an authentic way of making art:
-multidisciplinary - culture and public art consultant - art facilitator -
- social interventions -
www.iamalejandro.com
“Creative experimentation, reflection about the process and gratitude with the results, will provide exceptional appreciation for the art making experience .”
Alejandro
Blog, progress, sharing and Gratitude Journal
An ongoing series of informational entries
Identidad en construccion
February 14, 2017
Identidad en Construccion
Alejandro: Posted on Monday, February 16, 2015 10:53 AM
"Su identificación por favor..." Marzo 2015
Instalación- De la exposición titulada Fragmentos
36" x 57"
Impresiones fotograficas en sintra, metal, Pvc, QR Code, medios digitales.
La Troup du Jour
Saskatoon, Saskathewan
Canada
Identidad en Construcción:
Es el reflejo de la búsqueda de autonomía personal, es el desarrollo interno y es el encuentro con el ser. Construímos nociones de las realidades, nos inventamos creencias y engramas mentales para sobrevivir. Algunos resultan en un inventario de patrones que podrían ser destructivos o nocivos. En ocasiones creamos personalidades para adaptarnos, para resistir alguna pena, para combatir nuestras propias luchas internas. Esas construcciones pueden sugerir cambios permanentes en el cual nuestra identidad suele madurar para soltar viejos parámetros destructivos. Es ahí donde debemos encontrar la paz y hacer la nueva identidad eterna y nuestra.
Identidad en Construcción es la respuesta a los constantes cambios de ubicación, nacionalidad e identidad. La idea surge cuando me mudo, permuto la residencia y me reinstalo en un lugar diferente y foráneo. Es traer conmigo experiencias y adaptarlas a las nuevas fronteras. Los canjes y nuevas invenciones son resultado de paradigmas adoptados por dichos trueques, que inspiran a buscar internamente cuál es nuestro lugar en el mundo. Ese proceso no se genera en el internet, pero logran las redes proveermos anonimidad y presencia, así como absoluto control de nuestro espacio global. Al mudarme a Canadá, lo hice con el corazón en las manos y con la mente despejada, solo con memorias para adaptar mi persona a un Nuevo entorno. La compra de una nueva identidad; que para muchos simboliza la supervivencia; no es un regalo, require arduo trabajo, tolerancia, paz, ciencia, dinero y una gran habilidad de adaptación. “Su identificación por favor…” es una solicitud indiscreta que constantemente nos preguntan las personas en las fronteras; si, la autoridad institucionalizada representada por los uniformados, esos guardianes,apoderados del kiosko fronterizo que responden a postulados políticos y geográficos de esas colindancias que nos dividen y nos hacen vulnerables a ser juzgados por una fotografía y los lugares que hemos visitado. La fotografía es la ventana, el primer contacto con toda esa infomación personal existente en los medios y en los ordenadores de los gobiernos. Por la representación y la imagen propia de la fotografía no me ubican en ningun lugar. Nací en Puerto Rico y la realidad de la identidad y no identidad puertorriqueña me permite ser un camaleón dúal ante el universo.Un mestizo de raíces variadas, un mestizo africano, europeo y antillano que descubre su color de piel en el frío boreal. El antillano mestizo a quien su identidad le provee habilidades camaleonísticas, prueba fehaciente de que la identidad puede ser construída.
Esta pieza utiliza las ideas de identidad de los estudios post-coloniales para hacer una crítica a dos condiciones: la creación de identidades abusadas en los perfiles de las redes sociales, donde cada quien inventa su historia; somos anónimos hasta cuando rendimos nuestros privilegios de libertad a las corporaciones cibernéticas, económicas y políticas; pero al mismo tiempo héroes de nuestras propias fantasías. En nuestro anonimato somos autónomos y públicos, condición que nos permite escribir nuestro propio perfil, uno no asignado sino creado por cuenta propia. Es una crítica a la recurrente fascinación con el selfie. La segunda condición es la obligación de tener identificación. Ese carné que nos cataloga como lo uno o lo otro. Es la requerida foto para el pasaporte, para la licencia, la foto posada para la graduación, para el club, para el trabajo, para la asociación ésta o aquella y las regulaciones que llegan con esas fotografías oficiales. Las fotografías y las identidades que se nos asignan por nuestra condición social, estilo de vida, localidad y los prejuicios de los demás.
