July 19, 1987-San Antonio Express-News

Artists' arsenal needs challenge

Challenge and passion are magical ingredients in a young artist's arsenal.

The rightness of one's aspirations is fundamental and it is the source of energy and exploration that often will lead the talented to create imagery and nuance from the raw materials of oils, brushes, canvas and/or paper and pencil.

The new generation champs at the bit, pawing the fertile ground of the arts world, the pristine beauty of bold words and cutting ideas.

Rebellious spirit

Such a spirit of rebellion is only right and proper, for confrontation is a time-honored facet of artistic creation, and it may in fact be the essential power source for creativity.

These are turbulent times, and the seeming chaos of our society finds a ready roost in the thinking of young artists who view the established generation of artists as passé at best and at worst as inconsequential security seekers.

An afternoon tete-a-tete with Jim Valdez and Quintin González this week proved to be an enjoyable and stimulating excursion.

It began with a drive to Jim's Coffee Shop where we had a few cups of java and a lot of conversation.

"There is a lot of arrogant falsity in our society," Valdez said. "It is an utter lack of concem for quality and craftsmanship in the arts.

"Our artists - whether Hispanic or whatever - lack originality and experience, and the work is basically nice and too inoffensive," Valdez continued.

The serious mood was interlaced by questions about the roles that artists can and perhaps should play in contemporary society.

"Creativity," González said, "is the greatest gift we humans have, and it has to speak to our human condition."

Their words, full of the energy and questioning that spark aesthetic growth, reverberated around the table.

There is more to art than just programs and cultural centers that depend on funding for doing art," Valdez said.

Not prime concern

González interjected, "Creativity is the sole reason for the existence of cultural centers, and yet we see that creativity is not the first thing that Hispanic and other cultural centers concern themselves with.

"Organizations that depend on the arts do not rank creativity and craftsmanship at the top.

"No," González continued, "they usually rank money first, followed by audiences, and then personalities who attract others, and quality art and discipline come in last.

Most artists have not benefited from all the funding of centers and organizations," Valdez noted.

"Asked about the possibility that the state commission might be dismantled, the young artists mused while enjoying the last of the coffee and tea.

"Defunding means nothing to me," Valdez said' "Who's going to close down? Not me, and certainly not the majority of artists who do not seem to benefit from all the money being given to centers that only seem to hire their own.

"Artists will continue creating art, even if there are no patrons, for art is a statement of our spirit, and we do it because we have to.

"True artists will paint," Valdez continued, "regardless of funding, and we will find a way to paint and express ourselves."

We left the coffee shop and decided to drive to Rendon's Ice House to enjoy a balmy afternoon sipping beer.

During the drive, both artists kept up a stirring conversation about the needs of artists who hunger for forums where their voices can speak to a new generation.

"As artists, we need to talk with other artists, to somehow begin establishing new directions in the arts," Valdez said.

New disciplines

"Our modern human condition must be expressed through new disciplines, and it is discipline and willingness to explore that create art and quality."

Sitting under the shade of the trees at Rendon's, the artists kept battering me with their thoughts and hopes.

"I am painting much more and doing more," Valdez said. "My new work has excited me."

Yes, I mused, it is a good piece of work, one that dares to explore the world of rebellion with a sanguine concern for our painful human condition.

Titled "Steps of the Conformist Search for Conformity," the large oil on canvas unravels the painful journey of an evanescent spirit succumbing to economic and social sirens plying their wares of materialism and passionless conformity.

There is much to be admired in the aspirations of youth, and their hope of creating a dialogue among all artists is a sanguine one.

The apparent arts malaise has been a question arising at poetry readings, tertulias and just plain conversations with many other artists.

Free expression

Valdez and González are seeking the means to bring artists together in order to explore the many possible ways that artists can collaborate in order to empower each other, in order to create forums for free expression.

Even if the programs were to be defunded, both artists were adamant that the arts would survive, and that "true" artists would find the means to create art.

They surely are not mistaken, for art has existed with and without funds from patrons and governments.

Their search for a higher spiritual truth, for aesthetic intregity, is a welcome statement.

It is from such testaments of will and integrity that meaningful art is created. Safe and sanctioned art is just too "nice" for an inquisitive intellect. Youth does have the right and the responsibility to break through barriers.