Acrylic on canvas, 72x72 in.
Statement: These pieces were created as part of the SELA Arts Fest project :Rolling Canvas 2019.
About the Artist: Danny Gamboa, born in Cicada Juarez, Chihuahua is a multi disciplinary artist based out of North Long Beach. Danny is passionate about creating in the mediums of visual and performance art and art that can be used as a medium for social change. His dedication to the Ghost Bike project blends art and advocacy and led him to establish Healthy Active Streets, a community based organization that empowers communities of color as active transportation advocates and organizers for mobility equity.
Hometown: North Long Beach
Connect: dannygamboa.com instagram: @iamdannygamboa
Acrylic on canvas, 72x72 in.
Statement: These pieces were created as part of the SELA Arts Fest project :Rolling Canvas 2019.
About the Artist: Danny Gamboa, born in Cicada Juarez, Chihuahua is a multi disciplinary artist based out of North Long Beach. Danny is passionate about creating in the mediums of visual and performance art and art that can be used as a medium for social change. His dedication to the Ghost Bike project blends art and advocacy and led him to establish Healthy Active Streets, a community based organization that empowers communities of color as active transportation advocates and organizers for mobility equity.
Hometown: North Long Beach, CA
Connect: dannygamboa.com , instagram: @iamdannygamboa
Found materials sculpture, 43x44x16 in.
Statement: My works presented to Geofictions LA directly relate to the constructed and natural landscape of Southeast LA by incorporating recycled materials form the LA River into sculptural works that create narratives around the riverbed.
“Garza” is a sculpture depicting a great blue heron. The heron is a spiritual symbol of the Los Angeles River and represents the wild life that still survives in our riverbed despite the environmental pressure on their ecosystem. The sculpture is made of natural materials I found walking along the Los Angeles riverbed in Southeast LA.
About the Artist: Eleazar Martinez was born in Durango, Mexico in the year 1962. His life was divided between working in his stepfather's farm and studying in the city during his brief vacations. Between his work obligations and studies at school, Eleazar practiced many art mediums in Durango, Mexico. He worked as a calligrapher at age 15 and opened a private art studio at age 20. He received his BA in Agriculture and Administration in Mexico.
Eleazar migrated to Los Angeles to start his family and live out his dream as an artist. In Los Angeles, he first worked as a graphic designer and colorist for a silkscreen studio and eventually worked as a production manager. After gaining experience as a manager, Eleazar opened his own studio in the city of Downey which he ran for 15 years. During his time in the studio, Eleazar worked as an illustrator for different state education programs, created bronze sculptures for various cities, and had several solo shows in Los Angeles.
Eleazar is currently working to open a community workshop in his home state of Durango, Mexico to create economic opportunities for impoverished communities on the outskirts of the city. His goal is to create a community workspace that offers services and training in carpentry, wood carving, blacksmithing, welding, and glasswork.
Hometown: Bell, CA
Found material sculpture, 24x24x36 in.
Statement: “Labyrinth” is a sculpture made out of found materials, including branches and recycled glass sourced from the city of Bell. I began exploring new mediums and forayed into glass cutting to create this sculpture. The glowing glass heart symbolizes the fragility and beauty of our river ecosystems and sits at the bottom of a thorny, wooden labyrinth. The protective labyrinth hides the heart and encourages us to find the heart within the thorns that is yearning to be found and loved.
About: Eleazar Martinez was born in Durango, Mexico in the year 1962. His life was divided between working in his stepfather's farm and studying in the city during his brief vacations. Between his work obligations and studies at school, Eleazar practiced many art mediums in Durango, Mexico. He worked as a calligrapher at age 15 and opened a private art studio at age 20. He received his BA in Agriculture and Administration in Mexico.
Eleazar migrated to Los Angeles to start his family and live out his dream as an artist. In Los Angeles, he first worked as a graphic designer and colorist for a silkscreen studio and eventually worked as a production manager. After gaining experience as a manager, Eleazar opened his own studio in the city of Downey which he ran for 15 years. During his time in the studio, Eleazar worked as an illustrator for different state education programs, created bronze sculptures for various cities, and had several solo shows in Los Angeles.
Eleazar is currently working to open a community workshop in his home state of Durango, Mexico to create economic opportunities for impoverished communities on the outskirts of the city. His goal is to create a community workspace that offers services and training in carpentry, wood carving, blacksmithing, welding, and glasswork.
Hometown: Bell, CA
Found material sculpture, 29x23 in.
