ART In His Blood
For Rich Arriagada, la sangre llama and with a well known painter as a great grandfather – ART in his blood. Rich is passionate about his work and has a family that he loves very much. We talked to Rich about where he’s come from, where he’s going and how he manages to balance all the gifts he’s been given.
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BFC: Where did you grow up and what was the culture of your home like?
I was born in San Diego. My mother emigrated from Chile when she was 8 and my father is 2nd generation Mexican-American. I’m a mixed Latin mutt of Chilean and Mexican descent.
At the age of 3 year my parents had divorced and my mother re-married to a Jewish man. This man adopted me and raised me through much of my childhood. I consider him my dad even though I am not of his blood. We moved around Southern California a bit. When I turned 8 we moved to Oregon and I have been living here ever since.
I grew up in a diverse home of Chilean and Jewish culture. December was a great month for me because we celebrated Hanukkah (father) and Christmas (mother). I still know the traditional Hanukkah song we sang while lighting the Menorah. I didn’t hear much Spanish while growing up. My mother only spoke it when she talked to her parents on the phone. My mama y papa hardly ever spoke English and when we went to visit and stay with them, all I heard was Spanish. But this was only a couple times a year.
At the end of my Junior year in high school my mother and father divorced, and at this time my biological father started to develop a relationship with me. I began to learn of my Mexican roots. My biological father and I are pretty close now. I remember when he apologized to me for not being there as I grew up. I don’t hold any grudges towards him.
BFC: Where do you live and what is the culture in your home like today?
I live in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon. My household is of diverse culture, being that my wife is African-American and myself Latino. We have two children ages 12 and 6. Closeness of family is central to us. It’s something that I grew up learning from my mom’s side. My wife introduced me to soul food of which I love. We have a pretty diverse selection of meals from greens, cornbread, candy yams, and black-eyed peas to Spanish rice, enchiladas, beans etc. If she starts making empanadas, I’ll be in heaven.
Faith was/is an important cornerstone with my wife. Going to church 3 or 4 times a week was a norm in her childhood. As a family today, we go to church every Sunday. I don’t practice Jewish customs anymore. I stopped when my parents divorced. Music and dancing is big with us. My wife and I go out salsa dancing 3 or 4 times a month. We also fill our home with salsa and Cuban-Afro beats and dance in the kitchen occasionally. Our home is colorfully decorated with African-American and Latin/Chilean art.
BFC: When you mention Chilean art and music, is there anyone in particular you can think of that is a great example?
Most of the Chilean art I have in my house are from street vendors and artists. Like copper plates, placques, dolls and pottery. Things like that. The Artist I think of in particular from Chile… My great, great grandfather was a very well known artist in Chile in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. His name was Juan Francisco Gonzalez.
My mother and rest of my family have many of his originals. I have a portrait of him as a young man. My grandfather remembers sitting in his lap as a young child. And my mother has told me some stories about him. His style is unique and fathered a revolution in the Chilean art world.
BFC: How would you define your style?
I think my style is closest to Surrealism. I am attracted to bold, bright color. What I see squeezed out of the tube is what I like to paint unto canvas. I try not to dilute the color. I like to take on political and social issues through my art at times, as well depictions of my faith and culture. I love nature and so I’m drawn to paint landscape scenery as well
BFC: Where do you get your inspiration?
I get inspired from many sources. Conversations and interactions with my family and people inspire me. Life experiences and seeing social injustices unfold inspire me. Sometimes a message I hear in Church brings forth ideas and images. Many times dreams I’ve had will inspire me and come through on canvas. My next painting is always in my head where it forms and I think about how I want to convey that message to people. Sometimes I think it over for months and sometimes it will suddenly appear and I take it straight to canvas.
BFC: What are your dreams for your art and what are you doing to actively pursue them?
My dreams are to gain as much exposure I can and to eventually paint full time. I want to reach out to people and show them something they haven’t seen before. Or show them another side of what they have been conditioned to learn and accepted as norm. I like to challenge those prejudices. I participate in art fairs and group shows throughout the year in Portland. I like these events because I show to a very large diverse audience and I get to interact with people. I will be having my first solo show in August.
I want to get my art out there and I want to provide originals to all people. A lot of original artwork is out of reach financially for most. Who can really afford a $500, $1000, $1500 or more for a painting? The wealthy and art collectors are really the ones who can afford an original piece of art hanging in their homes. People of all economic conditions, and upbringings should be able to enjoy it. So with this in mind and heart I paint commissions for people (who otherwise can’t afford it) in which they only pay me price of material and shipping. I’ve painted several 16” x 20” or 18” x 24” originals for $50, $40 or $35. Call me crazy, but I like to give of myself to people. So far it has worked out and I haven’t been taken advantage of.
On my web site you will notice I do have paintings in which I ask for $500 or $1500. These are not commissioned paintings. I ask a lot for these because of the value they have to me.
BFC: What are the obstacles you’ve come up against and what have you done to conquer them?
A lot of people don’t like my depictions of Jesus, and therefore make assumptions about me as a person. I receive many glares of distaste and rude comments from time to time. I try not to let it bother me, but it does feel lonely sometimes. I think most artists take criticism of their artwork as a criticism of themselves. I don’t shy down, but rather it fuels me even more.
I have been unsuccessful getting my art accepted into a gallery, art member groups, cafés, salons, restaurants, etc. If I get a response it’s always something like “You are very talented but we are looking for a different direction.” I understand the business aspect of it all. I mean not a lot of people want to hang what I do in their living room. Galleries typically are looking for a large body of work all of which carry a similar theme. My subject matter changes dramatically from each piece. I get bored painting the same stuff over and over again.
I just keep painting, keep creating and keep sharing it with the public. I do it because I love painting and I love the challenge it brings me. I love the shapes of bright color my paint brush makes on the canvas. My wife encourages me and when I get distracted she is there to lift me up.
I never start a painting thinking I’m going to sell it, but rather how can I express myself to you.
Web Sites: www.zhibit.org/vizitor
www.myspace.com/thevizitor
AM06/06
