ('Pay ah Chay'). She worked there for 13 years, then traveled to several states in which “Sunbeam -Eastterizer” (blender) and singer sewing machines were sold. She also worked as an administrator on a ranch in Chihuahua.

She spent her formative years of traditional folk art with local indigenous communities all over Mexico. Rita danced with the prestigious Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes in Mexico city, where she performed with her Coahuila dance group. She was known in Mexico as a master artist for her paper mche, Papel Picado, folk dance and especially for her Bordado Magico (magical embroidery).

Rita likes to dance from her early days when she was in primary school! She was lucky enough to have La Famosa Senora Carmen Weber as a teacher. As an adult, she also joined the Mexican ballet by Coahuilian de Folklorico, one of the 32 states in Mexico. The most important folklor group was centralized in Mexico city under the coordination of Amalia Hernandez, the founder of Ballet Folklórico de México. La Senora Hernandez organized a competition to see which state would be sent to Mexico city to study with her. The group of Rita was the choice and studied with Senora Hernandez. They danced in Northern Mexico for twelve years as a group of 39 years.

In 1980 she married John Herbert Wallace Jr., a teacher from Denver, Colorado, and took up her artistic efforts in her newly adopted home. Over the years, Rita was honored with numerous awards for her work with the community, including:

• The Heritage Award of the Governor of 1999
• Univision “Pillars of the Community”
• Excellent teacher award from the Mizel Museum of Judaica
• Lena Archulea Community Service Award
• Chac Life Work Achievement Award
• SCFD Rex Morgan Award
• Xupantla “Cihuatoanii” Leadership Award
• Centro Juan Diego Madrina Award
• Metro State Colorado Folk Arts Counsel Corn Mother Award
• Latina's honor of the Latina Companera Award

She was a dance director of Teatro Latina de Colorado and consultant / choreographer by Jeanette Trujillo from Fiesta, Colorado. Her memories and stories were also published as part of the return of the Corn Mother Project and the Tummy Tales Book Series, all of which are part of the Western History Collection of the Denver Public Library.

In 2020, the Wallace family donated their massive collection of tapestries and textiles Colorado with the help of the Denver Chicana/O study department of the Metropolitan State University through our Heritage program and the Chicano Humanities Arts Council. “This woman has created a legacy for thousands and thousands in our Latinx community. Her effect as an artist and educator cannot be stressed enough.” explained the executive director of the Chicano Humanities Arts Council Brenda Gurule.

In 2022 she retired to work with the local celebrity artist Cal Duran to create a new installation for Dia de Los Muertos at History Colorado and the return of the Maismütter 2022 exhibition. “I was always enthusiastic about Rita's work of art,” said Cal Duran.

“I was only 17 years old when I saw her altars in the Chicano Humanities Art Council Gallery for the first time in 2005. I knew that she was one of the artists who helped this vacation here. For me, she was a visionary and paved the way for other artists in Colorado. She knows me in Colorado.

“She was and is still one of the most important cultural inspiration in our community. It was my honor and privilege to be her friend for over 35 years. Her life was a bright example of friendliness, love and respect. She accepted the variety of all people and understood the great picture. For them there was beauty.” said Jeanette Trujillo from Fiesta, Colorado.

Rita is survived by her committed spouse of 45 years John H. Wallace Jr. and her children – Chris, Lisa, Steven and Kenny. It is also survived by many nieces, nephews and their extended family in Mexico.

A trade fair for Wallace de Flores will take place on Friday, May 16, at 2 p.m. on Mount Olivet Cemetery, 12801 W. 44th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, Colorado 80033. A solemn reception will follow from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Lumc Genesis Gallery, 1390 Brentwood in Lakewood.

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