|
| Absolutely no portions of the artwork on this page may be used, reproduced, or copied in any way without expressed, written permission from the artist. Failure to comply will result in legal action. All artwork, prose, and poetry (unless otherwise noted) is copyright © 2008 Jorge Gonzalez. |
| THE MANY SHADES OF JORGE GONZALEZ PUBLIC ART |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| During the months of January, February, March, April, and May 2007, 11 students (myself included) embarked on a mission to come up with a mural that would be displayed in the Laredo Community College’s Learning Center building for years to come.
With the help of our instructor Gary Brown guiding us through the process, the class managed to finish the mural in time for an unveiling that got a lot of press here in Laredo. However, it did not come easy. Many Saturday’s were sacrificed, ego’s clashed, set backs were made, and a lot of overtime was spent in the making of the “Striving For Knowledge” mural project. |
| These are the members of the Spring 2007 Design IV Class, Laredo Community College The Learning Center Mural Project "Striving For Knowledge" Emmanuel Alejandro | Alejandra Farias | Jorge Gonzalez | Miriam Gonzalez | Andy Hernandez | Eduardo Hults | Juan Medellin | Luis Palacios | Angie Reyes | Alex “Legs” Salinas | Anna Salinas Instructor : Gary Brown |
| Since this was a very experimental class and experience, during the course of the first month, we examined and learned a brief process of how it is artists go about in making public art. Soon after, it was decided by our instructor that the class was to be split into three groups so they can each come up with their own designs. After the class finished submitting applications on why they should be chosen as a team leader, Mr. Brown came up with the three different teams and each of their members. Anna Salinas was the team leader of the first team which consisted of Emmanuel Alejandro, Andy Hernandez, and Alex “Legs” Salazar. For the second team, I was chosen as team leader and my crew consisted of Miriam Gonzalez and Juan Medellin. The third team was lead by Eddie Hults and consisted of Alejandra Farias, Luis Palacios, and Angie Reyes. |
| While in our teams we each came up with various designs of what we thought would like nice on the Learning Center building. During this process we also did some mock-ups of the actual building itself, and how they would look with our designs on them. (These mock-ups would later be showcased at the College library.) A lot of brainstorming, cutting, pasting, coloring, and even painting was involved during this process. My teams’ idea was based on that ol’ saying, “The Sky Is The Limit” and thrived on how clouds are perceived by people. Eduardo Hults’ team was heavily inspired by old Aztec cave paintings and artwork. Anna Salinas’s team settled on an idea involving hands and their symbolism of people are always reaching and striving for knowledge. After the teams finished cleaning and refining their designs for the mural, we practiced our speeches and how we were going to present our designs to the LCC committee and Learning Center board. While nerve racking and stressful, we practiced and polished our speeches. For my team, we used poetry and imagery of clouds to express the emotion and effect one gets from glazing into the sky. Eduardo Hults’ team showed examples of Aztec artwork and how it connected with our Hispanic culture. Anna Salinas’ group came up with a very convincing speech about communication and that strive for knowledge we all have by using hand signals and citing quotes from Audrey Hepburn to better define their concept. After we presented and showcased our ideas to the committee, they got together to pick a winner while the class (along with LCC Art Department chair Dale Short) went to the Kazen center to celebrate our accomplishment. At this point, it was all decided upon the committee, and whichever design they chose, we’d all team up as one to work on it. |
| About an hour later, they committee came back to us with their final decision. They chose Anna Salina’s team, with their “Striving For Knowledge” design. Almost instantly, we quickly went to work on it. At this point it was already mid April and we did not have much time to finish this project. The class needed to finish the mural before mid May and our class time wasn’t enough to really get it done. Since the mural was going to be split up into five different boards, we were given tasks to prepare them. Andy, Luis, and I, sanded and painted the huge boards completely white. Juan and Alex used the heavy equipment and constructed the horses in which we would work on. Anna, Angie, Eddie, and Alejandra worked on blowing up the small design into the size of the boards by drawing and tracing them onto large paper. Emmanuel worked on the logo for which would be placed on our hard hats. Miriam, being a photography major, documented the entire experience with her camera while also helping out with various things. |
