Ampersand LIVE + Podcast/Interview

I am honored to be part of Forterra NW's Ampersand Live

Thursday, October 29, 7-8:30pm PST
(virtual event)

You may reserve your FREE ticket HERE
If you'd like to make a donation, go HERE

Listen to a related Land & Power Podcast/Interview about
my work and how it relates to family and place, available now.

To listen to Sense of Family, go HERE

This year, the show comes to you

Forterra invites you to join us on Thursday, October 29, for the one night each fall when Ampersand Magazine bursts off the page and comes alive with the help of ten Northwest artists, musicians, poets, storytellers, dancers, birdwatchers, and more. This is our chance to celebrate the diverse natural beauty of our home through vibrant explorations on the theme of restoration.

Always a satisfying mix of reverence and irreverence, inspiring perspectives, and challenging questions, Ampersand LIVE is an event for people who seek a deeper connection with the people and places of the region. With Tomo Nakayama reprising his role as curator of our excellent lineup, there’ll be something for everyone.

The Seventh Annual Ampersand LIVE will be a virtual event, presented from a place Forterra has helped to conserve. You can watch it here on the event page or on Forterra's Facebook and YouTube.

Photo: Marcus Donner

Photo: Marcus Donner

SLATE contemporary - Interview with the Artist

SLATE Art: What is your favorite piece in the Color Fields show? Why?
Juan Alonso Rodriguez: Any sort of “what’s your favorite…” question is always difficult to answer, regardless of topic but I will compromise and mention two that happen to be hanging side by side: Indigo Flow 7 & Quiet Pearl. They are significant to me for similar and  opposite reasons. When I made Indigo Flow 7, I wanted the feel of a void you would be pulled into, both foreboding and peaceful. When I was younger, I would imagine being aboard a spaceship and looking out the ship’s windows into the darkness of space in order to relax, meditate or fall asleep. It was comforting to be enveloped by that immersive darkness. I have four large canvasses in my studio that I intend to saturate in this sort of monochromatic fashion to acquire a similar feel. Quiet Pearl is similar in the sense of that deep saturation, but it evokes an earthlier and possibly friendlier feel. They are Yin and Yang and are both significant steps forward in my quest to achieve certain sensory reactions to my work.

SA: What are you making/working on in the studio this summer?
JAR: Currently, I have several projects going on. In the studio, I have started six new 30” x 30” canvasses that are a continuation of my Pattern & Flow series but the pattern component of these works are inspired by the railings my father designed and fabricated for my family’s beach home in Cuba, which was built the year I was born. This is a bit of an experiment for me and I am proceeding with caution but excited to see the end results. I have been inspired by these railings before and created six, six-foot tall sculptures for Chief Sealth High School in Seattle, based on their designs. I have two semi-public projects in the works as well; both for large apartment buildings being developed in Seattle. For one, I have designed and will fabricate a large stainless- steel wall sculpture for an outside façade. For the second building, I am working on a sidewalk treatment which will likely involve sandblasting a repeating pattern on much of the sidewalk around it.

SA: What artists have informed your own art practice the most? 
JAR: I am continuously inspired by artists, whether internationally known or my close friends, but there are a few that have made a mark on my psyche for different reasons. The first artists whose work I saw that made me want to paint was Dutch artist Karel Appel. I loved his gestural and energetic brush strokes and his ability to adapt the known in an abstract way. Georgia O’Keefe impressed me, not only with her work, but in the way she approached her life. Her sense of independence and resolve to not compromise in a world where women were not taken seriously, gave me inspiration as a self-taught artist that I too, could move past the nay-sayers. As I began seriously developing my own artistic voice, I started researching Cuban artists. If I had to choose one favorite artists (there goes that word again), it would be Wifredo Lam. I remember sitting in the middle of a room full of his work in a museum in Havana and starting to weep at the beauty and magic of his work. He was of Chinese and African descent, born in Cuba and made his mark in Paris; another story of overcoming the odds. I think these folks have inspired me without feeling like I had to make work that looked like theirs. It has been more of a remote mentorship and leading by example of what is possible. Of course, I will always remember Jacob Lawrence as someone who always encouraged me and gave me more confidence as an artist than anyone else, particularly when I was starting out. He and his wife, Gwen Knight are definitely two of my personal heroes.

SA: What music are you listening to these days?
JAR: Two of my favorite singer/songwriters have recently put out new music that have been on regular play at my studio. Fiona Apple’s Fetch the Bolt Cutters, to me is the soundtrack for the insanity of the pandemic we are living through. You have to be somewhat comfortable with human instability to listen to this album. I am. Rufus Wainwrights’ Unfollow the Rules is the other album I have currently on repeat. His voice is in top shape as is his writing for this recording. Poses has been my favorite album of his and Unfollow the Rulesthis new one is a close second.

