Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Lopez.
Hi Joe, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Joe Lopez/el Gallista, My Art and Identity
Art first found me through the hands of my Tio
Basilio. By trade, he was a full-time house painter, but in his precious free
hours, he would take a simple peach seed and carve intricate, tiny monkeys and
little creatures out of it. What captivated me most, though, were the carvings.
He cut directly out of the dense knots of mesquite tree branches. I used to
stare in amazement at the level of detail he could achieve with those mesquite
knots—snakes, lizards, monkeys, and strange creatures winding around the wood.
His work made a big impression on me.
I grew up attending St. Anthony Shrine Catholic School, a mission
school for the children of the Alamo Cement Company workers and surrounding
barrios, we were rough-and-tumble neighborhood kids, much like our hard-working fathers.
It was run by the Missionary Servants of St. Anthony,
One day the sisters told us to draw something. anything. I sketched a
small baby in diapers with a pacifier in its mouth. When she saw my drawing, she said
“That is really good,” “You could be an artist. At that age I didn’t know what an artist was. One of the sisters was a true
artist. She entered me, and another girl from our school—into, CITY WIDE art
contest. The girl from our tiny school took first place. The grand
prize was free art classes at the historic Witte Museum of San Antonio.
I don’t know exactly what the nun said to the people at the Witte, but I was told to show up
early to help set up and then stay and help clean up after the class, I could take the class for free.
After the six weeks I was asked if I wanted to keep coming back under the same arrangement.
My beginner’s instructor was Mrs. Stienfelt, I used to ride the public bus to the Witte every Saturday, one day, she offered to drive me home. As we neared my neighborhood, I asked her to drop me off a block away from my house. I was embarrassed for her to see our humble home. after a few sessions
I was moved up to the advanced class, Mrs. Guillery was the instructor,. I stayed in those weekend museum classes for three or four years. When I reached high school, to my surprise Mrs. Guillery was the high school art teacher. I loved those high school art classes. It was there that I met Nivia Gonzales a Mexicana and we became good friends, years later, after graduation, our paths would cross again in the art world. I wasn’t a bad guy but, before I knew it, I was getting into trouble. I know I caused my parents a lot of heartaches. It took me five years to finish high school. I can honestly say that art saved my life.
Right before graduation, our school counselor, Mrs.Bonion, called me to her office and told me that she had through the Texas Rehabilitation Commission enrolled me to the “La Villita School of Art” paying my tuition and art supplies. I know Mrs.Guillory had something to do with it. The commission also sent me to the San Antonio School Art run by Finnis Collins. One of the instructors at the school was Jesus “Chista” Cantu a master sign painter. He was to teach us about show card lettering and sign painting. A classmate and I told Chista that we didn’t want to paint signs we wanted to paint with oils.
Chista, was a recognized Chicano Artist in San Antonio, it was a small school and Mr. Collins said it was okey.
I had read a newspaper article in the Arts and Cultural section about Raul Gutierrez, a Chicano artist that painted beautiful, scenes of the southwest and wildlife art.
I became fascinated with story, and I wanted to be like him. One day when I was working on a wildlife painting,
Chista asked me, “why are you painting those things?” “Because that’s what I like to paint!”
“Are you a Chicano?” “Yes.” “Then why don’t you turn around and look back to where you came from?”
Chista was a prominent member of a revolutionary group of Mexican American Chicano artists, called “Con Safos”. He invited me out
to an exhibition that the group was having at Trinity University.
It was an absolute eye-opener for me. Chista’s words stuck with me.
When I was working as a stock boy at a Department Store my boss, handed me a free ticket to the San Antonio Art
Jamboree, an upscale outdoor art festival. There were people strolling through rows of, fancy white tents displays. As
I walked through the crowd; I spotted an artist right in the center of the hustle and bustle. He didn’t have a fancy tent.
He was just a Chicano standing under the hot Texas sun next to a small table with boxes full of his drawings/art.
His name was Jose Esquivel. Every single piece was beautiful, stylized, depictions of daily life in the barrio.
We stood there talking for hours, he explained the deep philosophy behind why he chose to paint these images, our people.