| After the boards were painted white, we painted them over with blue because that was the main color of the design. Once all the boards were painted blue, the big sheets of paper that other students were blowing up the design in were brought out. With charcoal we were able to transfer the design onto the big blue boards where we then got together and painted the rest of the colors in. Using purple, greens, and some dark blues, we were able to get the background up and running in several class periods. Reds and Yellows were used for the hands. |
| The weather didn’t make things any easier either. The extensive heat made a lot of us very tired. Since the class was in the afternoon, we would always work in afternoons from 2 to 4:30pm, the sun was a lot more harsh on us. As you can see by the photography’s, I’d be wearing thin, raggy, shirts that weren’t black so it wouldn’t absorb heat as much. Lastly, on top of all the set backs, conflicts, and tensions practically all of us had to study for final exams which were being held during this time. I remember having a math class that was really difficult and I also had to do some extensive studying for my Composition II class. On top of this I had to also help another team of mine in my Design II and come up with a big circus project which had me constructing an square moveable elephant that was rather funny looking. Tired yet? I don’t blame you. Towards the end of project, there was actually one big unfortunate set back in creating the signs. Since we had put in extra time for these designs, one Saturday (those few of us that showed up) had accidentally made one of the hands really sloppy and we had to go over it with paint again which was rather tedious, especially since we were so close of finishing. During the final days of completion a lot of the art department teachers like Mary Bausman, Dan Mcinnis, and Mrs. Solis would show up and congratulate us for our job well done and how beautiful the mural was coming out, which felt very good and encouraging since this such a tough project even if we were 11 students. |
| It had been decided early on that one of the “hands” and a few “circles” from the design were going to stick out of the panels (to give it a three dimensional look). This meant that we had to use a 6th board to cut out some circles as well as a huge “hand”. After our instructor showed a few of the students how to use the power tools and go about creating the design, a few of us got started on the cutting and shaping of the figures. During this time, some tensions between several of my classmates were starting to happen. In some days, various students wouldn’t show up to work on the piece because they didn’t like the design and really disagreed with the committee’s decision. In other instances, several other students weren’t getting along with each other which in turn wouldn‘t work with one another. Sometimes, during construction a few students would take extremely long breaks and they kind of disappeared for a good 45 minutes. Because of these conflicts some of us had to work extra hard and fast to have these huge boards up and colored. |
| It wasn’t until around May 13th that the mural had been placed up on the Learning Center building. It was pretty exciting to finally have the mural up on the wall like that. In a lot of ways, it felt like such a huge relief to not only have gotten it done, but done in time as well.
However, despite being up on the 13th, it wasn’t until Thursday, June 7th that the council actually had the grand unveiling for the “Striving For Knowledge” mural. The local news was there, as was a live band, and a few dozen people. There was free food, drinks, and a lot of us got to see each other again since the project ended back in early May. Mr. Brown, Mr. Short, and Emmanuel spoke and did speeches at the unveiling. Some of us even hung out for a bit and chilled after the event was over. All in all, the experience was definitely one to remember. As students we got a taste to of how it is like to be in this kind of business. We learned how one prepares to present an idea to a committee or group. We got a hands-on experience on working together as a team to actually accomplish a goal that was bigger than most. We were given a task and we accomplished it. While it was very stressful, tiring, and at times just exhausting, it also tested us for what’s to come in life. This business is tough. Art is difficult. Impressing and delivering an idea to a client does not come easy and I know that. This knowledge will definitely serve me well whenever I begin an actual profession in the art field. |
| Credits Logo Designed by Emmanuel Alejandro Photo Documentation by Miriam Gonzalez Media Video Slideshow by Eduardo Hults Press Laredo Community College [2] | Laredo Morning Times |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |