Art show will outline Borderland artist Mario Alonso Perez's print work
San Elizario artist Mario Alonso Perez is proud of his roots in the Borderland, with iconic symbols from the region playing key roles in his work.
The printmaker and tattoo artist will be featured in a one-person exhibit that kicks off from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at El Paso Frame Co., 3800 N. Mesa St., Suite A1.
Perez works out of the Tinta Sangre tattoo shop and art gallery at 3041 N. Zaragoza Road, Suite E.
Ahead of his show, Perez answered a few questions about his inspirations and his art.
With so much focus on digital art creation, what drew you to the traditional field of printmaking?
There's nothing quite as satisfying as making a mark as accurate as possible. Mistakes can give a piece a lot of character, too, but I love when everything happens almost according to draft or plan. Digital art feels very polished, and I'm not a perfect creature; nothing in nature is perfect or symmetrical. I steer into that aspect of the medium. Also, carving just feels good: A block of linoleum resists the image you're trying to carve into it. There's more satisfaction in an end product because of that.
How long have you been printmaking? What kind of study background do you have, or are you largely self-taught?
I'm taught by the community and also took it on myself to learn as much as I could on my own, but I was introduced through a course I took in EPCC with professor (Brack) Morrow. That was during lockdown, so I've been a printmaker around three years now!
Who is your biggest inspiration, locally and in general?
Locally my biggest inspirations are Francisco Delgado, Marco Sanchez and Manny Guerra, all incredible artist and amazing printmakers, as well as generous people with their knowledge! Historically I'm drawn to Guadalupe Posada and Leopold Mendes.
What themes do you like to incorporate in your work?
I like to carve things I'd like to see made. I started with the things around me, like tractors and farm critters, but I'm trying to move more into the things I find spiritual and personal, like the words that would bother me as a kid, such as "burro," or those things whose names are too small for the impact that they create in the world, like "god" or "culture."
What do you find most challenging about printmaking? Most rewarding?
Printmaking is slow; it's also not forgiving of failure. You have to come into it with a perfect attitude or ruin months of work. I love that it's challenging and simple. You can only make a line or a dot, so you take those two limitations and push them as far as you can!
When you carve, you seem to carve the image freehand. Do you see the image in your mind, in the linoleum or other medium you carve into?
Yes, I try to rely as much as I can in my memory of what things look like. It makes an object a bit more unique. I also think I've had good practice of drawing from my head from those old days before the internet; if you didn't have an image handy, then you would simply remember it! I also think going into a block of linoleum a little blind helps to make an image more organic; it fits the shape you need it to fit into!
How much do you predraw, if any?
I usually just draw out the shapes of what I need and let the tools create the textures inside those shapes. I’ll make dots for where a highlight will be and go into that highlight with a line. Eventually, it makes an image!
How did you get drawn to tattoos?
I love how tattoos look, and have for a very long time. They seem like badges to indicate your personality but also like a charm to carry into the world, like a magic. I'm happy to work at Tinta Sangre with my mentor Pablo Hernandez. We both have a great respect for art, but he has an enormous amount of respect for the art of tattooing. He treats it like something sacred, and I love that
Do you prefer to freehand tattoos or let people pick from your tattoo “menu”?
I will do either. I'd love to help grow an idea with people of something they may like to get tattooed, but also really love when a person gets something from my flash done. It means they're a creature like me. I draw tattoos I'd love to get done myself, or tattoos that I'd like to see out in the wild, something unique but also that will age with a person well!
Your tattoos for the most part are line art in black. Is this from your printmaking background? Do you plan on expanding to color use for tattoos or printmaking in the future?
I really love the dynamic of black against white in printmaking, and how lasting black and shading looks in tattooing. I'll use color too, but there's just something really wonderful about this contrast, and the depth just black can give an image. I'll do anything, though; whatever leads to a person feeling happier in their own skin!
How many of your works will be on display in your exhibit? What are the price ranges?There will be five pieces on the wall next to their respective blocks of linoleum! The ranges go from $200 to $800, I believe. The entirety of the editions will be at El Paso Frame Co. I kept nothing (back) because they gave me an opportunity and believed in my work. I owe them a ton; they have a space in my heart forever! I'll be live printing a block I will destroy at the end of the night, too. That will be 50 bucks a print!
What are the days and hours of the exhibit?
The exhibit opens on Friday the 13th and will be on from 5 to 9. I’ll be printing from 6 to 8! It will stay up until the end of February/beginning of March! I'm honored for this opportunity and give thanks to everyone who's ever supported my artistic journey. A huge shout out to the Ramirez family and their newest member, Karely Leonora, who I hope to share as much knowledge and love of art with as possible!
Printmaker Mario Alonso Perez's art show
When: Opening from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday
Where: El Paso Frame Co., 3800 N. Mesa St., Suite A1; hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; more information: 915-500-3108
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Art show to outline Borderland artist Mario Alonso Perez's print work
