THEY’RE MAJOR MOMS : Artists Are ‘All a Family . . . Like a Home’

With silver rings on almost every finger and a scarf around her neck, Rosalie L. Portillo fits into her surroundings at Plaza de la Raza’s La Tiendita, which sells arts and crafts by local artisans. Portillo, 62, a widowed mother of two and grandmother of one, has “adopted” several artists and friends of her children and brought them into her family and home when they have no place to go. Running the store has enabled her to develop close relationships with artists and the students who attend the center’s School of Performing and Visual Arts. Some call her “grandma” because of the warmth and concern she has for those around her. She was interviewed by community correspondent Mary Anne Perez.

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I only had two children, a boy and a girl, and I thought they were it. Then I had a grandson. His name is Ryu, which means dragon in Japanese, so I always have him with me. (She points to a silver dragon ring on her left index finger.)

My daughter is Rose (Rosemarie) Portillo. She’s in the film “. . . and the earth did not swallow him” and she’s done stage work. Rose does writing, directing. She’s working on a one-woman show for this summer. She writes beautifully and paints, too. I’m extremely proud of her. She’s very articulate, passionate about the world..

My son, Joseph Charles, has his master’s in business from UCLA and works at Fiduciary Trust. Joseph is also very talented, but he doesn’t realize that he’s got a lot of artistic talent. He doesn’t explore it like Rosemarie does. Joseph hasn’t developed that part of his brain. He’s humorous and interested in books.

As a kid, I was interested in plays and painting, but I have not pursued it. I had Rosemarie when I was 21 and when she went to school and was interested in that, I got involved. She got me involved in Plaza, volunteering for the Frida Kahlo exhibit in 1987. (The interim director) Rose Cano asked if I could help with the phone and I did that for a few days, and pretty soon I was on the payroll as a receptionist. I started helping at the school as an office assistant and got more involved with the kids. When the opportunity for the store came up, I got involved in that.

La Tiendita is going on five years. We started from scratch. The artists were wonderful, they consigned everything. We are nonprofit and can’t go out and buy this stuff. I knew they wanted their stuff out, exposed to the public. The artists will come and take (their pieces) out if they’re having a show. I always tell them I hope it doesn’t come back. From the store’s inception, I went out and met with artists. They’re just so wonderful. It’s great getting out and having their stuff surround me. I get so attached to them. It’s all a family.

The (performing arts school) kids can never remember where their classes are supposed to be. At the beginning of the semester they’re really bad, but then things calm down. (Then) we begin another semester and it happens all over again. But they’re so talented.

My dad (Charles Robert Stoltz) will be 100 in September, and my father-in-law (Joseph G. Portillo) is 95. It was my daughter’s idea that we put them together and share expenses. Because I probably am at work more than I am at home, we moved them to this house nearby and they’re good buddies now. They played baseball with their brothers in El Paso. It’s neat how they are. I don’t think they remember that they’ve known each other for so long. They’re well-cared for and they’re happy.