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Cha Gutierrez: Creating Art to Inspire a Message
Phoenix, Arizona – Barriozona: What type of influences shaped you
into the artist that you are?
Cha Gutierrez: I have been deeply influenced by family when it
comes to me being an artist. Particularly my father, who at one time
had ambitions to be an artist. But as is all too common in Hispanic
families, he had a sudden obligation to become a family man and
never could pursue it. As a result I was taught technique from a
young age. I used to sneak in his closet and drag out his old
portfolio case and look at work from his few art classes he took in his
community college days. I am also deeply influenced by art history,
but more than anything human characteristics and emotions. I’m the
biggest people watcher there is, and it influences my work
tremendously.
Barriozona: What drives you to do the type of art you do?
Cha Gutierrez: The biggest thing that drives my work is human
interaction and emotion, which are broad topics. I try to be as
personal and up-close with them as I can. Some of my artwork is of
people I meet and try to get close to and capture their true self, with
their guard down. I also work in a covert way by snapping photos of
people who are often unaware and using the photos as reference.
Being able to capture a person at moments when they are truly
themselves or revealing a lot about themselves in body language,
expressions or space is my biggest goal when it comes to choosing
my subjects. There is also another side to my work, which is slightly
more surreal and humorous and deals more with emotion.
Barriozona: What are some of the social issues that concern you the
most?
Cha Gutierrez: Some of the issues I have the biggest personal ties
with are those that deal with education. I was raised in a school
district environment. My mom worked in the Glendale District. I went
to bilingual education conferences at an early age; I was at school
extra early until extra late. To see what has become of the school
system (particularly in Arizona,) is devastating. And I hope to have a
hand in the changes made to it in my lifetime.
Barriozona: What are some specific problems happening in your own
community?
Cha Gutierrez: Some of the most noticeable problems within my own
community are those of racism, prejudice, poverty, corruption in the
school systems and the elimination of my people's cultural heritage in
this city. Hispanic people have a large role in Arizona's history, but it
has been and continues to be covered up, smothered, and ignored.
There are empty fields where some of the earliest Mexican barrios in
Phoenix once stood that are evidence to this elimination. There are
kids on the Westside and Central Phoenix who are in high school
with a second grade reading level, meanwhile some kids in a nicer
neighborhood have their pick of taking Japanese, German and French
as their language elective. Recent laws are the most obvious
evidence of some of the biggest social problems, but it’s hard to talk
about the social problems in my home state and not begin to rant for
a long time. Because there are a lot of problems.
Barriozona: In terms of social change, what are some of your
personal methods
Cha Gutierrez: In terms of personal methods for bringing about
change, I can only hope that my art will inspire a message. And that
is that diversity is happening here in our home. And we can’t run
from it and that our differences and similarities are a beautiful thing.
I also hope to be involved in community projects that involve art and
bringing it to neighborhoods where even the kids feel like and know
it’s hopeless. Bring hope to people who haven’t had any in years. A
lot of the ugliness that has come about recently has only made
people more thirsty for change and action, and I feel like that’s the
calling I have been waiting for to spring to action.
Barriozona: Who are individuals you look up to, people you admire
and respect?
Cha Gutierrez: I don't know if there are individuals that I look up to
necessarily, as much as certain types of people. I look up to the
individual who works with people for change and manages to stay
humble and good. I look up to the everyday family person, who is
selfless and giving. I look up to the unconditionally generous people,
who give until they have nothing left to give. I look up to the
hardworking individual who never complains about how tired they
are. These are characters you can find in any community but they are
often times the first to be wronged and overlooked. But I look up to
them because their spirit is never broken.
into the artist that you are?
Cha Gutierrez: I have been deeply influenced by family when it
comes to me being an artist. Particularly my father, who at one time
had ambitions to be an artist. But as is all too common in Hispanic
families, he had a sudden obligation to become a family man and
never could pursue it. As a result I was taught technique from a
young age. I used to sneak in his closet and drag out his old
portfolio case and look at work from his few art classes he took in his
community college days. I am also deeply influenced by art history,
but more than anything human characteristics and emotions. I’m the
biggest people watcher there is, and it influences my work
tremendously.
Barriozona: What drives you to do the type of art you do?
