Fusion Magazine #105

MARFA MYTHS 2018: MUSIC, VISUAL ART & FILM LOCAL LOVE: GILA MONSTER

FUSION GALLERY: JUAN ORNELAS NÓMADA LABORATORIO URBANO

REYNALDO STUDIO THE OUTPOST

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MARFA MYTHS 2018: MUSIC, VISUAL ART & FILM LOCAL LOVE: GILA MONSTER

FUSION GALLERY: JUAN ORNELAS NÓMADA LABORATORIO URBANO

REYNALDO STUDIO THE OUTPOST

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FUSION MAGAZINE 105

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Oscar Castañeda — oscar@thefusionmag.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Alex Durán — alexduran@thefusionmag.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Rafael A. Revilla — rrevilla@thefusionmag.com ENGLISH COPY EDITOR Daniel Salas — dbsalas@thefusionmag.com SALES MANAGER Oscar Castañeda Sr — oscarc@hefusionmag.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & COLLABORATORS: Bjorzh Znchz, Alba García, Isabel Aleman, Denise Nelson Prieto Josh Luna, Chantel Baul, Sarah Vasquez, Miguel Juárez, Beto Moran, Kimmy Quan GRAPHIC DESIGN Oscar Castañeda & Alba García CONTACT info@thefusionmag.com FUSION at USA: (915) 231.8895 - (915) 875.9991 FUSION en MEX: (614) 415.4941 10

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Check out our new website! thefusionmag.com

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THE OUTPOST Fusion Magazine is a free monthly magazine with distribution in El Paso, TX, Cd. Juarez, Las Cruces, NM, Chihuahua, Marfa, TX, Alpine, TX & Mexico D.F. The opinions, views and comments expressed in Fusion Magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the editor and publisher. Authors and collaborators are accountable for the content of the articles. Fusion Magazine is not responsible for the information submitted in the ads by the advertisers.This publication is not suitable for people under the age of 18. Fusion Magazine does not promote or condone the use of firearms and/or violence.

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Fusion Magazine es una revista mensual y gratuita con distribución en El Paso TX…… Las opiniones, comentarios y puntos de vista expresados en Fusion Magazine no reflejan necesariamente la visión del editor y publicista. Los autores y colaboradores son responsables por el contenido de los artículos. Fusion Magazine no es responsable por la información reflejada en los artículos de los anunciantes. Esta publicación no es recomendable para personas menores a 18 años. Fusion Magazine no promueve ni condona el uso de armas y/o violencia.

MARFA MYTHS

MUSIC, VISUAL ART & FILM WORDS: SARAH VASQUEZ

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arfa Myths is more than just a music festival.

The partnership between Brooklyn music label Mexican Summer and non-profit contemporary arts foundation Ballroom Marfa combines music, film and visual arts during a weekend-long festival in Marfa.

“The festival was conceived in Marfa and is very much informed by the town’s creativity, resourcefulness and also it’s limitations,” said Sarah Melendez, Ballroom Marfa public programs associate. “There is so much thought and consideration put into every detail from the line-up, down to the event production.”

This year’s festival is April 12-15, a month later than previous years. With Marfa as a tourist destination, the small town’s hotels and vacations rentals can fill up quickly. “We found ourselves competing a bit with the spring break traffic and decided to move the festival to April,” said Melendez. “April also tends to be a bit warmer, so we are encouraging more camping as hotels and Airbnbs fill up.”

What started in 2014 with a line up of 5 bands for a one day performance at El Cosmico, has now evolved into a long weekend with exhibitions, workshops, residencies, performances and the Marfa Myths journal dispersed throughout the town.

The schedule is set up so festivalgoers won’t have to decide which event to attend.

“There is so much thought and consideration put into every detail from the line-up down to the event production,” said Melendez. “Last year the festival collaborated with over 20 local partners and is continuing this tradition in 2018.”

Legendary Texas musician Terry Allen headlines Friday night with Canadian folk music band The Weather Station at the Marfa Visitor Center, followed by “Hello I’m Dolly: Best Little Drag Show in Texas.”