Identidad en Construcción pone atención el mirar hacia adentro y honrar el hecho de que somos seres cambiantes y que podemos reí-nventarnos según queramos, y así hacerlo con un perfil y con una fotografía cada vez que sea necesario o auto asignado. Tenemos autonomía y libertad para hacerlo. Es nuestro asunto y tarea personal lograrlo. La identidad no es determinada por una nacionalidad ya sea histórica, geográfica o política, pues construímos nuestra personalidad cada día y con ella, la identidad que podemos cambiar arbitrariamente cuando nos da la gana.
Return of the artist
Posted on Friday, August 30, 2013 11:41 AM
Alejandro:
From time to time I take a break from all electronics to free mind space for new projects and endeavors. I was busy writing a thesis for a Masters in Arts. All college work is finished and now my attention goes to my duties as an Arts Consultant for the City of Saskatoon administering the Art collection and working with other artists and jury in new Public Art projects. My life is loaded with creativity and opportunities which I am grateful for. New projects and explorations with different medias like sound, audio, light and video are interesting me these days, as my studio is at home and all the oils and acrylics are still on storage. This will be all for today.
Un-Framed
February 14, 2017
A long time advocate of the arts I volunteer to co-host an arts radio program where we have conversations with artists from Saskatchewan and sometimes national or international. Please like us on social media or leave your comments with suggestions. Listen to my accent and how i dive into radio hosting in many episodes of Unframed radio on Cfcr 90.5 fm
Hosts: Alejandro Romero and Michael Peterson
Every Thursday at 7Pm on CFCR 90.5
Like us on social media.
https://www.facebook.com/unframedradio/
https://twitter.com/unframedradio/status/674294908060995585
https://www.instagram.com/p/_Cmsh_GYi9/
you can listen to all episodes here:
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/un-framed-radio/id1063163957
Findings....
Alejandro: Posted on Sunday, September 22, 2013 1:14 PM
Sometime we are surprised by the findings on the web, I let you check out this links, yes, they are old videos and there was no script, I was very nervous, Heather did a great job of keeping me calm, and guide the conversation. It was a great experience and a good record on how we mature with age and experience.
here they go...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBx6Q5XTQLw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oqQhfsg9r8
El Viaje sin rastro
Posted on Thursday, April 09, 2015 10:29 AM
El viaje sin rastro
Installation
mixed media
8' x 7 '
The large installation (8 feet by 7 feet) is part of a collaborative art exhibition that included poetry, theatre and art. The narrative of this piece depicts a journey throught the labyrinth of life, a path that can be a city with multiple entrances and roads or with dead end entries. A gypsy dancer is the center figurine of the pictorial figurative work. The image was created from a life size photography painted and collaged to the canvas. There are many methaphoric passages in the art, each one representing a story. Journey without a trail is framed with collaged watercolor prints of a delicate flower from the caribbean, representing the origins of my story. There are shadows of people in the trail as well as animals, some are interacting together and others are alone.
This art represents the journey of the foreigner or the journey of the hero as Joseph Campbell might describe it. Larger than ordinary El viaje sin rastro is an artwork inspired by the journey for identity.
I want to thank the support of:
Eric Shearer
Belinda Hernandez
Genevieve Russell
April Sora
Lisa Mooney
Nathan Bernard
Early times
Posted on Sunday, April 08, 2012 12:04 AM
This morning I started to write the blog on a gray day, wanted to sketch outside and the cold weather changed my plans. I reorganized my mind, and search for images of what would become my next project, Angelorium. I though of the many possibilities and all the uses of technology. I found old Photographs and articles I have written about the subject and little by little my ideas come more clear. I bounce time between finding a new space to create my new studio and the writing of the masters thesis. Yes all that at the same time. As the day went along its muted tones shifted to more bright and brilliant ones, light invaded my space and some overwhelming insights came to surface. Angelorium is getting more closer to become and the artist in me will let inspiration and synchronicity to fill in the blanks. Human-scapes and iconography will make this project interesting.
Happy Easter and reach the light in your trail.
