Guillermo Gomez-Pena

I am making another post on my artist because I can not figure out how to add to my existing draft. Arrggghh

   Guillermo is quite unusual.  He is a a poetic performer who makes a bold statement about his heritage - roots of Mexico that are emblazoned within.  He speaks with a thick accent and really grasps the audiences attention by his presence. His soft yet striking eyes and his masculine thick mustache demand one's attention. He is multi-talented and has had many successes. First, he received many awards for his stage performances globally. Secondly, he has written five books and he also has an experimental radio works web page. Please view:   Radio Page
   He is identified as a pop(popular) culture,ethno-techno and cyber-punk performer. I  understand how he is categorized as a pop culture artist. I guess the other descriptive categories persuade a viewer that he is a politically propelled activist, too. Which he is. Not all of his work entails political preferences.  Guillermo infuses English and Spanish, fact and fiction ,social realities and pop culture into his vast artistic avenues. He is definitely interesting to follow!  
   Additionally, Guillermo founded the organization, La Pocha Nostra. This is a company of performers that he founded  in 1993 in Los Angeles and then moved in 1995 to San Francisco where he has lived since.  The company that consists of other artistic actors create their Chicano cyber-punk performances and ethno-techno art on stage. Gomez-Pena reaches across borders nationally to connect to people. He acknowledges race and gender in his collaborations.  I viewed several of his performances on YouTube and I must say  it is profound artistic expression. 

   The books he has written are the following:  Dangerous Border Crossers, Codex Spanlensis, Mexican Beasts, Living Santos,The New World Border and Warrior for Gringotrolka.  Included in these books are his chronicles, essays and scripts of his large scale projects.  

   This artist says quite a bit about identity. I was reminded not to be so closed minded after researching my artist. At first glance, I was subjected to this person's interpretations / point of views and said to myself...what is this stuff?   But after reading more and watching some videos I now say it is interesting, educating,visually complex, weird, unusual, and sometimes shocking.  

Identity Project: Guillermo Gomez-Pena

 I really don't know how to react to this.  Guillermo performs on stage to audiences alone and with his La Pocha Noche company.  He was born in Mexico City in 1955 and he came to the U.S. in 1978. His work includes journalism, art, poetry, performance and politics. He has been exploring intercultural issues for more than twenty years and has received numerous fellowships and prizes.  He tranforms a stage that connects himself  to his ethnic identity.
   Guillermo's work has been presented at over seven hundred venues across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Austrialia, Europe,Columbia, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Brazil, Argentina and the Soviet Union.

Guillermo Gomez-Pena Clip from you tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsyqZ_xBxQk&feature=relatedThe Exploratorium

Identity, Romanticism and Realism

   Today's lecture was helpful in clarifying identity in art. I am able to understand what I believe I am to look for in pictures now. I put it together with Angry Little Asian girl and how her characters' identity is exploding with rage and sarcasm about being misunderstood,classified as an immigrant or just being different. 
   Also, Romanticism is fantasy -  to be carried away - from our reality  What is reality? Maybe what we know and some imaginative interpretation in our mind to escape the mundane.
   Realism in art depicts familiar objects as they actually are.We recognize and validate those objects and subjects as real and tangible; however, too much reality could be dull and life can benefit by the beauty of Romanticism.
   What is beauty? Beauty is it not interpreted differently by each person? Blossoming flowers, breathtaking landscapes, seascapes,imperfections and or uniqueness.