But first, The official Marfa Myths Zine will be released and Anthology Editions will present Imaginary Concerts with New York artist Peter Coffin at Marfa Studio of Arts, next to Marfa Public Radio.

The Judd Foundation starts Saturday morning with a self-guided tour of La Mansana de Chinati/The Block, home to artist Donald Judd’s first installations, followed by an afternoon performance by singer-

songwriters Jessica Pratt and Ryley Walker at the Capri.

“On Friday of the festival, Ballroom is also hosting a performance with Laaraji with Arji Oceananda during the opening of its fall exhibition ‘Hyperobjects.’

The exhibition is co-organized by philosopher and Rice University professor Timothy Morton, and Ballroom Marfa director and curator Laura Copelin, engaging ideas from Morton’s theory to confront the overwhelming scale of today’s ecological crisis,” said Melendez.

El Cosmico will host the after party with Detroit dance producer Omar-S and Moroccan trance sextet Innov Gnawa. Copelin and Morton and select artists will guide a walkthrough of the exhibition at Ballroom Marfa on Saturday morning.

“First Female Synth Hero” Suzanne Ciani will perform in the Arena at the Chinati Foundation, following a performance by Helado Negro with Ensemble and Tom Zé at Saint George Hall. Drugdealer will play an afternoon show at the Lost Horse and Reverberation Radio will DJ a set at Bar Nadar Pool + Grill. British post-punk band Wire will join the stage with Circuit Des Yeux and Amen Dunes at the Capri with an afterparty with Equiknoxx.

Wrapping the festival on Sunday is Austin band Thor & Friends at Building 98, a historic US army officers club and quarters, and a live score of “Self Discovery for Social Survival” by Gravity Hill Sound + Image and the Allah-Las at the Crowley Theater.

This year’s recording residency features Cate Le Bon and Bradford Cox of Deerhunter and Atlas Sound. Jesse Moretti is the visual artist in residency.

“Participants are encouraged to explore and meditate on the town through the unique performances and exhibitions the festival offers,” said Melendez.

Melendez also suggests for those making the trek to Marfa Myths to come prepared. Book accommodations as soon as possible. Pack a pair of boots and check if your cell coverage reaches the area and bring a water bottle. Marfa is nearly a mile high in elevation and after all, it is the desert.

For the full schedule and to purchase tickets, go to marfamyths.com.  THEFUSIONMAG.COM

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ARTISTS AS ENTREPENEURS WORDS: MIGUEL JUÁREZ

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COURTESY OF THCHRCH©

rtists and art-making are no longer bound to specific locations. In today’s world, artists can take their ideas and projects with them. Such is the case with thChrch, an art space located at 3600 Rosa Street in the Lincoln Park community, founded by local media artist and founder Frank Luna.

Luna was born and raised in El Paso, TX. He attended Montwood High School (’94) and like many young people of his generation, he was interested in a career in film and video media. From 1996 to 2002, he took courses in film, creative writing, music and English literature at UTEP. He took film courses with Cynthia W. Farah and Willie Varela and received a BA in Creative Writing and later an MA in Animation in 2015.

He said he got to a point that he felt he needed to move away to establish his career, so he moved to New York.

In New York he worked on video installations for several museums and made his way into art direction both on and off Broadway, helping to craft the look and feel of plays like “This is How It Goes” starring Ben Stiller, Jeffrey Wright and Amanda Peet. Later, he teamed up with JVP Productions, where he developed artistic concepts, designs graphic elements

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for various brands and corporate promotional efforts. He designed and art directed multi-media events for Seton Hall Law, Spencer Tunick and the Hollywood Bowl. In New York he felt he needed a change.

In 2013, he moved to San Diego where he and his friends first opened thChrch—an art center in Barrio Logan at 2185 Logan Avenue. Luna said the name for thChrch came from a church that was once located where he opened the center. thChrch’s business model is an entrepreneurial work-study space as opposed to a non-profit space.

