Artists celebrate Hispanic heritage at festival

Kimberley McGee

Friday, Sept. 21, 2001 | 9:03 a.m.

Crayons, paints and murals were the landscapes of Aldolfo Gonzalez's childhood in Chicago in the early '70s.

"It kept me out of gangs, got me out of my madness," the 36-year-old Las Vegas artist said. "It was a way out."

As a teenager Gonzalez hand-painted signs for a family business. The creative outlet brought him personal peace.

He began to work on his craft in earnest at home. His subjects were the people who lived and walked along the streets of his Hispanic community, famous Hispanics such as Pancho Villa and fables from his childhood.

"Art shows us our pride, our background, strength, love and passion," Gonzalez said. "It's about our downfalls, good times, bad times. It is us."

He is one of many local Hispanic artists to be featured in the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District's "Festival de Modernistas" Saturday at the Las Vegas Library.

The four-hour festival kicks off the library district's Hispanic Heritage Month with a day of music, food and interactive art exhibits highlighting the Latino influence within the Las Vegas community.

"We've had traditional festivals and included (traditional) artists," Denise Shapiro, gallery services coordinator for the library district, said. "We wanted to have more of a contemporary festival and include what was happening in the community."

A congressional declaration in 1968 set aside a week of tribute to Hispanic heritage each September. It has evolved into what is now Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated around the country from Sept. 15-Oct. 15.

"It gives us a chance to highlight all of the fine artists we have in our community who are Latino," Shapiro said.

There will be more than 12 local artists featured at the festival.

In honor of the first Annual Latino Fine Arts Festival, two benches will be decorated by the public with broken tiles to create functional art pieces titled "Mosaic Bench." The benches will be permanently placed at a local library to be determined next week.

Other artists and businesses have also participated in providing a festival atmosphere. Anderson Dairy has chipped in with ice cream sundaes for the event, and the Lied Discovery Children's Museum will host art classes at its activity table.

"A lot of people got involved to make this happen," Shapiro said.

Guest artist and author Jose Galvez of Tucson will present a photo exhibit and lecture about his experience as a literary and visual Latino artist and former photographer for the Los Angeles Times. He will also sign copies of his photographic-essay book, "Vatos."

Gonzalez will demonstrate the delicate art of airbrush painting, which he has honed since his childhood.

"It's one way to express yourself, your feelings," Gonzalez said. "Art is very important to a person's (growth), and to our culture."

As a computer designer Gonzalez designs large neon signs, such as for the defunct Race Rock restaurant in downtown Las Vegas, for Young Electric Sign Company.

Since he moved to Las Vegas in 1998 the Hispanic community has grown, much as it has around the country, Gonzalez said.

"It has gotten much bigger, more involved as the years pass," Gonzalez said. "Art is also really growing more and more and more. It's good to see (support)."

Lois Esparza, a contemporary artist who has lived in Las Vegas since 1973, has also witnessed the expansion of Las Vegas' Hispanic community.

"(Hispanics) seem to be a bit more vocal now," Esparza said. "We are more involved in politics, not so complacent about not participating. There is more of a sense of culture, of pride."

For the festival, Esparza will include painted images that represent the Hispanic culture as she sees it.

Heritage only recently became the focal point of her work, Esparza, a graphic artist at KLAS Channel 8, said.

"I'm a varied artist, but I decided I wanted to do something to uplift people who are Hispanic," Esparza said. "We need to look at the positive of our culture."

The "Festival de Modernistas" offers a place for the community to gather and strengthen, Esparza said.

It can be an outlet for Hispanics and people of other cultures to dip into the rich pool of cultural pride that exists in Las Vegas, she said.

"It brings out awareness of what's out there, what makes us a community," Esparza said. "Sometimes the Hispanic community is (associated with) gang violence. But this festival shows us who we are, what we have to give and (provides) good role models."

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