Collecting Creativity

Kristy Mangos Arizona Daily Wildcat Local artisans from left, Juan A. Enriquez, X—chitl C. Gil, Adriana Yadira Gallego, David Perez, Jorge Arteaga, Theo Miller, Gonzalo Espinosa, E. Liane Hernandez and Angela Casanova are among a group of 23 who are displaying their artwork at the RAICES Taller Gallery. The group hopes to promote community art and Chicano art through the gallery.

RAICES Taller began when Juan Enriquez and Jorge Arteaga needed a studio space in which to pursue their artwork. They happened upon a sizable studio on East Sixth Street, which was conveniently attached to a storefront gallery. Opportunity knocked, and financial stability jumped out the window. Such were the conditions under which the collective effort was born - an effort that now incorporates the artistic, organizational and financial abilities of 23 people.

"A lot of us here have lived and worked with each other for three or four years," said Juan Enriquez, who is presently pursuing a degree in painting and drawing at the University of Arizona. "This is a collective built upon mutual respect."

Where It's At RAICES Taller Gallery is located at 222 E. Sixth Street, just east of Sixth Avenue. Their present show continues through January 30. For information on how to get involved, or on upcoming shows, contact RAICES at 792-9619.

"We're a group of friends, trying to support each other as artists," said Jorge Arteaga, a recent University graduate in the general Fine Arts department. "We've yet to have a mission statement, but we know we want to educate and promote community art and Chicano art."

But the RAICES Taller collective is not exclusively Chicano, said Liane Hernandez, a graduate from the University of Arizona with a degree in anthropology. "That's part of the thing that's going to give it vitality. We don't live in a vacuum, and that must be represented in our art." Hernandez also works with Borderlands Theatre and has co-coordinated RAICES's present exhibit with Baudelina Amezuca.

"The way to educate people is to include," added Adriana Gallego, a graduate with a BFA in studio art.

In addition, RAICES seeks to incorporate the input and draw the attention of a wide swath of the generational spectrum.

"This is an intergenerational group," explained Hernandez. "The members of the collective range in age from 20s to 60s and 70s. We had a two-year-old and a 70-year-old at our opening ... we want to make this a place that families feel comfortable coming to."

In that light, the next show to be presented at the RAICES gallery space will be a collection of children's work from community schools.

"We intend to mail pamphlets [on the upcoming show] to people throughout the community," said Xochitl Gil, a graduate of the University bachelor of arts program, a teacher in the community, a coordinator of the next show, and a contributing member of RAICES collective.

The back space, which is presently acting as an adjunct display room, is intended to serve as a studio space and a space to hold tallers, or workshops on artistic techniques. Presently, images of social unrest, of sexual energy, religion and history grace the interior of the lofty studio.

"It's a gallery space, but it's also a place to have artists working together," said Enriquez, "The space allows that - it's 2,100 square-feet."

Eventually, RAICES would like to facilitate installations of multimedia work and to provide an arena for theatrical presentations.

"It's loose right now, but it's coming together," said Hernandez, the tone of excitement in her voice is undeniable.

RAICES Taller Gallery is a manifestation of both artistic vision and organizational intent. With that in mind, the echo in the gallery seems less discordant than harmonious. While a choir of voices is always more difficult to coordinate than one single voice, the collective effort is almost always more powerful.