On Saturday, July 11, Local art curator Out in the 956 celebrated its sixth anniversary, marking years dedicated to the artists they connected with and the pieces they collected. Out in the 956 was founded and is organized by Ramiro Gonzalez, curator and blogger. Having been exposed to various forms of art in college and taking an interest in their creators’ stories, Gonzalez believes that everyone has a story to tell, which deserves to be amplified and preserved. Through socialization and networking, he gathered friends and acquaintances over the last six years, magnifying their stories, exposure, and reach.
The Friends (Artists) on Display
Adorning the walls of Ponte Creative Studio and Gallery were six years’ worth of local art. The event highlighted several mediums, including photography, paintings, screen printing, and out-of-the-box paper crafts.
Ramiro Gonzalez had the most personal touch towards the exhibition, bringing artworks, decorations, AV media, and significant chachkis curated over the past six years that are now held in his bedroom, save for the event.
One wall had an assortment of posters and artwork that depicted the overall mission Gonzalez found Out in the 956 for: to appreciate and amplify art, both simple and extravagant.
Next to that was acrylic art by La Ratita, who also offered free prints for attendees. Her bio-surrealistic art offered a vision of human characteristics through a conceptual and psychedelic lens, evoking both fantastical and scientific fiction.
Monik Rodriguez‘s photographic stills show life lived with duller colors than are often used for similar themes, portraying a sense of life that does not feel sanitized.
Fino Perez showed off an assortment of concert, rave, and band show photographs, making incredible use of the settings’ light.
Myriah’s photographs not only captured real-world images in a fashion alluding to liminal atmospheres, but highlighted that tone with colorful frames that add to the life of the photos.
Musical Event Organizer Puro Tigers Blood showed off several of their designed posters from past shows, depicting the rich culture of local and visiting musical talent, like Mitski’s 2017 show at the now-closed Yerberia Cultura, where Pecado nightclub now stands.
Bryan Weston, along with displaying the numerous flyers for local events they had made in the past, showed off their screen-printing talents live by adding their designs to spare shirts for attendees.
Esai Balderas displayed a couple of mixed-media artworks, like Sticky Situation, which mixed a sense of whimsy with horror.
Dom Sanchez presented their piece called Do You Feel Seen, which paired a simple outline with vividly chromatic backgrounds.
Multifaceted artist Tea showcased her signature style with a mix of drawings and newspaper collage, marked by glamorous, exaggerated human depictions that evoke the same Y2K theme as Bratz dolls, while grounding them in more rustic colors and backgrounds.
Neida’s pieces were some of the standout pieces, using a variety of mediums. From homemade jewelry to mixed media on a paper towel, it was the art that best portrayed the joy of making art for art’s sake.
The Music of the Night
Apart from visual arts, multiple musical artists performed their sets for visitors of the exhibition. Performances by DJ Pwned, Cherry Chrome, and Armadillo lent their talents, shaping three different musical atmospheres back to back.
DJ Pwned started and carried the musical tone for most of the event, playing beats that allowed for laid-back conversations and casual grooving. Cherry Chrome followed with their signature chimerical sounds, exemplifying the duo’s ability to hold a crowd with experimental and dynamic, yet relaxed music. Finishing out the night with a more acoustic set was guitarist and singer Armadillo.
These artists also exemplified the timespan being celebrated, being part of Out in the 956’s network, with Gonzalez stating how they met DJ Pwned through Touching Infinite, a DJ collective organized by DJ Lil Duende. He also continued on their friendship with Armadillo and getting him his first show at Scheniders.
Providing sustenance apart from the spread laid out was And So On Coffee, who Gonzalez met during one of their pop-ups at Ante Books.
Here’s to 6 More Years of Art!
Out in the 956 is unarguably led with a passion and wonder for the Valley’s artists. Gonzalez expressed significant gratitude to the graphic designer who created artwork for him, including the anniversary poster, Madison. He hopes to continue their work and explore new formats for their shows and showcases, aiming for a photography-specific showcase in the near future. Furthermore, they recently released their new merch designs, marking yet another milestone of local exposure.
