Firm Grounding
“This piece attempts to embody a compilation of feelings and reminisces faced by the artist brought upon by the 2020 shelter-in-place.”
Firm Grounding
This piece attempts to embody a compilation of feelings and reminisces faced by the artist brought upon by the 2020 shelter-in-place. Gouache and a blending pen (to transfer photocopy images) were used to give a faded sense of the past, centering the 1970 Gay Liberation Day alluding to its 50th anniversary. Because of the pandemic, this half-century public celebration was denied. The artist, being a person of color and bi-cultural, has the Third World Gay Caucus and FHAR (Frente Homosexual de Acción Revolucionaria, Mexico’s gay liberation group) also depicted to display the multiple forces that influenced his gay identity. The quote refers to the public political shift outside his window, the internal conflict of not being able to protest because of COVID, and the will to persevere.
Luis de la Garza
Luis de la Garza has possessed a life-long interest in art among all its facets. This interest found him working many years in museums managing collections. Collages and graphic design have been his major artistic output. Currently, he participates with other Openhouse community members in art classes taught in conjunction with Art With Elders. Openhouse has been pivotal in what he terms ‘positive and successful aging’ as a disabled gay Chicano community activist elder. Moreover, Openhouse, through its on-line classes and support groups, has helped him survive the self-sequestered long months imposed by the COVID pandemic. VIVA SENIOR PRIDE!!!