John Carlos De Luna: Creando arte con conciencia

Wednesday, 11 November 2009 11:42

No importa que edad tengas or where you come from, we all grew up with a certain idea of what our future would be like. While some dreamed of flying, money, success, fame and glamour others dreamed of less frivolous things. Unfortunately and because of whatever circumstances, most people are forced to grow out of those childhood dreams. Ahora, si eres de los pocos soñadores ilusos que se aferran a esos sueños, te habrás dado cuenta que mantener ese sueño vivito y coleando es más difícil de lo que pensabas. Many give up along the way, but others persevere and with hard work and sleepless nights make things work.  El que persevera alcanza, un claro ejemplo de esto es John Carlos De Luna, ganador del quinto concurso de arte anual del Día de los Muertos patrocinado por Al Borde.

Un artista nace, no se hace

I realized I wanted to be an artist when I was in second grade at Dacotah St. Elementary in Boyle Heights. I had this great teacher who was a gringa named Miss Burke. She was a sweet lady. She always gave me extra arts and crafts stuff because I was good at it and I loved it so much. I distinctly remember one day, I was making a hand made Christmas gift for my mom and Miss Burke said “You are so talented, you are gonna be a great artist one day.” That was the first time I ever felt like I was good at something and I knew that I could not stop because it made me feel so happy. I felt that making art was so important to me. I realized, at that young age, that I was and artist.

Estudiando en la escuela de la vida

I am very proud to say I am self-taught. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the resources get formal education. I can’t deny that it was always a dream of mine to go to art school, Otis to be exact, plus it would have been a way to get out of the projects and be successful. Right out of high school I worked to help support my family financially. I tried to take a few classes here and there, but working was priority. Nonetheless I did my best, as I passionately read and studied art on my own. I lived, breathed and loved art. Sometimes I would spend my entire days off at the L.A. Public Library Art Department using all their art reference books and resources. I would even sneak into art history lectures and art classes at local colleges, which I thought was funny because I never got caught or questioned.

Arte con conciencia

My work has developed more in the last few years than in most of my life. I feel that my life experiences and lessons have brought my art to a place that deals directly with socio-political and cultural themes of 1920’s through 1960’s Americana as seen through the eyes of the Chicano, Mexican and Latin American peoples. I strive to have my work reflect the historical significance and intricacies of the social climate and the interaction between all Americans past and present.

Community, art and personal experiences unite

The recollection of history and stories of our people’s trials and tribulations. I grew up in the Estrada Courts housing projects in Boyle Heights, Califas, and saw many trials and tribulations around me. Growing and understanding the realities of the many systems of oppression that surrounded me inspired me to educate myself through reading and never being afraid of questioning things and authority. I felt the responsibility as an artist to speak to these issues to empower, uplift, educate, and remember our stories so that our families and ancestors’ sacrifices were not in vain.

Growing up in Estrada Courts surrounded by the violence, poverty, and neglect that exist in underserved communities, I found art to be my hope. Art allowed me to find peace amid the poverty and violence of my youth. It helped me look at my community with a deeper perspective and see the beauty as well. My childhood experiences in the “hood” offered all the inspiration I would ever need to paint and create lifetimes of art.

Inspiración

Everything inspires me! There is so much beauty in our communities and I want to capture it through art and poetry. The drive for justice and giving a voice to those in history who can no longer speak keeps me motivated. It is my responsibility as an artist and activist to always do so in all that I create.
The artists that are most influential to me are the artists that taught me in the streets of my barrio indirectly through their art and great works. These include artists like Willie Herron, Paul Botello, Wayne Healy, The East Los Streetscapers, Jorge Yepes and Judy Baca. Others are Chicana/o artists Patsi Valdez, Margaret Garcia, David Botello, Adan Hernandez, Jose Lozano, Fernando Barragan, Eloy Torres and Cesar Martinez. Even more contemporary artists and peers are Israel Francisco Haros, Kristy Lovich, Wenceslao Quiroz, Vincent Valdez. They influence me through their determination and contributions because they have a vision and don’t let up on it. They make it happen and aren’t afraid to create it! That in its self inspires me to continue my work and evolve it to where it needs to move everyday.

Más que arte

I, like most artists, do some illustrative works that can be decorative, fun and beautiful to keep the lights and water running. However, my personal body of work is always very intentional. Every line, symbol, composition and use of iconography is vital to the telling of these stories that my work sheds light on. In this way, I am bringing a magnifying glass to the struggles of our community, which exposes the effects of socio-economic and political oppression on our complex identities and realities today.

John Carlos De Luna and the future

I am working on a few different projects, one working to set up a public arts program in the Southeast Side City of Maywood. Secondly, I am also working on my new website that will be up on my 30th Birthday in January of 2010. I am also working with artist Kristy Lovich and Wenceslao Quiroz on various large scale mural projects in Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles all at the same time while working on my current body of work for a solo show by the and of summer 2010.

In the future I see myself established in my own community and working with many other communities through public arts and education. I see myself creating a body of work that is a multi-media, multi-sensory experience. More than ever, my art will be transformative and continue to offer all a deeper understanding of our history, our culture and our future.

You may contact John Carlos via e-mail at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or through Facebook, just search: ArtistJohnCarlosDeLuna

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