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Daniel Rafael Blanco
Daniel Rafael Blanco was born in Cleveland, Ohio to Victor Blanco, a noted astronomer from Puerto Rico and Cicely Woods, an economist from Illinois. He moved to Tucson as a teenager and would spend summers at the Cerro Tololo Observatory in Chile. In his early 20s, Dan and friends started a business, Sunshine Woodworks, where they made musical instruments and toys.
Dan passed away on Sept. 19, 2016. During his lifetime, he was an accomplished Opto Mechanical Engineer who was a telescope builder involved with a number of telescopes around the world including the world’s highest telescope, Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT). Daniel was the Chief Engineer at the MMT Observatory located on Mt. Hopkins, Arizona in the Santa Rita Mountains.
High Jinks Ranch near Oracle
In 2010, Daniel bought the historic Hi Jinks Ranch near Oracle. Hi Jinks is located along the Arizona Trail and many hikers enjoyed Daniels hospitality at the ranch. He was an Honorary Trail Steward for the Arizona Trail. Dan began renovating and restoring the buildings at Hi Jinks creating a Bed & Breakfast and the Chicken Coop Art Gallery where some of his art is on display. Dan was a valuable member of the Oracle Dark Skies Committee, with his University of Arizona astronomy connections and dedication to dark skies. The Oracle Dark Skies Committee was instrumental in getting Oracle State Park designated as an International Dark Skies Park. Dan donated a notebook of astronomy related activities for school kids to the Oracle State Park.
Dan was a world traveler throughout his life and an artist. On the Hi Jinks website, he wrote about his art: “In 1964 my family traveled throughout Holland, France and Spain in a rented VW van. We visited the caves at Altamira and I saw the 18,000-year old paintings – the paint was still glistening wet. Soon after the caves were sealed to preserve these ancient masterpieces.” The cave of Altamira is located near Santillana del Mar in Spain. The cave is famous for the pre-historic paintings on its walls.
Dan said he was inspired by this “oldest of all human art.” He created reproductions and original art based on the inspiration of the paintings at Altamira using oil on artboard. Dan’s paintings will be on display at the Oracle Art Station, 1395 W. American Ave., during the Oracle Artists Studio Art Show. The Oracle Artists Studio Tour is being held on Saturday and Sunday, April 8 and 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To find out more about Dan Blanco’s art and his work at the Hi Jinks Ranch visit www.highjinksranch.net.
Dan Blanco Art
Dan Blanco Art
Dan Blanco Art
Dan Blanco Art
Dan Blanco Art
Dan Blanco Art
Dan Blanco Art
Dan Blanco Art
Dan Blanco Art
Dan Blanco Art
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
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