"Signs of Life" Opening Reception
Bihl Haus Arts hosts an opening reception for “Signs of Life,” featuring a collection of works by artist Ben Ortiz from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, May 2 at the Bihl Haus Gallery, 2803 Fredericksburg Road. The exhibition continues through May 30.
“Signs of Life” includes about 15 works that highlight recognizable and iconic signage of long-time San Antonio establishments throughout town. Featured signage includes those from Cool Crest Miniature Golf on Fredericksburg Road, Jim’s Restaurant at San Pedro and Hildebrand, and Ranch Motel on Broadway, among others.
“The exhibition is a documentation of San Antonio with an artistic take,” Ortiz explained. “It’s also a first-person account of cultural pieces that are uniquely American. Many of these establishments are institutions.”
Ortiz described the process he follows to capture and paint each signage. “I go to sit in front of each sign and sketch them out and then finish them in the studio adding detail,” he said.
Special Event: A closing reception and artist talk with Ben Ortiz is from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, May 30.
Artist Statement
I am constantly inspired by common and often overlooked objects around me. What particularly interested in those images that evoke the image of an unvarnished truth in this climate of oversimplified and embellished claims propagated around us all. As an artist, I am often compelled to reinvent their images through my artwork. I stress the term reinvent in consideration with Hegel’s (19th century German philosopher) concept that nothing in our time could be truly isolated and given significance not influenced by others.
Technically speaking, it seems apparent to me that what distinguishes art from illustration is in the message. In the end, art should convey some form of truth in its execution through whatever means i.e. technique. Formally trained as a draftsman, this has influenced the means I use to execute my vision in these works. The influences that have inspired me for this series are Edward hopper, Jesse Trevino, Rene Magritte, the Mexican social realists, the writings of several writers including Leonard Shlain (Art & Physics) and recently Hegel’s critique on beauty and art.
About the Artist
Born in 1967 in Chicago, Ortiz moved to San Antonio in 1968 with his family and then briefly lived in Monterrey, Mexico for about a year in 1973 because of his father’s work. He then returned to San Antonio until 1980 where his father’s work took the family to Leon, Guanajuato, in central Mexico for about two years. Eventually, the family returned to San Antonio where they had a business at Market Square where Ortiz and his siblings spent a lot of their days when not at school.
After high school graduation, Ortiz attended Texas A&M University, but then studied with Paolo Barruchieri in Italy, in the town of Castiglion Fiorentino, Tuscany. After earning his degree in Design, Ortiz returned to Italy, where he perfected his drawing skills and met his wife, Patrizia, and worked at the Italart school for about two years.
After spending time in Italy, he returned to San Antonio, where he enlisted in the US Army and subsequently spent time in Alabama, Kansas and Hawaii. Upon finishing his time with the military, Ortiz and his wife and daughter had a short stay in Italy. They returned to San Antonio in 1998 where Ortiz has been an artist, illustrator and designer since then.
Event Links
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3587396-0
