Illustrator Edward Gonzales
works to 'touch the soul'
 

"My art is there to touch the soul."

—Edward Gonzales

Edward Gonzales is well known for fine art depicting Hispanic culture. In addition to his paintings portraying the lives and values of Chicano families, Gonzales also produces a bilingual poster and calendar series promoting literacy, learning, and cultural identity.

In 2001, Gonzales served as New Mexico's honorary chair for NEA's Read Across America

Gonzales illustrated the award-winning children's book by New Mexico author Rudolfo Anaya The Farolitos of Christmas, and its sequel, Farolitos for Abuelo (both Hyperion Books for Children/Walt Disney).

Tell us about your background.

My parents were both originally from New Mexico, and we moved from Los Angeles to New Mexico after I was born so that we children could get to know our grandparents. Though my parents weren't particularly well educated, they were very strong on education, particularly my mother. She pushed me hard toward a high school degree and was proud when I went on to college.

Why did you become an artist?

I've always been interested in art. I remember doing my first drawing for my grandmother. She'd brought me colored pencils and paper and a little book on Daffy Duck when I was four years old. She was surprised that I was able to draw Daffy so well. I had teachers who encouraged me, but most of all I read about art. I had read so much by the time I was in seventh grade I had a graduate knowledge of art and art history.

When I returned from Vietnam and got a degree in art, I decided my art was going to focus on the Chicano identity. One reason I felt compelled to do this was the lack of realistic images of Hispanics. As a child growing up in New Mexico, I wondered where the positive images of my culture were. I decided to use my art in a positive way to show how much our culture shaped New Mexico.

Why did you create the poster series on literacy and learning?

I wanted this series to send the message that Hispanic families want a good education for their children as much as anyone. Each of these paintings supports the theme that education is paramount in the Chicano family and culture. Everyone is appalled at the statistics that show Mexican Americans doing poorly in school, but you never hear about the families who've sacrificed themselves to make sure their children have a sound education.

I wanted a visual means to say, even to children who have struggled in school, that education is important. I just finished a painting called "My Mother the Teacher," and it depicts a mother at the kitchen table surrounded by children doing their homework. That's a part of our heritage. It's also saying to the dominant Anglo culture and others that we have the same belief systems and expectations. We're not raising taggers and little gangsters. We're more alike that they realize. Everyone wants a good education for their children. That's my social message and I want to do it in fine art.

How are educators using the series?

What's great is that the poster series is being used in classrooms and school districts from California to Delaware. Educators are using them for the positive role models they show. Hispanic children and adults are depicted learning, teaching, and helping others. It helps Latino children see themselves and it helps others understand our culture. The fact that the posters are bilingual also sends a strong message. We are a nation of many cultures and many languages. In New Mexico, there are many African Americans who speak Spanish well, and in our own community, young people need to grow up with the language of their culture. We should not fear other cultures, we should embrace them, that's why my art shows the beauty of my people. My art is not for decor. My art is there to touch the soul.

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To see more of Edward Gonzales's artwork and find out how to purchase the literacy poster series, please visit his web site.

All images of artwork courtesy of and copyright by Edward Gonzales.