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El Laberinto, 1971-1987

WHAT IS CHICANO ART? - A CHICANO ARTIST'S CONCEPT
By Kathy Valdez
San Bernardino - Within the awakenings of the Chicano in his struggles to overcome oppression, art has become a major factor in his expression of self determination. One then asks, "What is Chicano Art". Some have said anything done by a Chicano is Chicano art. However, there is one artist who definitely believes that there are specific characteristics to art that can classify it as Chicano art.
Quiroz is an artist who has stated that Chicano art is "when you look at an art work and the Chicano can be identified by it.
This identification is in terms of the "exploitation of the Chicano people throughout the century." Quiroz addresses his people in terms of his art in the areas of "discrimination of Barrio people; the student's struggle for intellectual and cultural survival; the farmworker who is the slave of the fields and lives in deplorable living conditions and the Chicano soldier who fights in endless battles, defending a country which has ignored him politically, socially and economically." He further defines Chicano Art as that which contains the CHicano conscieousness:
"One cannot consider a painting of landscape, florals or sea scapes to be classified as Chicano art even though it may be done by a Chicano Artist, because it does not relate in relevant terms to a Chicano.
Quiroz feels that the Chicano must break away from those works which "portray the Mexican Revolution...":
"Even though the Chicano Artist must be aware of his Mexican Art History and the changes it took. We must not copy any of their painting or we must not do anything that has to do with the Mexican Revolution. By this I mean doing Zapatas, Villas etc., because this, I do not classify as Chicano art. It is Mexican art done by a Chicano artist." Quiroz says he was fortunate enough to go to Mexico to study muralist techniques, whic he says "has never existed in the United States."
He attended San Miquel de Allende in Guanajuato, Mexico and El Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes, under the direction of the master, Jose C. Galvan.  Quiroz says his main purpose in going to Mexico was to learn mural technique, composition, art history and the chemistry of acrylics.
"My experience in Mexico convinced me that the Chicano artist must not only contribute to this movement, but to the general art of the United States," explained Quiroz.
Art in the States is very traditional with European. It has the influence of the Renaissance, the French Impressionists, etc.
While in Mexico, Quiroz had the distinction of being the first Chicano to be asked to paint a mural on an important building in that country.
"I tried to erase the stereotype by Mexicans toward Chicanos of being a "pocho", said Quiroz.
His work is entitled, "The Confused Identity of the Chicano."
In conclusion Quiroz say he "repudiates the aristocratic art, the ultra 'intellectual circles, traditional easel painting, classic art markets and the equally narrow minded art critics."
"We (Chicanos) should no longer be deprived the opportunity to express ourselves. We will cultivate the Revolutionary Mexican Mural art and other forms of public art."
"With his extraordinary and admirable gift of creative and beautiful expression, free of outside influence, the Chicano artist will express the collective goals of his raza and continue the Mexican originated, socialized art," Quiroz feels that the "transition from the traditional European art, to the Mexican-Chicano art form, the Chicano Artist should be granted equal opportunity to express, as much as possible, the ideological and cultural values and goals of his people. This he feels will give the artist the opportunity to "educate the American society by wiping away the ignorance that breeds racial bigotry and other forms of prejudice."
This artist Quiroz, is determined to make these changes and says this is his own personal struggle as a Man, and as a Chicano.
From EL CHICANO, Califas

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WHAT IS CHICANO ART? - A CHICANO ARTIST'S CONCEPT By Kathy Valdez San Bernardino - Within the awakenings of the Chicano in his struggles to overcome oppression, art has become a major factor in his expression of self determination. One then asks, "What is Chicano Art". Some have said anything done by a Chicano is Chicano art. However, there is one artist who definitely believes that there are specific characteristics to art that can classify it as Chicano art. Quiroz is an artist who has stated that Chicano art is "when you look at an art work and the Chicano can be identified by it. This identification is in terms of the "exploitation of the Chicano people throughout the century." Quiroz addresses his people in terms of his art in the areas of "discrimination of Barrio people; the student's struggle for intellectual and cultural survival; the farmworker who is the slave of the fields and lives in deplorable living conditions and the Chicano soldier who fights in endless battles, defending a country which has ignored him politically, socially and economically." He further defines Chicano Art as that which contains the CHicano conscieousness: "One cannot consider a painting of landscape, florals or sea scapes to be classified as Chicano art even though it may be done by a Chicano Artist, because it does not relate in relevant terms to a Chicano. Quiroz feels that the Chicano must break away from those works which "portray the Mexican Revolution...": "Even though the Chicano Artist must be aware of his Mexican Art History and the changes it took. We must not copy any of their painting or we must not do anything that has to do with the Mexican Revolution. By this I mean doing Zapatas, Villas etc., because this, I do not classify as Chicano art. It is Mexican art done by a Chicano artist." Quiroz says he was fortunate enough to go to Mexico to study muralist techniques, whic he says "has never existed in the United States." He attended San Miquel de Allende in Guanajuato, Mexico and El Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes, under the direction of the master, Jose C. Galvan. Quiroz says his main purpose in going to Mexico was to learn mural technique, composition, art history and the chemistry of acrylics. "My experience in Mexico convinced me that the Chicano artist must not only contribute to this movement, but to the general art of the United States," explained Quiroz. Art in the States is very traditional with European. It has the influence of the Renaissance, the French Impressionists, etc. While in Mexico, Quiroz had the distinction of being the first Chicano to be asked to paint a mural on an important building in that country. "I tried to erase the stereotype by Mexicans toward Chicanos of being a "pocho", said Quiroz. His work is entitled, "The Confused Identity of the Chicano." In conclusion Quiroz say he "repudiates the aristocratic art, the ultra 'intellectual circles, traditional easel painting, classic art markets and the equally narrow minded art critics." "We (Chicanos) should no longer be deprived the opportunity to express ourselves. We will cultivate the Revolutionary Mexican Mural art and other forms of public art." "With his extraordinary and admirable gift of creative and beautiful expression, free of outside influence, the Chicano artist will express the collective goals of his raza and continue the Mexican originated, socialized art," Quiroz feels that the "transition from the traditional European art, to the Mexican-Chicano art form, the Chicano Artist should be granted equal opportunity to express, as much as possible, the ideological and cultural values and goals of his people. This he feels will give the artist the opportunity to "educate the American society by wiping away the ignorance that breeds racial bigotry and other forms of prejudice." This artist Quiroz, is determined to make these changes and says this is his own personal struggle as a Man, and as a Chicano. From EL CHICANO, Califas