Chista and Jose Esquivel, became my lifelong mentors and close friends. Disheartened by a string of artistic rejections,
disappointments, and a lifestyle that involved far too much partying, I stopped doing art for several years. When I finally
got a stable job working at Centeno Supermarket, a prominent Mexican-owned grocery chain in town. The general manager
of the store tossed a magazine on my desk. “Here, read this, this a is real artist”. On the cover of the magazine
was a photo of Warren Hunter, a legendary local watercolorist, inside was a feature story about him and his Art School.
I decide to visit Mr. Hunter’s school, and inquire about his classes. They were very affordable and I wanted to enroll right away.
“I’m sorry, Right now, I don’t have any place to put you.” I guess he noticed the disappointment in my face, and said come back next
Saturday I’ll see where I can squeeze you in.” Frances had always encouraged me to go back to doing my art and didn’t have a
problem with it. One of the first things Mr. Hunter said to me was “Joe, you already know how to draw. Now, I’m going to teach you
how to draw with a brush”, I was there faithfully every Saturday, I studied watercolor painting with Mr. Hunter for many years.
I also have studied watercolor techniques under Finis Collins and have attended several workshops, I took
design and life-drawing courses at San Antonio Community College. I have never considered myself an
intellectual artist; I am for the most part, self-taught, driven by the belief that a true artist never stops learning.
Despite my years of training, I had a lack of confidence. I never believed my paintings were good enough,
and the terror of public rejection loomed large. One of our neighbors suggested that I submit my art to the San Antonio Airport
art program.” I did and I was accepted. Lisa Ortiz, of the upscale Dagen Bela Art Gallery at Market Square,
called me and said she had seen my paintings at the airport. and asked if I would like to display at the gallery.
There was only one catch, every featured artist was required to once a month paint live in the gallery. I was terrified
of doing that. I swallowed up my fear and I did it. At gallery people would stop to comment and admire my work, on one
occasion a lady asked if she could take a photograph of me with her young daughter, and the you girl asked for my autograph,
It was the first time someone asked for my autograph, “She’s going to take it to school for her Show-and-Tell project.
To this day, I still remember that little girl and my first autograph. The neighbor also suggested I submit my art to
Cappy’s Restaurant, a local spot famous for its rotating fine art exhibits. Since then, I have had several solo exhibits at Cappy’s.
During a weekend stint at the River Art Show. A woman representing a client asked if I would be willing to offer a
discount if she purchased two of my paintings without the frames. We settled for $600for two. It was the most I had been
paid for my artwork. The Lady was Jane Karley a businesswoman that own a two story building. Months later, while I was
at the King William Art Show, she stopped at my display, and I taught for sure she would by a painting instead she turned
around and told me “Joe, you haven’t been painting.” and she walked away, that taught me a big lesson. An artist needs to keep
producing new works, real art collectors notice that you haven’t been working. I had rented a small studio space downtown.
Jane unexpectedly walked through the front door. Hanging on my display window was a massive, dramatic oil painting of two
powerful cock fighting roosters were locked in a vicious, bloody cockfight. It was a gruesome, intense piece.” How much is that
painting?” “$1,500,” she said I’ll take it.” One day that I went to visit her to my surprise, in her office she had hung the painting
on the wall behind her desk. Jane and her husband Jack became my close personal friends. The Southtown art district was
quickly becoming the heart of the San Antonio Art Scene. My immediate neighbor on Alamo St was Andy Benavides a
young artist. He operated a small gallery and custom frame shop.We both had matching three-year leases, and became good friends
Andy’s business outgrew the space, and he left to purchase his very own building on South Flores St. He was doing great promoting
his artist friends. I asked him, when are you going to give us Chicano’s a show. His response was, no man you all are too crazy,
but if you put one together, I’ll give you all a show. I got several of my Chicano artists together and told Andy I was ready.
Hey Joe, what are you going to call your show? Call it “Vatos Locos” Days later, Andy came by to give me some invitations
that he had designed for the show. I had a photo taken of all of us for the invitation. Instead of “Vatos Locos” he called it
“Joe Lopez & Vatos Locos. The show was a great sucess!