Cha Gutierrez: The biggest thing that drives my work is human
interaction and emotion, which are broad topics. I try to be as
personal and up-close with them as I can. Some of my artwork is of
people I meet and try to get close to and capture their true self, with
their guard down. I also work in a covert way by snapping photos of
people who are often unaware and using the photos as reference.
Being able to capture a person at moments when they are truly
themselves or revealing a lot about themselves in body language,
expressions or space is my biggest goal when it comes to choosing
my subjects. There is also another side to my work, which is slightly
more surreal and humorous and deals more with emotion.
Barriozona: What are some of the social issues that concern you the
most?
Cha Gutierrez: Some of the issues I have the biggest personal ties
with are those that deal with education. I was raised in a school
district environment. My mom worked in the Glendale District. I went
to bilingual education conferences at an early age; I was at school
extra early until extra late. To see what has become of the school
system (particularly in Arizona,) is devastating. And I hope to have a
hand in the changes made to it in my lifetime.
Barriozona: What are some specific problems happening in your own
community?
Cha Gutierrez: Some of the most noticeable problems within my own
community are those of racism, prejudice, poverty, corruption in the
school systems and the elimination of my people's cultural heritage in
this city. Hispanic people have a large role in Arizona's history, but it
has been and continues to be covered up, smothered, and ignored.
There are empty fields where some of the earliest Mexican barrios in
Phoenix once stood that are evidence to this elimination. There are
kids on the Westside and Central Phoenix who are in high school
with a second grade reading level, meanwhile some kids in a nicer
neighborhood have their pick of taking Japanese, German and French
as their language elective. Recent laws are the most obvious
evidence of some of the biggest social problems, but it’s hard to talk
about the social problems in my home state and not begin to rant for
a long time. Because there are a lot of problems.
Barriozona: In terms of social change, what are some of your
personal methods
Cha Gutierrez: In terms of personal methods for bringing about
change, I can only hope that my art will inspire a message. And that
is that diversity is happening here in our home. And we can’t run
from it and that our differences and similarities are a beautiful thing.
I also hope to be involved in community projects that involve art and
bringing it to neighborhoods where even the kids feel like and know
it’s hopeless. Bring hope to people who haven’t had any in years. A
lot of the ugliness that has come about recently has only made
people more thirsty for change and action, and I feel like that’s the
calling I have been waiting for to spring to action.
Barriozona: Who are individuals you look up to, people you admire
and respect?
Cha Gutierrez: I don't know if there are individuals that I look up to
necessarily, as much as certain types of people. I look up to the
individual who works with people for change and manages to stay
humble and good. I look up to the everyday family person, who is
selfless and giving. I look up to the unconditionally generous people,
who give until they have nothing left to give. I look up to the
hardworking individual who never complains about how tired they
are. These are characters you can find in any community but they are
often times the first to be wronged and overlooked. But I look up to
them because their spirit is never broken.
Multimedia by Eduardo Barraza July 24, 2010
Cha Gutierrez is a talented and
promising Arizona artist whose
artwork and desire to make a
difference in the community is strong
as her values.
Photo by Eduardo Barraza| Barriozona
promising Arizona artist whose
artwork and desire to make a
difference in the community is strong
as her values.
Photo by Eduardo Barraza| Barriozona
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| CHA GUTIERREZ - VIDEO INTERVIEW |
| Video production by Eduardo Barraza |
Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues in Phoenix, Arizona
|
| Documented Dreams (Sueños Documentados) |
| Un libro en español e inglés escrito por jóvenes estudiantes de una escuela preparatoria en Arizona, y a los cuales la Proposición 300 les restringe las oportunidades de estudiar. Un vívido testimonio de nuestro tiempo que revela el carácter, determinación y valor de estos jóvenes que se encuentran en un dilema sociopolítico. $19.95 + $3.99 por envio Total $23.94 |
Un libro publicado por el Instituto Hispano de Asuntos Sociales para servir y educar.
| HISTORY IS ABOUT TO CHANGE Grassroots Journalism |
| ANUNCIO |
Eduardo Barraza is a journalist and writer,
Barriozona Magazine's editor, and director of
the Hispanic Insitute of Social Issues.
E-mail: editor@barriozona.com
Barriozona Magazine's editor, and director of
the Hispanic Insitute of Social Issues.
E-mail: editor@barriozona.com