In recent years, Barrio Logan has experienced its share of gentrification and Luna said at first residents were leery of him opening a space in their neighborhood, so he said he threw a sofa in front of the building and sat there all day and night and talked to anyone who would pass by and had questions about what he was doing. He said he would ask people: “What do you think I should create here?” As a result of the community’s input thChrch was born. It sought to “educate and support artists that want to create their own careers.” It also spun off various businesses like a record shop still in operation.

Luna returned to El Paso in 2017 and opened thChrch here.

It is not the first-time artistic efforts created elsewhere have transferred to El Paso. In 1981, the late Chicano Artist Felipe Adame painted his first mural “Virgen de Guadalupe” at Lincoln Park after painting murals in Chicano Park in San Diego in the 1980s. In 2008, brothers David and fireman Hector Gonzales were inspired by their visit to Chicano Park and in El Paso, along with Artist Gabriel Gaytan, they created the Annual Lincoln Park Day held every third Sunday in September.

Currently, thChrch in San Diego only operates a music production studio. thChrch in El Paso is similar to other art efforts which have opened to harness the creativity of El Paso’s artists. Spaces like the Artspace at 601 N Oregon Street, Dream Chasers Club at 200 S Santa Fe Street, LAIR Private Gallery at 222 Texas Street, Power at the Pass El Paso at 1931 Myrtle Avenue and Glasbox at 210 Poplar Street come to mind

where artists work as entrepreneurs using a wide range of skills in fashion, fine arts, graphic design, music, multimedia production and photography.

When he is not working as the creative services director for KCOS-13, he is at thChrch working with others to ready the space to open this summer. thChrch is planning workshops for artist entrepreneurs and for young people as their budget allows. Barbara Postelnek, sculptor and resident of Barrio Logan in San Diego stated: “Frank was always upbeat, positive and future-oriented; he cared about young people and kept thChrch functioning for years here on Logan Avenue and his presence will be missed.”  instagram: @thchrch thchrch.com

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12040 TIERRA ESTE – EL PASO, TEXAS – (915) 228-9245 UNIONDRAFTHOUSE.COM

BRINGS BANDS & BRANDS TOGETHER TO PUT EL PASO ON THE MAP. WORDS: CHANTEL BAUL PHOTO: COURTESY OF OUTPOST

O

ne year ago, a conspicuous cuboid building opened on Missouri Ave just off of I-10 West as a convenient rest stop for touring musicians traveling through the southwest. Offering guests a thoughtful curation of healthy snacks, highquality toiletries and exquisite amenities freeof-charge, Outpost has hosted more than 200 traveling bands since its inception.

Outpost is the brainchild of the co-founders behind the Participation Agency—a New Yorkbased experiential and design agency known for delivering innovative solutions.

President Ruthie Schulder and creative director Jessica Resler met while studying business at NYU. The 2 decided to launch the Participation Agency in 2011 and devoted much of their work to the music industry. “In all the years of working with musicians, we really found that one of their biggest pain points is traveling and being on tour, and yet it’s the most important thing they have to do to survive as a musician,” said Resler.

The PA offered Outpost as the solution and, after scouting out the city, the co-founders decided to launch the first of 5 locations in El Paso.

Resler said the decision was pretty easy: “[El Paso] is such a weird, vibey town. There’s cool, young entrepreneurs who are doing things. We met a bunch of people right off

the bat who were really warm and welcoming to the idea.” With the community behind it, Outpost opened its doors and has hosted the likes of Blackbear, GoldLink, Magic Giant, Waterparks, Tiger Army, Chelsea Wolfe and more over the year.

Marisol McNeil and Caroline Vázquez are the manager and assistant manager, respectively.

Together these 2 manage the day-to-day operations at the Outpost. Though most days are spent accommodating the guests, Vázquez and McNeil collaborate with incoming artists, local bands and local brands to put on concerts, pop-up shops and more for the public every month. “We are working endlessly to do a lot of really cool events, especially to benefit the local scene in El Paso,” Vázquez said.

