Artist to display series at JCC
by JILL SCHMELZER Reporter

Hugo Rodriguez, artist

According to Williamsville artist Hugo Rodriguez, “There is not enough capacity to capture the human element around the world on a daily basis.”

He kept this concept in mind for the past 10 years when he began his four-part series “Mundo Gytara,” meaning “World Guitars.”

Rodriguez said his series is a mosaic of stylized guitars illustrated in many different mediums, as the guitars take the shape of different subjects.

In series one, “Mundo Gytara,” Rodriguez sketches guitars that contain happenings around the world. As he reads various periodicals, he cuts out headlines that intrigue or concern him and then uses them in whatever piece he is working on.

“I am concerned with what’s going on right now,” Rodriguez said. “I draw a little bit of tension. The textured mat is not really an art piece. You read the headlines overlapping (the image). I might offend or grasp someone’s attention. It draws people closer.”

For example, he recently used news clippings from the October storm, the Ralph “Bucky” Phillips ordeal and what’s happening in President George W. Bush’s administration and in Iraq.

“I don’t have a political agenda, but I am concerned with what’s going on,” Rodriguez explained. “People need to be aware of the environment and what’s going on.”

When asked why he uses guitars in his images, Rodriguez said he believes it stemmed from wanting to play the instrument as a child but not having the talent or rhythm to do so. He also said he enjoys the sound of a guitar and believes it to be a “unique and universal” instrument that “anyone can appreciate.”

The second series features guitars in a mosaic of the sun and butterfly images. The third display will consist of guitars in the shape of different musical instruments, and the fourth pictures guitars in the image of women.

There are 12 pieces in a series, and each work consists of pastels and oil pastels.

“I do pastels and oil pastels that are very rich in color and very vibrant,” Rodriguez described. “Most people wouldn’t think you could get that from pastels.”

He began his work as a young teenager in Texas when he was asked to sketch a mural for his high school.

He is a graphic designer and also enjoys digital photography. Rodriguez was born in 1971 in northern Mexico but raised in Del Rio, Texas. He moved to Western New York in 1998 and now resides in Williamsville.

He said he has worked diligently for the past decade to develop his own distinct style and aspires to eventually be a full-time artist.

His gallery show opens on Wednesday, Jan. 3, at the Jewish Community Center Holland Family Gallery, located at 787 Delaware Ave. in Buffalo.

Viewing hours are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday; 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and noon to 6 p.m. Saturday.

His larger display will open on Monday, Jan. 15, at the JCC Bunis Family Gallery, located at 2640 N. Forest Road in Getzville.

The Bunis Family Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday; 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and noon to 6 p.m. Saturday.

“It is very powerful,” Rodriguez said of the series.

An artist reception will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, at the North Forest location.