Jorge R. Gonzalez
Why I started, what has and still inspires me, and why I’m on this Journey.
Like most visual artists I enjoyed doodling throughout my adolescence since most classes in school tended to be rather boring to me. This led to using the sides of my composition papers for my daydreaming canvas. Entering high school my heart was set on becoming an airplane mechanic with the goal of one day working in an aircraft carrier. This became my dream and my three years of high school were focused on attending aviation school with the main field of study sheetmetal work. But the last year of the aviation mechanic curriculum caused a disheartening effect on me which led me to change careers and devote my efforts as I entered college into obtaining a degree in the optical field. Part of the reasoning was that one of my uncles had already set up an optical store and wanted me to eventually work for him. But a few minor events, wanting to get married at a young age of nineteen caused me to look into something more fulfilling and a passion for the arts awoke in me. Needless to say the marriage side quest was left by the wayside and art classes became my focus starting with drawing which led to printmaking, then photography, painting, which eventually after years of study became a BFA with a major in sculpture. Painting and photography would always follow me but my true passion was conceptual sculptures.
After graduating from the university I started my career in the fine arts, setting up a studio and working on creating art work that would communicate, touch and move an audience. But life has a way of making one’s plans sometimes take turns and paths that are not part of our goals. Actually the series that I just finished is a reflection of this, “Changes” a twenty piece exploration on the fulfilment of dreams and goals and of not achieving those dreams and goals. I found myself in the year 1993 meeting a wonderful woman that would not only become my life long partner in marriage but she would also share with me the most important life changing gift a man could find, she introduced me to the Gospel. This turning point in my life, at the end of 1993 would become the key element to my happiness, the happiness that I had been looking, longing for had arrived and within a few months I would be baptized, filled with the Holy Ghost and be living the most wonderful times in my life. By mid 1994 I had asked this wonderful woman to be my bride and 8 months later we would be starting our journey together, not only in marriage but in the ministry, reaching out and sharing the wonders of God. By this time the art studio was non-existent and my art was nowhere to be found. My dreams and goals had totally changed and working in the kingdom of God was all that mattered. Plus providing for a growing family became the number one reason to dedicate myself to a “normal” job.
As time passed my wife and I became more involved in the missions field and eventually helped in the building and establishing a Church in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas Mexico. My only connection to the arts would be taking portraits of Church members and occasional weddings. Photography had always been there for me but the subject matter changed.
As the years passed I found myself yearning to use my abilities to once again take up canvas and brushes to communicate to an audience. But in contrast to the dark, depressing, introverted work that I was creating during my school years and into my studio time I would gravitate to a more joyful expression. No longer tied to the occult, to the darkness that oppressed me I could explore color, happiness, and joy in my work and its reflection of the beautiful world that surrounds us. Black finds very little existence in my work, while purple and gold excel. I explore different themes, but many will reflect my view of God’s wonderful creation and this wonderful journey we call life.. Both highlighting the beauty and fragility of creation and life is part of my work.
One of my favorite verses is James 4:14
“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
My last painting in the series Changes has part of this verse as the title,
“Changes XX: But a Vapour” And that is something that drives me everyday, both in my natural, spiritual and artistic life, the short time we have to live at the fullest. That is what inspires me, pushes me to both live and create.