They spread the word about upcoming events on social media using #OutpostCity.

Outpost is shaking things up in Sun City. “It’s bringing the community into something that’s new and interacting [fans] with artists,” said McNeil. The goal is to put the city on the main stage, so to speak.

Resler added, “We’ve already routed hundreds of musicians into El Paso.

We want to help drive out thousands, and instead of El Paso being a stopthrough, we want it to be a destination.”  outpost.city

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U

n sentimiento de apropiación hacia nuestra ciudad ha crecido gracias a proyectos, intervenciones y estrategias ingeniosas y constructivas que nos hacen orgullosos de nuestra identidad fronteriza. Se intensifica este afecto cuando la comunidad trabaja de manera colaborativa y altruista para resolver problemáticas que sufre nuestro entorno. Nómada Laboratorio Urbano es parte de esa mutabilidad donde se busca crear ciudad, un termino que envuelve toda una ente social determinada al cambio propositivo.

HACIENDO CIUDAD POR: ALBA GARCÍA

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FOTO: CORTESIA NMDLAB

Agentes experimentales en Ciudad Juárez; creadores de proyectos, intervenciones y estrategias urbanas y socioculturales vía artivisimo, arquitectura y urbanismo táctico. Un colectivo interdisciplinario que no se encasilla en conceptos ni definiciones; funciona desde diferentes vertientes que concuerdan con una identidad fronteriza urbana y conviven en un espacio publico. Conformado por Evangelina Cordero, Néstor Acosta, Andrés Mendoza y Miguel Mendoza. Los integrantes pertenecen a diferentes vertientes pero las etiquetas se vuelven imperceptibles y trabajan como una mezcolanza de talentos y virtudes para un mismo fin que converge en la ciudad. ¨Queremos reflejar esta idea de que es necesario convertirnos en actores de ciudad… creemos que si queremos mejor nuestra ciudad, nuestro entorno; hay que dejar de esperar que lo haga alguien mas. ¨

PEATONES PRIMERO

PHOTOBOOT URBANO: LA TOMA DE JUÁREZ

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Su primer intervención empezó con un sentido mas experimental; fue motor y moldeo la esencia e identidad como colectivo. La toma de Juárez, evento en la 16 de Septiembre fue el primer testigo del trabajo de Nómada Laboratorio Urbano, formaron un callejón con pallets que actuó como photoboot urbano con los personajes revolucionarios. Es así como han logrado mediante la experimentación encontrar maneras de contribuir con su entorno. Varios han sido los proyectos e intervenciones en los cuales Nómada ha trabajado; tales como: Monu-games, Comparte la Mesa, Pabellón Octavio Paz, Pechakucha Pop-Up, La Raza Comedor Urbano, El Puesto:Makeshift by Los Dos, Guerrilla Design Lab, Letras a la border, entre otros. En conjunto todas sus intervenciones son evolutivas y experimentan en pro de la ciudad, la ciudadanía y el espacio publico.

Una ciudad tan diversa y versátil como lo es Juárez, pide a gritos propuestas propositivas que en cualquier medio pueda converger su carácter y personalidad. Es importante y necesario el estudio de lo que buscan hacer y las funciones desde todos los puntos de vista. Intervenciones y proyectos que sean inmediatos buscando apropiación hacia la ciudad y un bien común; sin perder tiempo en planeación y recuperar acción dejando a un lado el solo pensar si no actuar e intervenir. Es exacto llamarse laboratorio urbano, no se aprisionan y buscan diversos motivos y maneras de contribuir a su ciudad y de minimizar las problemáticas que ellos mismos viven como ciudadanos.

LETRAS A LA BORDER

EL PUESTO: JUAREZ CONTEMPORARY

TÁCTICAS URBANAS

EL PUENTE: MUSEO LA RODADORA

¨Sin ciudadanía no es ciudad … si buscamos bien común cualquier cosa se facilita.¨

proyectos urbanos que otorgan respuestas a problemáticas socioculturales y urbanas.

