José Rodeiro Una atardecer en la playa de Riazor (“An Afternoon at the Beach at Riazor”), 8’ x 15’ oil on a wall, 1969
(mural in the home of Dr. and Mrs. José Antonio Rodeiro, Tampa, Florida). (The artist’s brother-in-law, Mr. Victor Martinez generously plans to remove the work from the wall in the future; hopefully, placing it in another location of his choice).

Rodeiro’s Una atardecer en la playa de Riazor is a grand-manner family portrait that captures an amnesis-atemporal moment, which imaginatively and simultaneously spans 150 year period (from 1820 to 1969), as if it were one moment in time.
[ Identification of individuals in the painting was done by the artist’s sisters, Irene Rodeiro Hunter and Joyce Rodeiro Martinez, with help from their cousin, Cheryl Sanchez Sivers’s extensive genealogical investigation of the descendents of Jaime and Rosa Mira.]

On the left, we see the artist’s mother, Olga Pérez Rodeiro, as a child, holding a black Labrador-retriever dog; embracing her, is the artist, José Manuel Rodeiro, as a young man. To the right of the artist, with the white undulating hair, is the artist’s maternal grandfather, Manuel Pérez, who was born in the Canary IsLands (La Palma), Spain. Playing with a balloon is the artist paternal aunt, Jennie Rodeiro Sabin. To the right of the artist’s grandfather is his paternal grandfather, Antonio Rodeiro Mira. Next to him is his Aunt Jennie (as a young woman). Next to her is her younger brother, Hannibal Rodeiro Martinez.

With a parrot on his arm, is his paternal uncle, Robert Rodeiro Martinez, who is listening to the conversation around the table. The artist’s mother Olga (as a young woman) gazes at her husband, the artist father, José Antonio Rodeiro Martinez. Staring out at us near the beach, is the artist’s aunt Ester Gomez Rodeiro, just before meeting her future husband, the artist’s Uncle Robert. Behind Esther wearing a top-hat is Francisco “Pancho” Ledon, the artist’s maternal great-grandfather. The beautiful eyes staring out over the wine goblet belongs to the artist maternal great, great grandmother, Rosa Delgado Mira. The lovely lady with the Spanish mantilla, with the pink rose, is the artist paternal grandmother, Juanita Martinez Rodeiro. In the center of the painting is the artist, José Manuel Rodeiro Pérez, as a child. To the left of the young artist, is his maternal grandmother, Rosa “Nena” Ledon Pérez, affectionately known as, “Cookie,” by all her grandchildren. Above her hat, in the ribboned tuna outfits, is the artist great great-grand father, Jaime Mira and the artist’s cousin Joe Sabin Rodeiro. To his right , and near a tree, fanning herself, is the artist’s paternal great grandmother, Sofia Mira Rodeiro. Underneath Sofia, is the artist’s sister, Irene Rodeiro Hunter. Wearing a blue and white hat is the artist paternal cousin, Steve Rodeiro. Wearing, also, an interesting colorful hat, is the artist maternal cousin, Galen Jones Pérez. Behind him is the artist’s aunt, Ester Garcia Rodeiro, dancing with the pirate Jean LaFitte (a distant maternal relative), moments before catching the eye of her future husband, Hannibal Rodeiro.

To the right of the pirate, is the artist’s maternal aunt, Norma Perez Jones. Below her, is the artist’s sister, Joyce Rodeiro Martinez, who has her arm, around the shoulder of her maternal great grandmother, Blanca Mira. Off dancing, we see the artist uncle, Joe Sabin (Tio Sabin), dancing with his beloved Jennie, the artist’s aunt. This dancing couple is repeated thrice, suggesting motion. Below them (also dancing) is the artist late cousin, Anibal Rodeiro Garcia dancing with his sister, Josephine (Josie) Rodeiro Buzzetti. The rest of the painting honors future generations, represented by the two children . . . . .
[ Identification of individuals in the painting was done by the artist’s sisters, Irene Rodeiro Hunter and Joyce Rodeiro Martinez, with help from their cousin, Cheryl Sanchez Sivers’s extensive genealogical investigation of the descendents of Jaime and Rosa Mira.]