When I that when I have.

Welcome to Horizonte.

That a show that takes a look at a current issues through a Hispanic lens.

I'm your host, Catherine Anaya, an Arizona artist, muralist and painter, is using her art to tell her family's stories in a new exhibit.

It's called Con Carino Siempre, which means with love always.

It's on display at the gallery at the Chandler Center for the Arts through November 8th.

And here to talk more about what she calls a visual love letter to her family is Adriana Enriquez.

Thank you so much for joining us.

Hello.

Of course.

It's a pleasure to be here with you today.

Well, I'm very excited to talk about your work.

It's so vibrant and so stunning.

Thank you.

Tell me a little bit about how you would describe it and in particular your use of fauna and flora.

Yeah, of course I would describe my work as, of course, botanical in nature.

I love to use really colorful paints.

And essentially just bring the viewer in through that vibrancy and then tell a deeper story by focusing on species that are native to the Sonoran Desert so that they want to learn more about those.

Yeah.

This exhibit obviously emphasizes a lot of those elements, but in particular, you're telling your family's stories through your art.

Tell me a little bit about what in particular it is about your family, and especially the strong women in your family that made you think, you know, I would like to preserve these stories through my work.

Sure.

Yes.

I think initially I really wanted the viewer to be able to enter into the gallery space and be met with these vibrant works of art, botanical themes that they may recognize.

And then behind those works is a more, deeper meaning of, like you said, familial stories.

I think as I've gotten older, I've become more appreciative of the moments that my family and I are at home, just in the living room, enjoying coffee with each other or around the dining room table, just talking about how my grandma grew up, or you know, what her and her siblings used to do and get in trouble doing and having fun with one another.

Or, you know, how my mom raised me, or how things were before she raised me.

And I found a lot of value and inspiration in those stories.

And so I knew that I wanted to focus on those for this exhibition.

The conversation, the stories that we don't do enough, nearly enough that we don't have conversations about.

So let's talk a little bit about some of the work in particular.

I want to start by talking about the love you planted.

And this is a sunflower.

Well, these are sunflower sculptures that are inspired by your mom.

Tell me a little bit about that.

That's correct.

Yeah.

So sunflowers are my mom's favorite flower.

And so I knew that the work that I dedicated to her for this show had to incorporate those sunflowers.

I'm also really drawn to them because they have a deep taproot that grows 5 to 6ft deep into the soil.

And so I felt that that had a really beautiful metaphorical tie to having these deep rooted familial values, while also, you know, staying grounded in all that we do.

And whenever they're young, sunflowers follow the sun from east to west.

And I've always felt like I've looked to my mom in this way and her light and energy.

And so I thought that that would be a really nice piece to showcase in the center of the gallery.

They are stunning.

They really are.

It's Amar's roses.

That's another one that was influenced by, This is your grandfather, correct?

That's right.

Yes.

His name is Itamar, and I think I paint a lot of flowers because of him.

He has the ability to grow like the most lush garden ever.

His backyard is really beautiful.

And he grows roses in his backyard.

And he shared a story with me how whenever he was young, although they didn't have much, he witnessed his dad plant these rose bushes around their home and his dad would then make clippings and these really beautiful bouquets for his mom.

And that's a practice that my grandpa has continued today with my grandma that I really love.

And so I think this act of love served as an inspiration for If the Mars Rose is so beautiful.

And speaking of your grandmother, she is also an inspiration behind another piece of work called desert Grace.

That's correct.

Yes.

So, I knew that this piece would be really vibrant and colorful because she has such a, like, vibrant, loud personality, and it features a portrait of her from when she was 21.

And this picture was used in the newspaper to announce her engagement.

And it's one of my favorite images of her.

It's a gorgeous image.

Thank you.

So I knew I wanted to use it in the piece.

And she in the background there are Santa Rita, prickly pear, as well as Perry's pens, two men, pink flowers that grow behind behind her and hopefully, you know, brings the viewer in with these vibrant colors.

So how did your family react?

You have pictures with them inside the exhibit.

How did they react when they saw it for the first time in its home as an exhibit?

Yeah, their reaction was priceless.

I think, you know, they're very proud.

They've always been very supportive of me, and I didn't tell them much about the work I was creating for the show.

I didn't really show them any pictures, and so it was a big surprise for them.

So to see their reaction really just kind of reminds me of why I even do what I do.

It was one of my most favorite moments that I will remember forever for sure.