Mind Memos
create narratives
An Idea Is Born
It is a special moment when the idea flows into you from nowhere but its more exciting to be able to make a work of art with that gift from creator.
Holy Days- Mentoring Times
Alejandro: Posted on Friday, April 06, 2012 6:34 AM
Taiguey
Happy Holy Days, A time to feel inside what life is becoming and how we create it. Heart beating strongly with unconditional love. Love for who surround with and what we do everyday. Not blogging everyday means absence as i am finishing a degree in Cultural Studies in Puerto Rico to provide more depth to my art career. The protocols of education provides a certain way to write, research and understanding the academia. My being away doesn't mean me absent, my creative energy flows with intensity; and is in the verge of creating new projects and mentoring. The directions of my brush strokes in the white canvas are starting to merge and connect the blank spaces. I am working with my thesis on Post colonialism, resistance and identity through sports... Complicated subjects. Somehow the interest is not new as in the past i i have worked in such matters, as seen in my collections of Manhunters (2007-08), a collection that mostly ended up in Merida Yucatan, (one piece shown below,The spirit of the hurricane). Blessed for those works I landed two important commissions: The portrait of The governess of Yucatan Identity: Mestiza, shown below and a portrait of Celine Dion. Yes Celine a Canadian singer of French heritage who is an advocate of French-Canadian Identity. Such subjects of identity and gender are a reflexion of internal explorations.
In the upcoming times I will be producing two new collections of work Angelorium (Religion and Iconic Identity) and Verbatum (an exploration of words with powerful spiritual meanings translated into images of multicultural identities).
I appreciate if you travel with me to the wonders of Art, Heart and Mind as I try to keep balancing my time between fractual reality, quantum time and virtual cosmos.
Pop Art
Alejandro: Posted on Friday, July 22, 2011 4:11 PM
A friend of mine, a good artist browsed my website and in his comments to me he mentioned my art reminds him of Pop Art. Grown in the 80's there is no doubt the influence of Pop Art in my work. He said it is a good thing to have such influence. I don't know what to think about his observations yet give some insight to how my art is perceived. Can tell if it is the colours as he mentioned or the subjects or the commercial look of the work, perhaps the simplicity of the lines of the forms. In the times of specialized artists and labelling art techniques to group artists or the kind of work artists make, It is a matter of a critical mind to do such things. It is important to the art that please you no matter if it is labeled pop or realism, or folk art, or any other kind , what matters is you make and do what you love to and be happy with the results. see you in the trails... and now back to my studio to pop out some more work.
Mental Sketching , Photography and other matters
Alejandro: Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2011 1:14 AM
Ideas flow like a river, and I mean a river in its long deep water flows and its dry shallow flows. MAny times ideas come to me and I capture them in different forms, WIth my memory, pencils, brushes, words, video or a camera. Sometimes they remain inside for a long time other stay in a different form until I am ready and mature enough to make them alive. All this wordings my sound abstract and perhaps it is, who hasn't figure it out yet. Art is abstract thinking, abstract flow of ideas, abstract reasoning, abstract use of the brain. That for me is what i call abstraction. No painting or piece of Art is really reality as the reality is just in the eyes of the beholder, reality changes and it can only be find in nature including the human being. The process of capture human behaviour trough arts is an abstraction, ones can do it with training others with lots of intuition, and many choose to ignore it and do nothing or realize it is easy to copy a photograph and perhaps trick the mind to call it a realistic painting. I enjoy the process and respect all ways of Art, I choose mine figurative Art with contemporary abstraction, one that is in the reality of the subject perceived by me , no the other way around. I love to express emotions with my work and love what the colours can do relating humans with emotions.
Many consider sketching an important part of the art practice, i am one of those , all starts with a sketch even when it is intuitively done, it is call a mental sketch, a foundation or the idea, all can be the same. Art for me is a way of life and I embrace all formats and manners of making Art, the result interconnected or not to the final stage is important to if the process supports a knowledge process. What I struggle with is when an art form looks like a formula and I don't see an evolution process in the artist, and exploration of materials or a different approach to the same subject or treatment in an art piece. Masterpieces are only created when the artist is dead anyway so I don't mind experimenting. At the end all is a mental sketch transfer into a surface, made into something that can be appreciated by many or by none.