SA: What shelter in place activities give you some piece of mind/enjoyment/opportunities to learn new things?
JAR: Since this pandemic began, I decided to treat the idea of shelter in place as I would treat an artist residency. I decided to concentrate on work without distraction and so far, coming to my studio and working has kept me sane. I do miss seeing friends and some socializing, but I’ve also realized I was doing a bit too much and needed to pull back a bit. Of course, I have also been doing the various things many others have as well, such as cooking a lot more, binge-watching TV and getting a couple of small houseplants to watch grow. No sourdough yet. I’m also making an effort to go running or walking 5-6 days a week to keep the weight at a certain level, especially with all the cooking and cocktail recipes with which I’ve been experimenting.

SA: You find a large bag full of cash on the side of the road. (Say $1m.) What's next?
JAR: Because I would not do well in jail, I’d make sure somehow the money would not be traced to someone needy or any illegal activity. No, I’m not that kind that would immediately go to the police and return it. I’d just want to make sure that it wouldn’t come back to haunt me for whatever reason. Assuming I could keep it, I’d first pay off my mortgage and put aside some cash to send on a regular basis to my family that still lives in Cuba. After that, I’d probably consider where I might want to spend the rest of my life, which would likely be a warmer climate than the Pacific Northwest. Ideally, I would want to buy a place that had enough space for a studio without having to rent a separate space to go work. If I had money left over, I would want to develop a small building of artist studios with an exhibition space.

Although I am approaching retirement age, I don’t see myself slowing down when it comes to making art. I probably need to consider being less involved in art and community activism and let younger more energetic folks have a voice so I can focus fully on my work. I have more ideas in my head than I could possibly make happen, so blockage has never been my problem. Oh yes, I want to write an autobiography, even if no one reads it and hope I can get to travel again soon.

Color Fields at SLATE contemporary, Oakland, CA

Juan Alonso-Rodríguez and Carol Inez Charney

SLATE contemporary | 473 25th Street, Oakland, CA

July 30 - October 10, 2020 | Hours: By appointment & Saturdays 12-5pm

SLATE contemporary is pleased to present Color Fields, featuring painting by Juan Alonso-Rodríguez and photography by Carol Inez Charney. While working in two different mediums, Alonso-Rodríguez and Charney both address the expansive nature of color, light, and space. 

The exhibition’s title references the Color Field painting movement of the 1950s and 60s, which anchored compositions around large, immersive fields of color and illusions of deep space. The aim of Color Field painters was not to emphasize images, brush strokes, or impasto, but rather to create a swath of color that was sensory and immaterial. In the work of Mark Rothko, Helen Frankenthaler, and Morris Louis, to name only a few, paint was thinned to the point that instead of sitting on top of the canvas, it was absorbed by it, staining it without changing its texture or dimension. Thinning also allowed the paint to respond to gravity, and to create additive effects with multiple overlapping translucent layers. 

While the artists that SLATE is presenting do not adhere strictly to this tradition, there are core elements of their work that are informed by, and resonate with it. Alonso-Rodríguez works in acrylic on unprimed canvas for his series “Pattern & Flow,” in which he allows multiple layers of thin but saturated color to blend, drip and flow into one another. Charney approaches photography with a similar sensibility, using moving water as a filter to visually dissolve colored prints hanging in her studio. Indeed, the gravitational movement of material is a particular focus of both artists, who play with this natural force, allowing it to act of its own accord, while also manipulating and mitigating its effects in various ways. Alonso-Rodríguez flips his canvases in different directions when working, so that the paint moves, runs into itself, or stops at a precise moment. Charney carefully designs the patterning of liquid on glass using thickeners, resist, and a dance against time. Both artists are allowing a degree of chance, as paint and water move with their own agency, while still carefully controlling the resulting forms according to their artistic intent.

The 3rd Thing


We are thrilled to announce a new addition to our 2020 cohort. The covers of our four 2020 titles will feature work by Cuban-born artist Juan Alonso-Rodríguez.

Four ink and graphite drawings from Juan’s 2018 Palm Desert series bring together our 2020 titles in a way that announces and advances our intention to create not just individually important and beautiful books but a collection of necessary alternatives that are in conversation with one another and that invite readers into that conversation and into a process of creating an emergent, aspirational culture of intimacy, accountability and radical imagination.

Learn more about our 2020 cohort at our website, https://the3rdthing.press.

Governor's Arts & Heritage Awards Celebration

A festive event celebrating the 2019 honorees of the Governor’s Arts & Heritage Awards will take place on November 19, 7-9 pm at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts in Olympia, WA and you are invited.

Since 1966, these have been presented to individuals and organizations that have significantly contributed to the arts and cultural development of Washington State. Please join us as we recognize this year’s distinguished recipients: Anne Banks of Olympia, David Diaz of Richland, Juan Alonso-Rodríguez of Seattle, Juan Manuel Barco of Brier, Matt Cadman of Wenatchee, Michael Spafford of Seattle, the Northwest Native American Basketweavers Association of Olympia, and The 5th Avenue Theatre of Seattle. A dessert reception and no-host bar will precede the awards ceremony.

BUY TICKETS

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Re:definition 2019 - Part 2

Please join us for the second exhibit installment of
Re:definition 2019 The Latinx Diaspora 

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Paramount Theater
911 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101

Free & Open to the Public

Gallery curated by Juan Alonso-Rodríguez
Featuring works by
Arturo Artorez, Tatiana Garmendia and Hugo Moro

 Although the event is free, we encourage you to RSVP as a courtesy.