So when you're in the process of having these conversations with your family members and listening to these stories, was there anything in particular that really surprised you about what you were hearing?

Oh, I think and I don't know if there's anything like in particular or specific, but I think I'm just consistently drawn to how steadfast the women in my family are.

And this is like my great grandma, my great great grandma, and just hearing the kind of women that they were growing up in the 40s, in the 50s, being very courageous and bold and kind of having a voice since then, I think is really inspiring and, following my path creatively and getting to talk about them through my work is really an honor, that strength that you mentioned.

Did that influence at all your decision to create large scale installments?

You know, what made you take on that large dimensional work?

Yeah, I think there is definitely like a curiosity in creating larger work since I am a muralist.

There was a goal of like, how do I bring that practice into a gallery space, which I think prompted the use of materials like plywood and MDF board, cut out with a jigsaw to create more sculptural pieces?

So kind of the mix between like a 2D and a three dimensional painting that people can walk around and interact with.

I know you primarily work with acrylics in your studio and mural practice.

You've done some work for some very big clients Tostitos Desert Botanical Garden.

You hand paint every aspect of your work, so let's take a look at a couple of pieces.

One being the mural, for instance.

Which was the first mural you've done right?

Yeah.

So I, I created it was actually it's the first mural that I did for the city of Phoenix.

Okay.

And that was like a really proud moment for me to be able to paint this piece as a, a commissioned artist for, the Washington Street Payment Center.

And it was about for, like, a 40 or 50ft wall.

And it took probably about a month and a half to do, and bring getting to bring in these natural elements.

Also, it was a mural about water into this space to kind of live in it up a little bit.

And for people there who are waiting in line, then getting to enjoy it, to kind of have something to look at while they're waiting.

So it was a really lovely opportunity.

It stunning.

And the Desert Botanical Garden.

Yes.

That one is equally just so beautiful.

Thank you so much.

That was, probably just of course, a dream client.

I absolutely love the Desert Botanical Garden.

I grew up going there and love to spend time there and gather inspiration, and so getting to create a mural for their Butterfly Pavilion was really special, and that one was a bit more meticulous, and that it called for, scientifically portraying the pollinators in the mural correctly, since it was more of an educational mural for the space.

Do you come from a family of artists?

How did you go about nurturing your talent as a young artist?

And even now, sure, I would say I don't know if anyone in my family would call themselves artist, but they are certainly very creative in their own right.

My grandpa especially, he can draw anything you ask him to in a matter of minutes.

And he shared with me that my great grandpa, drew and painted a lot as well.

So there's definitely that line there.

Of creativity and curiosity.

Oh that's wonderful.

And so when people go see this exhibit, which I highly encourage everybody to do, what are you hoping that, they will walk away from that exhibit feeling what kind of emotion?

Because they will, whether they realize it or not, have a connection to your family.

Tour.

Which is so special.

I think painting for me is super meditative and it's one of the really only opportunity I have to feel very present and what I'm doing.

And so my hope is that when people walk into the space and encounter my work, that they take that opportunity as well.

I think especially in a world where we're drawn to so many things and are distracted all the time, it's a really beautiful opportunity to get to slow down and take in the artwork.

And then secondly, I would say, hopefully they're curious about the species that they're seeing, and we learn more about the the critters that we share, you know, our desert home with.

That's so beautiful.

Absolutely.

So if people are interested in your work, they can obviously go to the exhibit.

You said that, there is an opportunity to potentially buy some of your pieces.

That's correct.

Yes.

Some of the pieces are for sale within the gallery space too.

Yes.

And then I have other works available on my website.

Yes.

So you have a shop on your website?

That's correct.

And is it just the, paintings or is it, say, for example, the sunflower sculptures?

Sure.

I would say both.

Yes, both.

Paintings I've already created.

Or there's also the opportunity to reach out about unique commissions or mural inquiries.

But that can all be reached out through my website.

Our wonderful.

Yeah.

Okay.

I want to remind people again, the exhibit is on display through November 8th, and it is at the gallery at the Chandler Center for the Arts.

And it's free.

Correct.

So people just need to go check it out.

They can find out more at Vision Gallery.

Dot org.

And also on your website again it's Adriana enriquez.com.

Correct?

Yes.

Wonderful.

It is so nice to meet you.

Thanks so much.

Likewise.

Yeah.

And your work is just stunning vibrant.

Just love it I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Best of luck to you.

Thanks.

That's our show for autism on Arizona Im Catherine Anaya.

We'll see you next time at that time when I have.