Born in Ciego de Avila, Cuba in 1956, Jesus Rivera first arrived in the United States in 1995 with the dream of showing his art in the U.S.
Educated in such schools as the San Alejandro Academy of Fine Arts and the Superior Institute of Art, both in Havana, Rivera’s 30-year career has extended from his homeland to all over the United States, Mexico and parts of Europe and Asia.
“I hope that people see in my art what they can’t see in others,” said Rivera.
Much of Rivera’s work relies heavily on symbolism involving the conflict between man and nature, including both the outside world and the inner self.
His latest exhibition, scheduled for Friday, May 21 at 7 p.m., will be held at the Ars Atelier gallery, 508 42nd St., Union City, with an artist’s reception.
New ventures
“This is a new series experimenting with new materials,” said Rivera.
The series is titled Fuera de Servicio (Out of Order) and conveys the turmoil between human beings and nature, as well as the human’s abuse of nature. It also displays the same symbolic images found in most of Rivera’s work, which are constant reminders of the basic human emotions that are ever present.
“We consistently use nature to sustain us and we disturb nature,” said Rivera. “What is the price we pay for that?”
That is the question behind his latest pieces, which suggests we depend very heavily on our natural resources in order to live but the price we pay is the destruction of our environment.
“Nature gets closer to its disappearance, and that has been said everyday in the press and the media,” said Rivera. “I am just one more out of the thousands of people that want to protect nature.”
The message of this exhibit is infused with four words Suenos (Dreams), Recuerdos (Memories), Soledad (Loneliness), and Alto (Stop). These words will appear on the individual pieces and will be plastered on the walls surrounding the pieces.
“These four words will show people the way to enter into that world of reflection I’m trying to convey,” said Rivera.
Remembering the past
About 40 pieces that include some of Rivera’s earlier work over the last four years will be exhibited. It’s important for him to show the transition from his series of four years ago to his current work.
The older pieces will be shown in the back part of the gallery. In the front of the main gallery, Rivera will have about eight new pieces and two ceramic pieces on display, which will possibly be at an upcoming exhibit in Miami once the exhibit in Union City has finished its month-long duration. All the pieces will also be available for purchase.
One of the special things about this series is the experimentation with new materials.
“I am passionate about materials,” said Rivera. “Using things that have to do with industry and nature, putting life into those materials, it’s so magical. It makes you a slave to your art.”
This will be Rivera’s first personal exhibit at the Ars Atelier, which is also his work studio. It took him about four months to complete the new series.
The organizer of the expositions and the gallery is Gustavo Valdes.
Rivera is also being featured in the NoHu Visions 2004 art exhibit. With this particular series, he wants people to understand the reasoning behind his pieces.
“It’s about reflection,” said Rivera. “They are pieces that you need to communicate with in order to truly understand them.”
Rivera offered advice for aspiring artists. “You can’t get tired before you’re done,” said Rivera. “Hopefully this will be fruitful for me and other artists that have worked for years.”