Artist and "San Anto" native son Vincent Valdez has his debut solo show in L.A. at Western Project in Culver City, opening this weekend. The show is called "Winner's Circle" and appears to be an epilogue to his celebrated "Stations" series, of boxers caught in moments of monumental struggle. Here is a good preview at Arts Central. Valdez has another upcoming debut that is truly exciting for the entire city, a depiction of the razing of Chavez Ravine painted upon a vintage Good Humor ice cream truck, a commission for Ry Cooder. I've seen the piece up close, during a recent studio visit. It is astounding. More media buzz on the painted truck is sure to come soon.
I grew up around boxers -- my dad was a fighter and is now a trainer -- but anyone can relate to boxing as a metaphor for the struggles and bouts of life, especially when rendered by Valdez's hand. For me, his new stuff strengthens my devotion to the words of Ishmael Reed, who once said, "writing is fighting." Born in 1977, Valdez is already a master of figurative painting that reaches beyond mere representation or narrative; he captures the unseen essences of his subjects. See "Winner" (2006) above.
* This post was updated.