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From Guerro de Rancho to Guerro del Barrio

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Randall Garrett, artist, writer, college professor and owner / creator of the experimental art space Plush Gallery in Dallas makes a move to México City (CDMX). When most Dallas artists leave to grow their creative essences they often head to the Big Apple, New York City. Not Garrett- he went south to the Big Enchilada aka México City. And Garrett doesn’t move to the hipster area that is full of foreigners and chic boutiques– but a working class neighborhood called: Col. Moderna: always unconventional places for this Renaissance man.

Garrett first traveled to México City via bus from Dallas’ Oak Cliff in 2003. And like most folks he liked the city and he kept returning – for he was inspired: why not? México City is the art mecca for the Republic of México and Latin America. A city that hemorrhages art and is a surreal place and is most inviting to all artists that venture into what was once the thriving Aztec capitol.  Too, working class people in México that Garrett meets that most inspires him, “like the vegetable vendor.”

Prior to moving, Garrett had already closed his Plush Gallery, a gallery that he ran for 12 years, so he could concentrate on being an artist, writer, and professor in Dallas’s Community College District. Being an art instructor that occasionally shows his works on college campus alumni and student exhibits was not really for him. He knew something bigger was waiting for him south of the border — so off he went.

In the summer of 2017, Garrett spent the summer in México City to get fully immersed and it was then that he realized he couldn’t leave: he had to move to México City. And while only knowing only a couple of people and knowing very little Spanish he took the jump: go now and figure it out along the way.

Though Randall did not have a studio, this didn’t prevent him from following his new inspirations for he decided to create his new works on the streets of México City. He literally walked the streets with art supplies and paper in his backpack. He searched for suitable places to stop on the street and create his works: which was basically also a street performance for it generated lots of gazes from Mexicans walking by. Not only was he an artist creating art on the streets of México City, but – a Güero aka Gringo: something most new.

Garrettl was now longer a tourist – like a chameleonhe was blending into México’s culture and channeling a Mexican aura: from güerode rancho to güerodel barrio.

These art pieces that Garrettcreated on the streets were used in a CDMX exhibit titled, “Diseñando Lo Impredicible,” (Designing the Unpredictable). A Two-person exhibition with Alba Vida, his fiancée, at Galería Mexicana de Diseño in México City’s Colonia Juárez. Not only were people able to enjoy the art on the walls of the gallery, but both Garrett and Alba did a performance piece as well; the 11 minute performance can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79pIHGFIeDg&t=487s

Shortly after the Designing the Unpredictable exhibit, Garrettgot his studio with other artists that call their collective “Oficina de Arte,” (Art Office), located in México City’s El Centro (downtown) area and in a neighborhood called Col. Merced.  La Merced was well known as a market area during the Aztec’s and the early conquest when people would arrive from all around México to sell and trade; too a neighborhood known for being rough and not a place you would like to find yourself alone at night.

La Merced area has something for everyone and a lot of people go there looking for bargains: the street where Garretthas his studio is not only packed with automobile traffic, but people and vendors on the crowded sidewalks. Walking on the street, curbside makes for easier maneuvering in La Merced. Arriving at Garrett’s building, you arrive to a large wide steel door, with no doorbell, buzzer or concierge.  So I knock on the door and wait. Soon a dark, short, full-bodied man opens the door slightly; standing behind him are two other slightly taller men, wanting to see who is at the door. I tell them I am there to see Randall Garrett: I get a spaced out look. I then say I am there to see el güero, gringo un artista (a white boy artist). They know, they smile and open the door and direct me to where I can findGarrett.

As I walk through the high ceiling empty corridor, I am reminded of a warehouse, a building used mostly for storage. Greeting and blessing everyone at the end of the corridor, next to the elevator, is a big altar to the Virgen de Guadalupe, patron saintof México. I take the elevator up and Garrettis there to greet me.

Walking into his studio, there is no table to work from: nor chairs to sit. But there is art supplies, spray paints and books scattered around the floor clearly indicating you are in artist studio. Though Garretthas not indicated he is traveling anywhere, there is one big suitcase in his studio. A suitcase I am told that will not be used for personal travel items, but one that will be filled with art once Garrettjourneys back to Dallas to have a México City, Dallas art exhibition.

On the wall of the studio, you see recent works, collages that Garretthas created. The collages are not created in a computer – like those I normally see in Dallas. These collages are Garrett’s creations he took from Spanish language books & magazines -mixed with religious and Mexican motifs, reminding me of the street art I see on the streets of this mega city.  Garrettsaid that, he was “interested in creating a new body of work inspired by the streets of México City, because the streets have been inspiring to me, immensely chaotic, things changing at every moment.”

Garrett does do some larger art collages, created in a computer but these are never anything sterile for once the poster-sized creations are complete – they are placed on the streets of CDMX to be weathered and also admired. His collages are often placed on top of other weathered street posters that gives them an added bizarre effect. The idea of taking the posters off the street and studying them and creating his own posters, “Is the attraction of layering of history, a multi-layering culture that exist here in México City,” says Garrett.

Garrett’slife as an artist is not a solitary life, but one filled with creative-like artists:  his fiancée is also an artist, whom he met on a chance meeting – a loving creative relationship that inspires each other. TooGarretthas taking to socializing and collaborating his art projects with young artists from Nezahualcoyotlaka Neza a municipality located in the State of México, touching the northeast corner of Mexico City. Neza is known for being an overcrowded working class haven and is known for having some of the best graffiti in México.

At the end of July 2018, Garretthad an exhibit titled, “Mi barrio me respalda,” (My neighborhood has my back). This show explored Garrett’snew works inspired by living in México City. Others in this exhibit were Garrett’sartist allies from the city of Neza – Neza York.

So after“Mi barrio me respalda,”it was time to head back to Dallas in September to reopen, resurrect, Plush Gallery in Dallas’s Design District with the group show titled Ánimo. Ánimo was an exhibit mixed with Dallas and Mexican artists and was the debut exhibition of the new Plush Gallery. “The word ánimo is a slang term in Spanish, something along the lines of “go for it” says Garrett. So how did he get all the art from México City to Dallas? Not by working with Mexican or US customs, but by suitcase. Yes suitcase. The big one located Garrett’s studio – Garrett loaded up and off he went.

So with life as an artist in México City and Dallas and with his reopening of Plush Gallery – is Garrett ready to slow down? Not for a moment for he is also having workshops titled, “Conscious Creativity.” Workshops that bring a feeling of freedom to the student: …”of being in the flow of life, and helps to identify and manifest your intentions more easily. It gives the opportunity to recognize your goals and open morefully to life, whether or not you see yourself as an artist or creative person,” saysGarrett.

The experience of living in México City has changed Garrettfor he says, “I’m definitely not the same person I was a year ago.” When Garrettfirst came to México City he was a gringo with an idea of México and now he is like a part of the other 25 million Mexicans living in this mega city …”deep connections to family, friends and neighborhoods.” Something he says he was missing in Dallas where people are more isolated.

More information about Garrett at: https://www.randallgarrett.com

Short interview with Garrett: talking about making art on the streets of CDMX: https://soundcloud.com/plushgallery/randall-garrett-jesus-chairez-interview-pt-ii-art-on-the-streets

The post From Guerro de Rancho to Guerro del Barrio appeared first on Jesus Chairez.


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