Small Town News

Frankie Olmos: Lost in her painting

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Frankie Olmos grew up in Sonora, Arizona in the 1940s.

Sonora was one of three segregated towns established by the mine in the early 1900s. Ray was for the Anglos. Barcelona was for the Spaniards and Sonora was for the Mexicans and Mexican Americans. The Mexican miners named the town for the state of Sonora, Mexico where many were from. Sonora no longer exists except in memories and photos of those who lived there. The town of Sonora was demolished in 1965 and is buried below the Ray Mine.

Some of these memories and photos are recreated in Frankie Olmos' ' paintings. Frankie is a member of Club Sonorense which is made up of former Sonora residents. She was the historian and Chairman/Treasurer of a project to "have a historical marker installed showing that Sonora once existed. Her work along with other Sonorenses culminated in the establishment of a historical marker at the Asarco - Ray Mine viewpoint on Arizona Highway 177 in 1999. Frankie appeared in a PBS Arizona Stories television special about Sonora along with some of the photos and history she helped collect. She said it is sad to see the Club disbanding as many former residents have passed away and their children and grandchildren have not become interested in maintaining the history of Sonora.

Frankie lives in Kearny where she worked in the local post office for 23 years. She retired in 1993 and took up painting as a hobby.

She started taking lessons at the Hayden Senior Center through Central Arizona College and now takes classes at the Kearny Methodist Church through Eastern Arizona College. The class instructor is Patricia Lewis, of whom Frankie speaks highly. She says she likes the camaraderie and learns from the students as well as the instructor.

Frankie paints with oils and likes still lifes. She is into portraits right now and is currently painting her grandson.

Some of her paintings have won ribbons for "Best in Show" at the Kearny Pioneer Days. Her paintings have been exhibited in the lobby of the Bank of the West in Kearny. She has sold a few paintings to friends but says many are given to her extended family, cousins, her kids and grandchildren.

Frankie painted a portrait of her cousin Elvira (Granillo) Manriquez. The painting was a recreation of a photograph taken on September 16, 1947 in Sonora when Elvira was crowned Queen of the "Celebracion del dia de la Independencia" (Mexican Independence Day). It is proudly displayed in Elvira's Mexican Restaurant in Apache Junction.

Besides taking up painting as a hobby after retiring, Frankie has been traveling around the world with her husband, "Chuy" Jesus. She has traveled throughout Mexico, South America, and took an AMTRAK train across the United States. She has been to the Carribean and toured Europe. While traveling she would visit cathedrals and art museums. In Europe she said she had to be dragged out of the cathedrals because srje was so amazed by all the art work that was in them. In Mexico City she got to see some of famous Mexican artist Diego Rivera's murals. She added that she does not like his wife's, Frida Kahlo's, paintings. Frankie says that she can paint for hours on end once she gets started. She gets "lost" in her paintings. Many times her husband has had to remind her to stop and eat or go to bed. She paints for herself. "I love to draw and paint" she says. "As long as I can see, I will paint.



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