Today we’d like to introduce you to Edgar Guajardo.
Hi Edgar, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a Mexican American Texas Native born in Mcallen, Texas, and raised in Pharr, Texas, by immigrant parents. At 18, I moved to Houston to go to school at the University of Houston and got my degree, a BFA in Theatrical Production. My interest in theater was sparked by my older brother, who is 7 years my elder, he is a Lighting designer and production manager now working at Emory University.
My theater career in Houston started with a light board operating opportunity for Suchu Dance Company at the Barnevelder theater. After that, I worked with Mildred’s Umbrella, Psophonia Dance Company and Urban Souls dance company, quickly going from just board oping to Light designing.
From 2010-2014 I began my professional Lighting design career, while also going to school, working with various companies all over the city. After graduation in 2014, I took a position as a Lighting Assistant on a Disney Live tour called Mickey’s Rock’n Road Show. I toured with them from May 2014-September 2015 and got to go to Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Brazil, Argentina, Taiwan, and Japan.
I left tour life to rebuild my design career in Houston, because, during my early years I had become a key designer in the dance community. I continued designing for many dance companies and theater companies until I landed a job with The Tribble School for the Performing arts as their Technical director.
The Tribble School was part of Queensbury Theater company, so they folded me over into a full-time position in 2016 as the Assistant Technical Director of Queensbury theater company.
I left Queensbury Theater in 2017 and became the Technical Director for Opera in the Heights and, soon after, their Resident Lighting Designer. I have been their Technical Director since, but only part-time. I have worked for so many companies since I started my career here in Houston, the Houston dance community has been the foundation I have built my career on, so much so that in 2020 just before the world shut down due to covid, I connected with an old dance colleague.
Harrison Guy, The Artistic Director of the Deluxe theater and the Director of the 5th ward Cultural Arts District, reached out to me about helping with the Deluxe theater.
I had just been in there with his business partner, Co-Urban Souls founder Walter Hull, to light design a project for their youth program.
Harrison brought me in to work on live streaming events during the pandemic and then to help create organizational paperwork for tech needs. Eventually, that led to him and Fifthward CRC creating the position of Production Manager of the Deluxe Theater and offering me the job.
I am the Production Manager of the Deluxe Theater and I am now a Light designer, Scenic Designer, Sound Designer, Prop Designer, Producer and Director.
I still am tied into the Dance community, but mainly focus on Open Dance project productions and Pilot Dance Project Productions.
It’s hard to sum up all that I’ve done since moving to Houston in 2010, but I hope this gives you a snapshot of my career.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I started my career at 18 and was questioned and doubted left and right. I was seen as a young inexperienced worker.
I later discovered, even after gaining large amounts of experience and a degree, I was still denied interviews and job opportunities by the largest organizations in the city.
I met all of their standards, but what I didn’t meet was the correct skin tone.
There are very few Latinos in my position or in a theatrical managerial position in Houston and even less people of color in similar positions. I don’t think it’s blatant racism, it’s just built-in racial bias in a system that has been dominated by primarily white faces in Houston’s theater market.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Lighting, Scenic and Sound Designer; I am also a painter. I am proud to say I have designed over 200 plus shows in 10 years and have painted nearly 100 paintings since 2020.
I am a cross-trained designer, master in some and proficient in all.
My painting is a Latin fantasy based, created with Acrylics and spray paint.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Make art that makes You happy. Art is subjective, so at the end of the day, don’t aim to please people with your art.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/edgartisan
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edgar.guajardo2
Image Credits
Edgar Guajardo