Blogging and Sketching
Alejandro: Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 11:09 AM
For the last days I have been working inside the weather wasn't cooperating much, I guess the heat waves support the inside work. I choose to go back and work on sketching and a little of research. I have some work I want to do regarding new exhibitions ideas and I wanted to sketch them out first. I guess blogging is like sketching, you need to be dedicated.
Some old felt pens and new ones I just got from the Art Store (colour and black), and some pencils I have not used in a long time. The sketches are more thought like small studies for large work. I am experimenting with light and shadows and colour as the main subjects of my work. Narrative is important in an art piece for some artists yet I find more challenging a good composition, to transmit a feeling of an emotion, colours and strong compositions do it for me.
The subjects I am working in small scale (4x6) are some landscapes and animal studies as preliminary guide for larger paintings.
My hand flows in the sketching pad as I want ideas and writing in these blog to flow .
I feel there is a connection between sketching and blogging i just have not made it yet, I will let you know. for now it is bed time and I must go to rest. Will be on the trail soon.
Alejandro
Rainy Trails
Alejandro: Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2011 10:59 AM
Rain. The trail is wet, very wet, tears from the sky and my own water the soil and my face. It is strange to write here for every body to read, not used to expose my days in a blog, specially in english. Life sometimes is about grief, un -attachment and letting go. It gets serious when you decide to move and leave behind family, friends and people who you love. A life stays behind, a new one is supposed to start and how we do it?, why we do it? what reasons make us change so drastically. I reflect as I write, only who has walk ed a similar path will know about the feelings I feel. I don't think I have read much about grief, only has felt it. Writing to me is the one Art I can relate to Grief and sorrow not painting or other forms of creativity.
I write when I feel sad and I paint when I am happy, that is how it is for me. I have tried to do it the other way around and never had good results I end painting over the canvases as the result is not even close to a good piece. I have tried to write joyful things and the inspiration is forced it doesn't flow. Blogging in english is a Challenge as I feel in Spanish and my thoughts are more clear. I love the Spanish language and I can communicate easier.
In my trails when I composed an art piece I let the flow of ideas and the images come in, and those don't have a language, they are just emotions and images memorized with my Camera or in my sketch pad, a drawing or a writing. I capture an emotion and I go from there.
I try to recognize an emotion in what I feel when I see, I keep that. With all the rain drops and every tear I dropped I just have a memory of grief and how it feels, I keep the images in my memory and the emotions of the moment, later when I paint I go back to those memory archives and I paint or write. I can say I am a Colorist. My Art reflects it, I believe it makes my Art attractive, my writings can be sad and poetry I find is the best way for me to cope with that emotion.
I wont keep going and I will try to write every day as much as I can. I will be honest as I want my Art to be. An expression of an emotion.
Morning Light
Alejandro: Posted on Saturday, July 09, 2011 8:46 AM
Morning Light
A cool morning stroll around the city is the best way to start a day. The river, the reflexions and the early sunrise light compose a magnificent photograph to paint. The sensations of peace, coolness and relaxation provides for a subtle painting. I am inspired and later on I will paint what i remember. It is a process to transfer the idea into the canvas. The memory of the stroll remains with me and later it will transfer into a painting, perhaps a different one as I am trying to subdue the Colors of my palette. I guess it is exploration and experimentation what makes us painters to create new pieces all the time. See ya soon I will be at the Willow studios painting today.
Art Trails
Alejandro: Posted on Thursday, July 07, 2011 6:20 AM
It is early morning. My day starts with a stroll to walk the dogs in the beautiful summer city of Saskatoon. I will meet with sisters in the Rotary park and will feel energized with the flame of peace. It is my first Blogg, and my first week doing Kum Nye an ancient tibetan exercise breathing routine. Lost of first timers. Yes the web page is finally out after several attempts.
An outdoor painting class starts this week with exciting pupils. We will be painting outdoors, exploring with shapes and forms, experimenting with Colours and expressing emotions with art. Sounds exciting.
I will write more tomorrow as this is my first time. I invite you to be with me in the trail and feel free to comment as you read.
Happy Art trails.