Short biography: Rafael Navarro, visual artist
The innate creative abilities of Rafael Navarro emerged long before he entered high school, in his native Mexico City. The primarily self-taught artist—who draws inspiration from his rich heritage, eclectic music, Nature, personal observations and childhood memories—has resided in Phoenix since 1989. His work, often influenced by Rene Magritte, Picasso and Frida Kahlo, has drawn critical acclaim from local academics and art patrons to national curators. He is adept at proposing an idea, then transforming its reality within sculpture, painting and printmaking. He now is an esteemed member of the thriving Phoenix Downtown-art community.
Rafael Navarro
Artist Statement: Rafael Navarro
Ever since I was a child in Mexico City, I felt the need to create with my hands. I would play and sculpt with anything in my reach. I didn't possess any fancy toys, so my favorite material was modeling clay. I would make my own action figures and when I was finished playing. I would knead the clay in to a ball to start over again the next day. This hand mind exercise was the actual beginning of my career.
I work by instinct, through an internal dialog that I can't ignore. The ideas dictate the medium, thereby fostering a strong relationship between the images and materials. I draw inspiration from my heritage, personal observations and childhood memories. I alter the same ideas by taking different approaches with various materials, such as with the "guitar/woman" series. I prefer to communicate visually, in a poetic manner, making similarities in the creation of life, music, and art. I pay tribute to women who create life; through conception, they create music and the masterpiece of a new person. Often, my musical pieces become exaggerated seedpods, also representing the evolution of life. I can't let go of my work until I am satisfied, until I achieve the ideal state of expression. Only then am I able to see that my visual "talk" can speak clearly to those who view it.
I work by instinct, through an internal dialog that I can't ignore. The ideas dictate the medium, thereby fostering a strong relationship between the images and materials. I draw inspiration from my heritage, personal observations and childhood memories. I alter the same ideas by taking different approaches with various materials, such as with the "guitar/woman" series. I prefer to communicate visually, in a poetic manner, making similarities in the creation of life, music, and art. I pay tribute to women who create life; through conception, they create music and the masterpiece of a new person. Often, my musical pieces become exaggerated seedpods, also representing the evolution of life. I can't let go of my work until I am satisfied, until I achieve the ideal state of expression. Only then am I able to see that my visual "talk" can speak clearly to those who view it.
Claire de Lune
Arizona Monsoon Sonata in G
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The Piano Tree
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Exhibits:
_ - Solo show at Central Arizona College, October 4 to November 4, 2011. 8470 N. Overfield Road, Coolidge, AZ 85128
- "Chaos Theory 11" Invitational group show, October 1 to November 21, 2010, At Legend City Studios, Phoenix AZ.
- "Converging Trajectories: Crossing Borders, Building Bridges", Guest-curated by Ted G. Decker, August 20th – October 9th, 2010 at Modified Arts, 407 East Roosevelt, Phoenix, AZ 85004
http://modifiedarts.org/exhibitions-details.html
- "26 Blocks" Collaboration with 26 photographers, and 26 Writers, May 7th to May 30th, 2010 at After Hours Gallery, 116 West McDowell Road #120
Phoenix, AZ
http://www.26blocks.com/
26 BLOCKS TOUR
June - UofA Medical Facility, downtown Phoenix. In coordination with "Get Your Phx". Details to follow.... See More
July - MonOrchid
Sept - Civic Space Park
Oct - We're still in talks with CityScape
Dec 16 to Jan 31 - Phoenix Public Library
- "Sounds Like Art" Group exhibit, April 23 through Saturday, July 3, 2010. at Arizona Museum for Youth, 35 N. Robson in downtown Mesa, AZ.
http://www.mesaaz.gov/news/ArticleView.aspx?id=26183
- "Lighthouse" Group exhibit of self illuminated artwork, March 26th to April 16th, 2010 at the Alwun House Art Gallery, 1204 E. Roosevelt St. Phoenix, AZ.
