Alicia Wagner Calzada | 210SA Contributor ‘Reality is just a series of perceptions at certain points,' says art teacher Luis Valderas, who takes his cues from Meso-American culture and computers.

WHO: Luis Valderas, 40

MEDIUM: Mixed media, murals, sculpture, video

BEST KNOWN FOR: Colorful abstract interpretations that are part computer circuitry and part ancient Meso-American mythos. The combination of modern and archaic expresses the cultural interconnectivity between past, present and future, according to Valderas. The artist's distinctive skull form or “glyph” plays a prominent role in his work and relates both to human sacrifice in Meso-America as well as modern images like Pac-Man. “It's meant to be a little bit ambiguous,” says Valderas, who has found inspiration in Henri Matisse's use of color and David Alfaro Siqueiros' murals.

PAYING THE BILLS: Valderas teaches art at Clark High School.

PHILOSOPHY: Viewers of Valderas' abstract expressions may see different figures and patterns when standing at varying distances. The multiplicity of interpretation is an aspect of Valderas' philosophy. “It really becomes more of a piece the viewer has to figure out,” Valderas said. “I can only lead them so far.”
“You are going to have to decide what to look at,” Valderas added. “Reality is just a series of perceptions at certain points.”

CHECK HIM OUT: “The Motherboard 3.0,” his portion of the joint exhibition with recently graduated art student Emily Royall titled “The Geneaology of Transmission,”  will run at Centro Cultural Aztlan, 1800 Fredericksburg Road, Suite 103, through June 15. Call (210) 432-1896.

Jennifer Lloyd | 210SA