Statement: “River Madonna” represents the divine core of the Los Angeles River. The spirit of the river forces us to look upon her face and acknowledge her presence in our city and ecosystems. This work is made of mud, branches, and found objects from the LA river.
About the Artist: Eleazar Martinez was born in Durango, Mexico in the year 1962. His life was divided between working in his stepfather's farm and studying in the city during his brief vacations. Between his work obligations and studies at school, Eleazar practiced many art mediums in Durango, Mexico. He worked as a calligrapher at age 15 and opened a private art studio at age 20. He received his BA in Agriculture and Administration in Mexico.
Eleazar migrated to Los Angeles to start his family and live out his dream as an artist. In Los Angeles, he first worked as a graphic designer and colorist for a silkscreen studio and eventually worked as a production manager. After gaining experience as a manager, Eleazar opened his own studio in the city of Downey which he ran for 15 years. During his time in the studio, Eleazar worked as an illustrator for different state education programs, created bronze sculptures for various cities, and had several solo shows in Los Angeles.
Eleazar is currently working to open a community workshop in his home state of Durango, Mexico to create economic opportunities for impoverished communities in the outskirts of the city. His goal is to create a community workspace that offers services and training in carpentry, wood carving, blacksmithing, welding and glasswork.
Hometown: Bell, CA
Illustration, unspecified dimensions
Statement: A Female artist in love with the idea of love and spreading positivity throughout the community by connecting through art. Many original illustrations are reminiscent of the Hispanic culture with a Chicano-Type vibe. Other originals portray the music scene in all its diversity from different music genres, different artists, with different ethnic backgrounds perceived as one whole beautiful and evolving community. After all, music is the Language of Love. Any interaction with someone who questions the reasoning behind a concept or a piece is an opportunity to passionately share that in the end Art is the Universal Language and sharing our talents, whatever those may be, are our gifts to each other.
About the Artist: A Los Angeles based artist currently based in South Gate, California. Have been drawing since I picked up my first pencil. Studied and graduated with a degree in Fashion Design and have worked in the industry enough to know that pursuing a dream as an independent artist is something I will continue to cultivate in whatever form my heart speaks
Hometown: Huntington Park, CA
Connect: instagram: @goldheartofficial
Acrylic on canvas, 18x24 in.
Statement: The LOVE of LA city reflecting in harmony with my cultural back ground.
About the Artist: Growing up I watched my mother work as a sample maker for a clothing company, I knew then, I wanted to be a fashion designer. After working in the appeal industry myself I wanted to built my talent in the arts. I became very inspired and grew a love for painting after my trip to Europe and experiencing all of its antiquities. I went back to school to learn to paint. My great passion in life is to built my own business in conjunction to helping my community and the world. In some way, the power of love has been my force in all that I do. “El amor” and my Culture has been a big part of my passion for art. Sharing love and culture has brought a great sense of satisfaction that I cannot describe in words. I believe I can help make a difference with my art and the purpose behind it.
Hometown: Boyle Heights, CA
Connect: instagram: @Elamorx2
Acrylic on canvas, dimensions unknown
Statement: This collection of works represent my life and aspirations as a young person growing up in South East Los Angeles.
About the Artist: Sophie Cruz was born and raised in South East Los Angeles. When she was 3 years old she participated in a Grupo Folclórico Huaxyacac where she performed many traditional dances of Oaxaca. Through this formative experience she learned to recite a poem in front of an audience which initiated a passion for public speaking. When she was really small she told her parents she wanted to go to Mexico and they replied that she could not at the time due to not having particular documents because they were not born in the US. This inspired her to make a movement. Her largest address was to over 470,000 people in Washington D.C. at the 2017 Women's March, a worldwide protest the day after the inauguration of President Donald Trump. She is an activist for immigrant and human rights, enjoys art, sports and public speaking.
Hometown: South Gate, CA
Mixed Media, 16x20 in.
Statement: I really wanted to show the flying frog as an example of the type of species that can exist if we preserve or construct habitats. These creatures are very sensitive to environmental changes and I think a good indicator for our society on how we are progressing in saving or preserving our planet.
About the Artist: Igor Zusev was born in Russia, February 1979. He emigrated to the US with his family in 1989. His artistic photographic expressions started early in life with a gift of a point and shoot camera at the age of 8. A veteran of the US NAVY, Igor was his ship’s official photographer where he records military life as he lived it. Since then, Igor has continued to photograph a wide variety of subjects. In the last few years, he has also transitioned into mixed media paintings. His work is represented in a number of galleries and publications.
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Connect: https://www.zusev.art/ , instagram: @igor_zusev