La Luna Nueva Festival — Miracle Theatre Group's festival of Hispanic arts and culture from around the world in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month — will be held September 16 through October 1, 2011. In this series of articles, Mark Saltveit visits with our guest artists, offering an inside look at their life and their work.
by Mark Saltveit
William Hernandez is a Peruvian artist, trained at Lima's Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes, who moved to Portland in 2009. He creates both figurative and abstract paintings with a distinct vision incorporating intense colors, warm figures and splashes of humor. Hernandez has had a number of exhibitions in Portland since moving here, and he helped organize the first Intercambio de Artistas Latinos (Latino Artists Exchange) held at El Centro Milagro last February, a project that aims to create a network of artists in the Northwest in order to share ideas, expression and art.
William has a new body of work, titled “Sol y Luna” (Sun and Moon), that will be exhibited in the lobby of El Centro Milagro throughout La Luna Nueva festival.
Why is this exhibit titled Sol y Luna?
The title Sol y Luna is a metaphor about contrasts. It is meant to compare the significance of a Latino artist working and living in Portland.
The title Sol y Luna is a metaphor about contrasts. It is meant to compare the significance of a Latino artist working and living in Portland.
What inspires your work, in general and specifically for this show?
I like to tell stories; my work is like one big visual story. The present series is about the relationship between the people of two opposing lands and languages, and alludes to my experiences as a Peruvian artist here in Portland.
I like to tell stories; my work is like one big visual story. The present series is about the relationship between the people of two opposing lands and languages, and alludes to my experiences as a Peruvian artist here in Portland.
How long have you lived in Portland?
I moved from Lima, Peru to Portland in 2009.
I moved from Lima, Peru to Portland in 2009.
What kind of influence has Portland had on your work?
My art has evolved and the influence of this city has been very satisfactory. I think the main influence is Portland’s people, its geography and green environment. Also, the diversity of people's stories and that they can be themselves, which in my case is expressed in my paintings.
My art has evolved and the influence of this city has been very satisfactory. I think the main influence is Portland’s people, its geography and green environment. Also, the diversity of people's stories and that they can be themselves, which in my case is expressed in my paintings.
La Luna Nueva is sponsored by PGE Foundation and The Oregonian. This project is supported in part by a grant from the Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Festival events occur September 16 through October 1, 2011 at El Centro Milagro, 525 SE Stark Street, Portland, Oregon 97214; a complete schedule is available here. Admission varies; many events are FREE. Purchase tickets at 503-236-7253 or www.milagro.org
I like his art - colorful and playful!
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