The word spread about me putting this show together, and other artists started asking me if they could be part of the
“Vatos Locos. “It was a couple of months later when Andy came by to tell me that there was a building for sale across
the street from him and that I should buy it. I told him he was crazy, his reply was “what do you have to lose, go for it.”
Jane heard that I was interested in buy the building
“I hear you are trying to buy a building!” “Yes, but I don’t think I can do it.” “Take this number down, and give them a call”
Joe, I’m opening the door for you. You have to do the rest.” Doing presentation folders was what I did at work.
I put a professional presentation folder together; it made a big impression on the loan officers and the building was ours.
It was in terrible condition and needed lots of work. That was the beginning of a new adventure.
Way before all of this happened, I met Jesse Villarreal, who worked at Herwick’s.
He told me he and his brother had a frame shop “Villita Frame Shop. and that could frame my art at a good price.
plus, we can hang your art up in our shop. One day they called and said there was a guy from Corpus Christi there who
wanted to meet me. His name was René Rodriguez. An attorney visiting San Antonio, looking for paintings that he could relate to.
A friend had taken him around to galleries in San Antonio but he didn’t find anything he could relate to. The friend took him
to the Villita Frame Shop, but it was closed. He had peeked through the window and saw a painting of a shoe shine boy;
it was my paintings. He came back the next day and bought it. René liked my work and invited me to have a show at his law office.
He invited all the big shots from Corpus, even the mayor. I loved René for his kindness and sincerity. René passed away too soon.
He was a good friend who did so much for me, and my family. Through Rene, another attorney purchased one of my paintings.
It was of a couple dancing. The man looked like he had a little too much to drink, and the lady was a little heavy-set. He told me
he hung it at the end of the hallway entrance. And when his friends came over, they would ask, “Where in the hell did you get that
painting?” He was very proud of it. Another attorney was Filemon Vela Jr. He purchased many of my paintings. We also became
good friends Filimon would come to Gallista Gallery and buy paintings from other artists that I promoted. Like Rene he did so much
for me. He later came to the rescue when my cousins and I were being sued by a large wine corporation over the word “Gallo”…
but that’s another story.
In Southtown there was a folk-art store, with a big warehouse where they did silk screening. The owner told me that she had a room in
the back of the warehouse that she would rent for $100 dollars for three months because it needed a lot of work.
and then $175 a month. I couldn’t resist and we got it. I had dreamed of someday having a studio, now I had one and it was downtown
in the Southtown Art District. The room was in terrible condition. I swept and mopped, cleaned and painted the walls, and there it was:
my first artist studio. It was great for awhile but I wanted a store front. I was told about a store front that was for rent just up the
street on Alamo St. the rent was $150 a month, for three months and then $300 a month. It was ugly! As I did to the other studio I swept,
mopped, cleaned and painted the walls. It was a long and narrow room. But it was a storefront with two large display windows, and
it was on Alamo St., a main street in downtown. At first, I was only showing my paintings, Then I decided to feature a different a
guest artist every month. I also had a group shows, One of the first groups shows was “Los Meros Gallos”. Each artist was to paint a
Gallo painting—anything, with a Gallo. That First Friday, the gallery was packed inside, outside and on the front sidewalk.
I couldn’t believe; how people were reacting to what I was doing:promoting our Mexican-American Chicano culture. That’s what I know
and that’s what I promoted, the word spread like wildfire. Chicano artists started coming from all over wanting a show at Gallista Gallery.
To be honest I didn’t really know what I was doing. One day, a couple came to the gallery. the man said my brother is an artist; maybe
you could show his art.” Days later, this guy walks into the gallery. “Hey man, my name is L.A. David. My brother told me to come
see you about putting my art in here.” L.A.’s art was kind of funky with all kinds of characters, mainly “Burros”, well done and very
professional. Victor Tello was another character, L.A.’s brother, had also told him to bring his paintings to me. I started to get big crowds
on First Friday’s, and other Chicano and Chicana artists ask me if I would feature them.
Juan Farias was another artist that I featured and I really liked his art. His work is very deep and powerful. Juan loved to paint on a large scale.