- "Chaos Theory X" Group exhibit, October 2, 2009, at Legend City Studios, 521 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix, AZ.
- "Art at Lux" - July 06 - August 31, 2008. Solo exhibit at Lux Coffee Bar, 4404 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ
- "Dia de los Muertos: 8th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival Exhibit" - October 22 - November 5, 2007 Group exhibit at Vision Gallery, 80 South San Marcos Place, Chandler, AZ
- "Solo Show" - September 7 to 28, 2007 Solo exhibit at the Phoenix College Fine Art Gallery, 1202 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ
- "Big Works" - October 6, 2006 - January 2, 2007 Juried group exhibit at the Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe Street, Phoenix, AZ
- "Art Detour 18th" A self guided tour of Downtown Phoenix, Garfield Galleria, March 17th to 19th, 2006.
- "Exponential Love: the gift of life" group show and benefit for the Organ and Tissue Donor Network, awareness and education. Tilt Gallery, February 3rd to 25th, 2006. Phoenix, AZ.
- "November's First Friday 05" Open studio tour. Guest artists Laraine Kaiser and Liza Roman-Harvey, November 6, 2005. Phoenix, AZ.
- "Visions and Rhythm" Group show, Beauregard Gallery, March 17th to April 30th, Baton Rouge, La. 2005
- "Art Detour 17" - A self guided tour of Downtown Phoenix galleries, artist studios and art spaces. Guest artist: Sergio Ladron de Guevara. Artefacto Art Studio, March 5, 6, and 7, 2004. Phoenix, AZ.
- "Warehouse to Westside" -The $100 show - Fifty participating local artist, Studio LoDo/PCCA, Dec. 3rd to Jan 3rd, 2004. Phoenix AZ.
- "November's First Friday 04"- Open studio tour. Guest artist: Judy Miller and David Dauncey, Artefacto Art Studio at 11th Street Studios, November 5, 2004. Phoenix, AZ.
- "Art Detour 16" - A self guided tour of Downtown Phoenix galleries, artist studios and art spaces. Guest artist: John Holechek and Scott Foust. Artefacto Art Studio, March 5, 6, and 7, 2004. Phoenix, AZ.
- "Galeria Bellas Artes 3rd Anniversary Show", Cave Creek, AZ. 2004
- "Galeria Bellas Artes Group Show", Cave Creek, AZ 2003
- "Almas Mexicanas" - paintings and sculpture of Sergio Ladron de Guevara and Rafael Navarro, Galeria Bellas Artes, Cave Creek, AZ, 2002
- "Winter Group Show, 2002", Galeria Bellas Artes, Cave Creek, AZ. 2002.
- "Chaos Theory" Group exhibit, 3 Car Pileup Studio Gallery, November 2001, Phoenix, AZ.
- "18 at GBA", group show Galeria Bellas Artes, Cave Creek, AZ. 2001.
- "Phoenix College Annual Student Art Exhibit, 2001", Phoenix College Gallery, 1st place in three-dimensional art, Phoenix, AZ.
- "Phoenix College Annual Student Art Exhibit, 2000", Phoenix College Gallery, 1st place in three dimensional art, Phoenix, AZ.
- "Days of the Dead 98", National Juried Art Exhibit, Fine Art Center in Taos (FACET), 3rd place and postcard selection, Oct 16 - Nov 13, 1998. Taos, NM.
- "Phoenix College Annual Student Art Exhibit, 1997" Phoenix College Gallery, 3rd place and honorable mention, Phoenix, Arizona 1997.
- "From Every Angle", National Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Sculpture, Galeria Mesa, Juror's Award, December 3, 1996 - January 4, 1997, Mesa, AZ.
- "Dia de los Muertos/ Day of the Dead", Juried Group Show, Jose Galvez Photography and Gallery, October 31 - November 18, 1995, Tucson, AZ.
- "Art Detour 1995" Group exhibit, Phoenix Center for the Arts, Phoenix, Ari
WONDERFUL WORK...
ReplyDeleteI love the Here and Now Image of day 192.
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