Artist Statement

“I am hoping to find a diverse mode of thinking through our current moment in time in order to address identity and social issues in new stimulating and sometimes challenging ways. I like to tell a story with my art about the impact we have on the world around us, and our potential to shape history while we are alive. I detect currents from the past and present and translate these through a filter of cross-cultural observations into sculpture or mixed media art. I make fingerprints of our time from my own global perspective to encourage empathy and understanding.”
The NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program Exhibition – Round 2 is a continuation of the first round of the exhibit, held at Centro de Artes in 2019. Both exhibits were selected as part of the Centro de Artes Call for Exhibitions managed by the Department of Arts & Culture in collaboration with the San Antonio Arts Commission and its Centro de Artes Committee. Guest curators and San Antonio-based artists Richard “Ricky” Armendariz, Kim Bishop, Luis Valderas, and Guillermina Zabala organized the exhibit, with the 34 participating artists representing 12 different countries from across the globe, including Argentina, Chile, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Iran, Japan, Kenya, and Venezuela, as well as the Mexico-United States border.
Artists participating in the NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program Exhibition – Round 2 include Fernando Andrade, Ricky Armendariz, Jose Balli, Kim Bishop, Hayfer Brea, Francisco Cortes, Juan de Dios Mora, Anna De Luna, Juan C. Escobedo, Anel Flores, Juan Flores, Sergio Flores, Brandy González, Beatriz Guzman Velasquez, Ernesto Ibanez, Julya Jara, Sergio Mata, Barbara Miñarro, Yoko Misu, Merle Mory, Anastassia Rabajille, Andrea V Rivas, Caroline Royall, Jesse Ruiz, Gloria Sánchez Hart, Sabine Senft, Hiromi Stringer, Luis Valderas, Jorge Villarreal, Anne Wallace, Naomi Wanjiku, Anahita Younesi, Guillermina Zabala and Claudia Zapata.
NYFA’s Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program paired immigrant artists working in all disciplines with artist mentors who provided individualized support for their mentees, guiding them to achieve specific goals and providing them with broader access to urban cultural centers through an exchange of ideas, resources and experiences. Discussions covered grant proposal ideas; how to approach curators, galleries, and presenting opportunities; social media best practices; networking and funding opportunities through arts institutions; and other local resources. Mentors also met regularly with mentees one-on-one to provide the artists with portfolio feedback, advice on studio and presentation techniques, and to help write and edit artist statements.

“Many of the participating artists have already contributed to the cultural landscape in San Antonio,’” said Executive Director of NYFA Michael L. Royce. “The Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program expands their ability to contribute, and this exhibition is the cumulation of what they have learned and created throughout the collaborative process.”

The exhibition opened Wednesday, January 26, 2022, and runs through July 3, 2022, at the City of San Antonio’s Centro de Artes Gallery, located in Historic Market Square at 101 S. Santa Rosa, 78207. The gallery and all exhibit events detailed below are free and open to the public.

Gallery Reopens
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Daily hours: Wednesday – Friday: 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday & Sunday: Noon – 5 p.m.
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Grand Reopening Reception
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
(6 p.m. – 9 p.m.)
A celebration of the NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program Exhibition – Round 2 with the opportunity to meet participating artists.

Performance Night
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
(6 p.m. – 8 p.m.)
An immersive evening of films and performances by artists from the exhibition.

Artist Talk &
Catalogue Release
Tuesday, June 7th
(6 p.m. – 8 p.m.)