When the lease on Alamo St. ran out, I dedicated myself to “Gallista Gallery de la Calle Flores, I gave my gallery a raza flavor I am proud to
be Chicano and that’s what I promoted. One of my first tenants was Luis Guerrero, known as “Ay Chispas” he was a welder and did unique auto
parts sculptures. Luis helped me tremendously to fix up the gallery. He never charged me for the work; he just believed in what I was doing. I had also given Luis a chance to show his work back on Alamo Street. He had previously gone to the Blue Star, and they had rejected him. He heard about me because of “Joe Lopez and Vatos Locos show”. He showed me his work, and I loved it. Luis was also a guest artist on Alamo St., we call it “Ay Chispas” because of the sparks
flying from the welding. Luis became a good friend and joined the Gallista click… “Los Gallista’s” Puro Gallo compa! Xavier Garza and Luis Valderas from the Valley both became a big reason for our success. Xavier’s constant reminding me about ASU’s national search for Chicano artists is the reason I ended up featured in three Bilingual Press books: Contemporary Chicano and Chicana Art, Chicano Art for the New Millennium, and Triumph
of Our Communities!
Richard Martinez and his wife Mary and “Little Mary”, Richard’s little sister, they walked in one day and said they were there to
help me. I explained to her that I couldn’t afford to pay. “Oh no, I am here to volunteer once a week because Ricard and I believe in you are doing.
You could say that I am “Street Smart.” Many of these experiences have educated me about how the Art world works. I am just proud of my Raza culture, my roots that go down to Mexico and where I come from… “Barrio Escondido”. I loved having the gallery, but eventually, it became too much.
so, we decided to sell. I am now dedicating myself full time to my art. People tell me about the remodeled building “It’s beautiful, but it doesn’t have the heart and soul that it had when you were there.”
My art Gallista Gallery, and my art complex have been archived by the Smithsonian Archives
of American Art. I have had numerous Solo shows in several cities and surrounding areas.
My art is in many private art collections and has been published. The city and other organizations
have commissioned me for special projects. My art has been used in many posters. Recently
I was included in the exhibit “Built on Legacy”, artist of San Antonio. Sponsored by
the city Arts and culture Department. It was an honored to be featured alongside
some of San Antonio’s finest artist. I was commissioned by The San Antonio River Authority to do a painting that was blown
up and printed on tile for San Pedro Creek. The “Pearl” Also commissioned me to do five paintings
be enlarged and printed on tile, a five-panel mural to be put on the side of a building. These two projects are something I would
have never imagined happening to me.
We eventually sold our building and our home, and built a new and attached it to the smaller house where I grew up.
at 347 Everest Ave, San Antonio, Texas. 78209. I’m back where it all started.
Now, that little house is my studio. I get up in the morning and go straight to my studio.
Dreams do come true, but you must earn them. Now, I have my studio… and the story continues.
Joe Lopez/el
Gallista, “Puro Gallo!”
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Yes, a lot of ups and downs, rejections and dis appointments.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Oils and watercolor are my medium. I am known for my Gallo paintings, my Dia De Los Muertos paintings and my cultural Chicano paintings that connect viewers with their own realities. I paint the simple way of life lived by us Mexicanos, I have come a long way, and I have accomplished many things. I have taken the scenic route to get to where I am. I don’t know if I’m a great artist, but people relate to my work. Some smile others get emotional and some tell me story they see in my paintings. I am proud that people that knew me when I was young are proud of me.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I was born with only one hand (I guess I was Lucky) at one time I felt sorry for myself but then I think maybe it was a blessing because of all the help I have received. I have never considered myself handicapped. Maybe I was lucky to born like this, if I had been born with two hands my life would have gone another direction. Having Gallista Gallery was a great education for me. I feel one never stops learning. I don’t know about luck, but when you do positive things, positive things happen. My high School friend from art class (Nevia Gonzales) had made a name for herself in the art world. At one of her shows she pulled me aside and told me “You need to stop your partying and paint, paint every day. That was a turning point in my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gallistaart.com,
- Facebook: Facebook, Joe Lopez artist.