La resiliencia de los ciudadanos es el motor para regenerar y hacer mas prospera su comunidad mediante la funcionalidad.

Trabajando de la mano con gente, proyectos, intervenciones que obran para un mismo bien, dejando a lado la falta de colaboración y así consolidan el proyecto. Llevándolo de ser experimental a tener una visión para mejorar el entorno urbano. Lo que se busca es hacer ciudad, y trabajar con diseño participativo; donde no se busca ser individualistas si no trabajar con la ciudad para su bien propio.

Por ahora Nómada ha empezando a trabajar a través de foros y charlas, generando conversación sobre los temas que afectan a la ciudadanía. Ciudad Praxis es un foro de dialogo donde se busca dar a conocer las diversas propuestas e intervenciones de ciudadanos interesados en resolver las problemáticas de la comunidad. Melo, Leonardo Alanís, Miguel Fernández Iturriza, Cosme Fabián Espinoza y Tania Melanie Reyes serán los encargados de abrir el dialogo sobre el rol de los ciudadanos en la tarea de fomentar y hacer crecer su entorno. Diversas son las maneras y métodos en los que Nómada Laboratorio Urbano contribuye con su entorno. Olvidando tecnicismos y definiciones, lo que se busca es crear un entorno urbano, social y cultural digno de una ciudad diversa, variante y multicultural como lo es Juárez. 

El trabajo de Nómada Laboratorio al ser funcional también propone una estética que refleja en lo mismo la identidad fronteriza. Paletas de colores y trabajar con materiales reciclados, como los pallets; es algo que identifica su trabajo. El uso de materiales reciclados funciona para resolver cuestiones en la ciudad con los mismos recursos que proporciona el entorno.

Brinda herramientas a la ciudadanía generando junto con ellos

facebook.com/nmdlab www.nmdlab.com

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REYNALDO STUDIO POR: ALBA GARCÍA

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FOTO: OSCAR REYNALDO

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l arte es variable y versátil, no se define en tiempo ni en técnicas y su belleza recae en lo abstracto y sublime que puede llegar a ser. Oscar Reynaldo estudiante de la licenciatura de Diseño Industrial en Ciudad Juárez es amante del arte y creador de su estudio bajo su mismo nombre. La corta trayectoria que ha tenido no lo hace menos interesante, se destaca por finos trazos que juegan en conjunto para crear figuras excepcionales y minimalistas. Ilustraciones y piezas de cerámica que expresan su identidad como artista con un estilo que lo destaca en la escena artística fronteriza. ¿Qué es Reynaldo Studio?

Reynaldo es un estudio de diseño con sede en Ciudad Juárez.

Concebido para crear dibujos e ilustraciones y objetos de uso cotidiano hechos en cerámica. Fundado el 2 de julio de 2017. ¿Cómo defines la esencia e identidad de Reynaldo Studio?

Siete años antes de crear el estudio no creía en mis trazos, solo dibujaba sin darle un significado importante a mis dibujos. Poco a poco fui sintiendo, que aquellos viejos trazos podían ser un

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mensaje codificado de mis apreciaciones y satisfacciones de las personas y los momentos reales que fueron desarrollándome como la persona que soy ahora. “Las cosas más bellas de la vida, son gratis, hijo”, mi abuela me suele decir esas palabras, y aprendí a observar la belleza que me ofrece la Naturaleza.

Fue haciéndose más fuerte la pasión por dibujar conforme avanzaban los años por que me sentía más seguro para representar figuras mediante líneas con los instrumentos adecuados.

Las ilustraciones no han sido lo único que ha surgido de esta idea que es Reynaldo Studio; el diseño de cerámicas empezó a provocarme ansias de producir a mano objetos de uso cotidiano para satisfacer cualquier necesidad de cualquier persona que lo desee adquirir. ¿Cuáles son algunas de tus mas grandes inspiraciones e influencias?