 Doors and gallery open at 5:00 pm.

Reception with complimentary drinks and light bites from Chef Tarik Abdullah, plus music by J-Na$ty & SHESGUCCI

 Re:definition was launched in 2016 with the goal of redefining historic cultural space. Rotating exhibits throughout the year showcase works from visual artists whose pieces highlight issues of race and social justice, both locally and globally. This year’s theme focuses on work created by artists from the Latinx Diaspora. 

The upcoming exhibit will be on display from July 28, 2019 through January 2020.

Learn more about Re:definition

 CURATORS’ STATEMENT: I dream of a borderless world where culture is shared rather than appropriated or labeled by a powerful few; where the concept of home can mean every corner of the world or one that resets nightly, depending on where the traveler comes to rest.

Home can mean a physical building, a birthplace, or something in between. For those of us who migrate, this definition is often blurred. While we cling to our identity, we also embrace and adapt to the challenges and opportunities we encounter. The artworks I have selected lean towards the symbolic, hoping each viewer comes away with a higher appreciation for the artist’s passion and fewer preconceptions about their ethnicity.

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Good News!

First, I am super honored to be among the very talented creatives that have been awarded a 2019 Artist Trust Fellowship. This couldn't have come at a better time. If you're not yet familiar with Artist Trust, I strongly encourage you to check it out and get involved with this amazing arts organization.

This is the closest I will ever get to winning an Emmy Award
Recently, an incredible team from KCTS 9 was honored with an Emmy® for Borders & Heritage: Los Artistas at the 2019 NATAS PNW Regional Emmy® Awards. The program – a special digital and broadcast presentation – featured the stories of four Latino artists living in the Pacific Northwest for whom art is not only a form of social expression but also a proclamation of heritage. I am thrilled to have been a part of this program.

4Culture Grant
With the support and generosity of 25 friends and patrons, I was able to once again stay in an amazing house in Palm Desert to recharge, be inspired and create for a month. I went with the intention of continuing and further developing Desert Drawings I created last year, this time with the specific goal of making paintings that would eventually become sculptures. While there I created 10 acrylic paintings on 30" x 22.5" Arches 300lb hot-pressed watercolor paper that you can see HERE. I am happy to announce that I will be receiving an Individual Artist Grant from 4Culture so a select few of those paintings will come to life in 3D. Stay tuned for a presentation of the paintings and sculptures towards the end of 2019.

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Re:definition 2019 - Part 1

Please join me and the folks at the Paramount Theater for the first exhibit installment of Re:definition 2019 The Latinx Diaspora! 

Sunday, January 20, 2019
(Martin Luther King Day weekend)
The Paramount Theatre
911 Pine Street
Seattle, WA 98101

Free & Open to the Public

Gallery curated by Juan Alonso-Rodríguez
Featuring works by
Monica Arche, Felicia Gonzalez and Fulgencio Lazo

Please RSVP for this Free event today!

Doors and gallery open at 6:00 pm.
Reception with drinks, light bites from Cafe Con Leche and music, including a live performance by Tres Leches!

Although the event is free, we encourage you to RSVP as a courtesy.

Re:definition was launched in 2016 with the goal of redefining historic cultural space. Rotating exhibits throughout the year showcase works from visual artists whose pieces highlight issues of race and social justice, both locally and globally. This year’s theme focuses on work created by artists from the Latinx Diaspora. 

The upcoming exhibit will be on display from January 20th through July 2019.

Learn more about Re:definition

I look forward to seeing you there!
 

CURATORS’ STATEMENT: I dream of a borderless world where culture is shared rather than appropriated or labeled by a powerful few; where the concept of home can mean every corner of the world or one that resets nightly, depending on where the traveler comes to rest.

Home can mean a physical building, a birthplace, or something in between. For those of us who migrate, this definition is often blurred. While we cling to our identity, we also embrace and adapt to the challenges and opportunities we encounter. The artworks I have selected lean towards the abstract, hoping each viewer comes away with a higher appreciation for the artist’s passion and fewer preconceptions about their ethnicity.

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Bellevue Arts Museum - Making Our Mark - Legacy Artists Discussion

Where: Bellevue Arts Museum, 510 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA 98004, 425-519-0770   When: Thursday, March 15, 6:30 - 830 pm.

BAM & Pratt for a series of panel discussions introducing some of the many artists featured in Making our Mark. BAM’s Director Emeritus Michael Monroe and Pratt Fine Arts Center Executive Director Steve Galatro will moderate three discussions with emerging artists, teaching specialists, and some who’ve built a lasting legacy in the region. Artists on each panel will talk about their own careers and artistic inspiration, as well as how their work at Pratt has influenced their paths as artists.

I am honored to be in such distinguished company for this talk. Please join Marita Dingus, Cappy Thompson, Preston Singletary and me at Bellevue Arts Museum on Thursday, March 15!           LINK

Tobacco Pattern 1 - 2017, acrylic on unprimed canvas, 38" x 48"

Tobacco Pattern 1 - 2017, acrylic on unprimed canvas, 38" x 48"