Meeting the Artist behind, "It's Me Snitches"

Art Review of Gabriel Diego Delgado's "It's Me Snitches" at The Villa Gallery in Tobin Hill

Meeting the artist behind …It’s me Snitches

-Gabriel Diego Delgado

gabrieldelgadoartstudio@yahoo.com

-San Antonio, TX.- What do you get when you cross Political Art with an art-school trained Abstract Expressionist who is combining visual art cues made under the context of the newly coined genre “Urban Expressionism”?

Answer: Gabriel Diego Delgado’s new art exhibition called …It’s me Snitches; a multi-bodied showing at The Villa gallery 2403 N. St Mary’s in Tobin Hill- opening Friday, May 13, 2011 from 6 pm - 10 pm.

Gabriel is premiering a new series of work based on home décor stenciling turned abstract patterns; large gestural action paintings-reminiscent of the 1950’s Abstract Expressionist painters and overtly political and highly methodological drawings spotlighting international social-political turmoil.

Still tied to the idea of political messenger, showcasing six of his highly detailed political drawings, Gabriel strums a more relaxed and cosmic art song with his play on color and rhythm; in his new painting series- showing us he is also highly skilled in color theory and composition. The new large-scale gestural abstract paintings being premiered in …It’s me Snitches takes the viewer on a visual rollercoaster ride of color cadences and organic forms. These paintings are a call back to the suppressed ideas of the Abstract Expressionist painting of his early student experience, carefully extracting those repressed critiques of the art soothsayers and willing to have those pictorial linguistic conversations once again.

Also on display are 10 plus small décor-esque multilayered stencil pattern paintings. These overall composition, Baroque-inspired and elegantly designed images on canvas are a far cry from the collected and prized art - the political drawings. Here, Gabriel explores a more “safe” genre of work, visiting stores like Home Depot®, Michael’s™ and other big box stores, shopping for that perfect home décor stencil, one that should be used to accent that “shabby chic” dresser or country-time kitchen, but Gabriel caresses the layers of die cut patterns and ironwork stencil designs into something more sinister, something on the border of “looks good with the couch” and “is that supposed to be art”. His deliberate stacking of design elements with a choice color palette shapes the composition of these works into a rare visual epiphany- something he hopes will attract the “everyday commoner to the sophisticated art patron”. He is well aware of his artistic role changing with these three separate bodies of work debunking all notions of what he calls “today’s contemporary art world being only concerned about who is the next superstar in Juxtapose Magazine™ and the clichéd Post Pop, Third Generation Graffiti-influenced artwork.”

Gradually immersing yourself in Gabriel’s self-directed and politically diluted art world you need to understand his eclectic artistic roots. Graduating Art School on the late 1990’s Gabriel Diego Delgado was influenced by everything from the rise of Grunge Rock to the sharp tongues of the tenured Art Department Faculty. This coupled with the political climate of Kent State University- {now famous for the1970 Vietnam protests and fatal shooting of 4 students with 9 others wounded by the Ohio National Guard}; Gabriel was exposed to a multitude of significant milieus. His keen interest in national and international policies and activism was grounded in the animal and environmental rights movements; seeking out a voice for those less fortunate, initially but inevitably, creating artwork that alluded to factual dates and times of various aspects of any kind of political strife.

After spending 5 years as Curator of Exhibitions at the Station Museum of Contemporary Art under the Directorship of renowned Museum Director, James Harithas; Gabriel’s novice interest in politics took on a more serious role as he became more actively involved in a plethora of nationally debated issues; traveling to Washington D.C. and New York to march in Anti-W.T.O and World Bank protests and then driving down to Mexico City, Mexico to convene at the Zócalo in Mexico City D.F. with one million other anti-government supports- welcoming the Zapatista caravan and Subcomandante Marcos from Chiapas, Mexico. After a wearied travel adventure in the Middle East- staying in Israel, Palestine, Syria, and Jordan, Gabriel’s artwork took on a more overtly political feel. Motivated by the Palestinian’s militant actions and desire for self-governance, Gabriel’s artistic voice took on a role of art educator; beginning to visually portray activists speaking out against corporations, lobbyists, and corrupt governments.

Settling in the California Bay Area Gabriel left the museum world to pursue his art career fulltime, exhibiting at alternative spaces and non-profits like Intersection for the Arts and Southern Exposure both in San Francisco, also to include a cross bay involvement at ProArts in Oakland. Transplanting himself in San Antonio in Mid-2000ish, Gabriel says “it was time to head back to Texas.” Working for a stint as Project Manager at the now de-shelved Museo Alameda, Gabriel inserted himself back into the non-profit sector using his knowledge to aid others in institutional sustainability. But, in the mist of this professional and geographical transition his artwork has not faltered- only maturing.

Gabriel Diego Delgado’s …It’s me Snitches” opens Friday May 13, 2011 from 6 pm – 10 pm at The Villa Gallery 2403 N. St. Mary’s San Antonio, TX. 78201 during the 2nd Friday Tobin Hill Arts Alliance Art Walk.

© Gabriel Diego Delgado