La valentía, la forma de pensar y la manera de sentir de Melissa Rosales se ha manifestado tanto en mi vida que ha inspirado lo que es hoy este estudio. Sin duda el amor ayudó para que esto fuera posible. ¿Cuál es el proceso creativo de tras de cada uno de tus proyectos?

La imaginación y el corazón se encargan de enviarme señales de lo que quieren decir en una pieza. Hago anotaciones de esas primeras ideas y conceptos que pasan por mi cabeza. Después pienso, mi cerebro empieza a funcionar y no deja de generar una buena propuesta para responder de manera agradable la necesidad de una persona o, en el caso de una ilustración,

simplemente para expresarle algo a la sociedad. Dejo pasar el tiempo para que la idea surja en el momento menos esperado.

Finalmente llega la hora de plantearme las preguntas de cómo, dónde, para qué y para quién se producirá el producto o el servicio y transformar la ambición en un suceso: dar vida a la obra.

Ciudad Juárez sufre de muchas perspectivas erróneas, ¿Cómo percibes tu el entorno artístico?

Estoy seguro que hay demasiada creatividad en las personas, pero desafortunadamente a veces se atoran o se dejan influenciar fácilmente como la mayoría de los ‘’creativos’’, incluyéndome a mi… pero sería muy bonito que nunca dejaran de crear y ser verdaderamente auténticos. En lo personal he encontrado fuentes de inspiración en otro tipo de fuentes externas a Ciudad Juárez pero me encanta el hecho de traerlo a mi ciudad con mi propio toque o estilo. ¿Qué es lo que sigue para Reynaldo Studio?

Vienen nuevos proyectos para el futuro. Aprovecho para invitarlos a la exhibición de ilustraciones que tendrá lugar en Café Único el 25 de Mayo del presente año a partir de las siete de la tarde. Por último, quiero decir que estoy planeando diseñar nuevas piezas de cerámica.

Estén pendientes de lo que pase en Reynaldo Studio. facebook.com/reynaldostudio www.reynaldostudio.com oscarreynaldo@reynaldostudio.com

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LOCAL LOVE

GILA MONSTER

ALBUM REVIEW: UP GO THE TROLLEY CARS WORDS: FUSION MAG

E

l Paso indie-rock animals Gila Monster delivered their alternative-pop infused debut, Up Go The Trolley Cars, this past December diving into 90s sounds and infectious pop.

Looking past the usual sounds of indie bands of El Paso that can’t shake the Strokes and Kings of Leon complex, Gila Monster’s song structures are more developed than meat and potatoes simple rock & roll. The songs transition into epic choruses and erupt with a heavy boost of energy.

Songs like “I Was the Devil” power through like a Replacements rocker, and album starter “Up Go the Trolley Cars” sounds like the 90s more underground alternative power-pop sounds of Superdrag or Super Deluxe, with Teenage Fanclub style harmonies. The song “Black Lung” kinda reminds me of the pop side of Tony Molina, or a gentler Titus Andronicus. A definite

strong point in the overall production of the album are the harmonies; these guys aren’t afraid to belt it out with good support from the rhythm section. On the song “Alabaster Trees” Gila Monster go a little bit more mid-tempo before springboarding into a kaleidoscope of sound—bridging together the feeling of sadness and happiness.

With a mix of rock & roll jangly guitars, pop hooks for days, punchy harmonies and just a dash of 90s alt-country, Up Go the Trolly Cars is a surge of good ol’ fashioned rock, with strong songwriting. The production value matched with the album’s earnest songs gives you the feeling that good rock & roll music is out there. You can check out the album on Spotify and Soundcloud.  facebook.com/gilamonsterband

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FUSION GALLERY

JUAN ORNELAS FOCUS CHAOS AND MOVE THE MASSES WORDS: FUSION MAG

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uan Ornelas is a proud graduate of UTEP with multiple degrees. He is a self-taught artist with a professional background in Marketing Strategy, who has been drawing for the better part of his life and has been painting with acrylics for 6 years.

to have them flow in a constructed harmony. He considers himself a neo-pop artist and his artistic influences include Andy Warhol, Rene Magritte, Shepard Fairey, Dave Kinsey, Banksy, Frank Kozik, Ron English and basically any artist that puts his style out into the world unapologetically.

He believes that art allows humanity to create and bring the visions from their minds into the universe. He uses his own life to draw from to create, focusing the chaos of life into visual expressions. He is a proud El Pasoan and tries to incorporate the many visual influences like anime, cartoons, Dia de los Muertos, the southwest, comic books, vintage advertising and pop-art to name a few.

His hope is that his art creates some sort of emotional reaction with the viewer on any level, and he always strives to push the local art scene to new heights by any means possible. He believes El Paso to be a unique place that fuels talented individuals to create and express themselves. His ultimate passion and goal is to be a part further establishing and growing what it means to be an El Paso artist, by creating art that moves the masses. 

He calls his art style “Chuco Pop” which is a mix of pop-art, the border area and an instinct to create with colors, lines and form

facebook.com/juan.ornelas.731

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THEFUSIONMAG.COM

The Wyze Guyz

WHO ARE TAKING INK TO A NEW LEVEL WORDS: DENISE NELSON PRIETO

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PHOTO: BETO MORAN

yze Guyz Tattoo Parlor’s owner, Omar Macias, subscribes to one philosophy when it comes to tattooing: Authenticity.

He also credits his more than 20 years of tattooing, along with some pretty humble beginnings, for his innovative style and determination to create his best work in all the pieces he does.

“We really don’t get any images from the net. That’s what we call ‘Google artists’,” he said. “If you show us a picture, we’ll use the concept, or we’ll help you develop a concept, but we use our own creativity and artistry to create the tattoo.”

“I learned the old school way, with a homemade machine and guitar string,” he said. “A lot of the shops now . . . don’t have any knowledge of that type of scene, the underground scene. They were born with a silver spoon in their mouths. I think somebody who came up with those types of roots has a little more appreciation for the movement.”

The shop, which includes 7 artists, an apprentice and a barber, has been open for 2 and half years. Since that time, Macias has also been hitting the European tattoo circuit hard. He got picked up by the clothing line Unauthorized Inc., who sponsors him to take his unique West Coast/Chuco style and know-how to some of the continent’s premier tattoo conventions.

He and a handful of domestic and European tattoo artists have since opened a studio in Dortman Germany.

He does tout the benefits of the stateof-the-art tools available to artists today, but still lauds the artists’ innate talent as the true determiner of good work.

“There are a lot of amazing artists in Europe and we’ve encountered a lot of talent there,” he said.

That talent has garnered him and his team multiple awards here in the U.S. and abroad. Their ability to create any type of tattoo is pretty much limitless, evident by awards like Best Black and Gray, Best Chest Plate and Best of Shows. Macias regularly attends the Golden State Tattoo Expo, Musink, the Body Art Expo and Dortmund, Germany Tattoo Con, among others.

He credits the influence he’s absorbed while in Europe with some of the styles he and other artists at Wyze Guyz do, including Renaissance and Greek mythology. He also specializes in photo realism and portraits.

Macias stressed the importance of people being willing to throw down a decent amount of money in exchange for a superior product. He’s adopted the “you get what you pay for” mentality in terms of the service he provides.

Just by checking out some of his work on Instagram (@omar_macias_tat2), you get the idea of just how hyper realistic his artistry is.

“I’ve had some people say ‘you guys do badass work but it looks expensive,’” Macias said. “If it looks expensive you know you’re going to get good work.

You’re getting a piece of art on your body; you die with it.” 

“That’s what it boils down to—we’re artists first,” he said. “You can have the best tools, but if they’re in the wrong hands, you get a shitty piece.”

WYZE GUYZ TATTOO PARLOR 3012 Lee Trevino Dr. • El Paso, TX. facebook: WYZEGUYZTATTOOPARLOR instagram: @wyzeguyztattoo THEFUSIONMAG.COM

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