Through the layering of color, iconic images, word play and titles in a pop art style, I play with the mixed messages that occur from being constantly subjected to information from one group or another when they are vehement about their points of view to the exclusion of any other opinion, regardless of facts, allowing viewers of the work to pause and reflect. I am interested in the contrary, i.e. saying one thing and meaning another, and lately I've been working on how politicians and the media use what we refer to today as "spin" to control perception and influence outcomes. George Orwell did it best in his fictional novel, 1984, where we were introduced to "new speak," "double speak" and the changing of historical data, either blatantly or through omission. The only difference is that the media in Orwell’s fantasy was completely controlled by the government and today’s media is governed by ideology of one kind or another. No longer fiction, the emotions of citizens are being preyed upon with the knowledge that good intentions can be manipulated through fear and misinformation to create results that are contrary to their original purpose. My hope is that the viewer stops long enough to ask questions about what role their actions may have played in crucial moments that affect everyone. As a recently dedicated self-taught artist, my work has just begun!
*Alvaro was born in Deming, New Mexico in 1954, he lived in Los Angeles for nearly 40 years and currently lives in Atlanta. He is self-taught and has shown in cities across the country, but most frequently in Atlanta.
You can see some of his work here.
Alvaro Alvillar
There Is a New Movement…
by Alvaro Alvillar…and it is us!
We are proud! We are united! We are loyal! We are kind and giving! We are decent! We are diverse! We are always seeking to improve ourselves and lift others! We are always the first ones to show up in time of need-anywhere in the world! We are the most powerful country in the world-but we are not bullies! We are family! We are friends and neighbors! We are Americans and we are without a doubt the best example of a free people the world has ever seen-period.
We are ready to let our voices be heard-loud and clear! We are going to show up whenever and wherever we are called to defend ourselves. We are going to defend all patriotic Americans against slander and libel, in and out of court with both our presence and our pocketbooks. We are going to show up in unprecedented numbers and vote out the garbage, both left and right, that claim to represent us but prove otherwise-time and time again. We are energized, organized, determined and willing to stand up against the lies, intimidation, corruption, media manipulation and government fraud that is and has been perpetrated against us for too long now. We are especially ready to fight and stop any and all efforts that are currently being taken to separate us from our constitutional rights! (more…)
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
| 
Are You Artists or Propagandists?
by Alvaro AlvillarCount me as one of the proud, independent and struggling painters who will not be a shill for the current administration. Let me make it clear — the NEA and artists who take orders from Obama’s henchmen are nothing more than shills for one of the most corrupt administrations this great nation has ever seen. It’s one thing when artists make political art out of personal conviction, however misguided or ignorant we may be, but to be put into the service of the White House propaganda machine in return for grants and/or other considerations at the expense of already over-taxed Americans is despicable and dangerous.
When did artists in this country decide it was a good idea to take marching orders from the government? Did I just wake up in some third-world country from a long sleep or am I having a nightmare where I go back in time to Mao’s China, Stalin’s Russian or Hitler’s Germany? No such luck — this is actually happening here and now and some of you artists are too stupid to figure out you’re being had. Wake the $%@# up! Always question the powers that be! The only “change” that has taken place are the faces in high places. Politicians have an agenda-first, last and always — but make no mistake — these guys are worse, much worse! (more…)
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
|
Ignorance = ‘It Ain’t No More, Okay?’
by Alvaro AlvillarIn this painting, the meek are those who are easily led, ignorance is a tool used against them and red represents the communist countries that should have erased all doubt by now about the abysmal failures they have proven to be and will always be — no matter what variations of “ism” they call themselves.
“The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth” — 2000 mixed media on wood 38″ x 52″
Now that “the chickens have come home to roost” and we have an administration that does anything it damn well pleases while spitting in our faces to stay in power as they shove their agenda down our throats, I think it’s safe to assume we have nothing to lose by…gee…let me see…oh, I know…how about fighting back? I think Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin and the other girls in this movement have done more then their fair share and could use a little back up! Are there any men in this conservative movement other then Rush and Glenn Beck? Republican Senators and other “conservative” elected officials who sit idly by while their constituents repeatedly get kicked in the teeth, should be very grateful we can’t legally do more then just vote them out. Can you say tar and feather? (more…)
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
|
Our Agenda…
by Alvaro Alvillar…NO FEAR!
“We The People” are here to take back our house!
IF YOU’RE A FEMINIST–MAKE UP
IF YOU’RE A CHAUVINIST–CATCH UP
IF YOU’RE A MODERATE–FESS UP
IF YOU LEAN RIGHT–STRAIGHTEN UP
IF YOU’R A LIBERAL/PROGRESSIVE…
WHATEVER-GIDDY UP & MOVE ON
Fear
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
|
Fear…
by Alvaro Alvillar…their motives, not their strength!
“We The People” are the majority and we are on the right side of this struggle.
Move On-NOW-Pink-Os, we will not Accept Criminals Legislating Us!
In Memory of Yoko Ono
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
|
Happy Flag Day
by Alvaro AlvillarI painted my first American flag in 1997 after viewing Robert Hughes’ PBS series “American Visions” about the history of American art and its coming of age in the fifties. This left me wanting to see Jasper Johns 1954 flag painting so much that I got up the next day, headed to the library, returned home and wound up painting my own flag. I have painted the American flag numerous times since and will continue to do so.
All Quiet on the Western Front, 1997
In 2001 I wanted to create a work of art that would fuse Jasper Johns flag and Andy Warhol’s 32 Campbell Soup Can paintings titled “Choices” with a little Ed Ruscha thrown in for good measure. The soup can paintings were all identical except for the flavors on the cans and that’s what I would do to my Johns inspired flags. All identical, as much as you can make thirty-two separate paintings, except in this case, instead of flavors, each vertical flag painting would have an almost invisible word at the bottom. (more…)
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
|
Art 101: I am an American!
by Alvaro Alvillar
I made the above painting:
A. To point out to the art community who I am?
B. To make clear to my Latino brothers and sisters who I am?
C. To leave no doubt to anyone as to who I am?
D. To suggest that the journey is relevant but that in the long run, it is who you are now and what you do now that matters?
E. All of the above?
Alvaro Avillar’s portfolio can be viewed here.
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
|
Acceptable Hate Mongering?
by Alvaro Alvillar
Yeah-I think I get it? If you’re a media personality of mediocre talent and dubious intelligence like…uh…gee, there’s so many to choose from? Oh, I know, let’s go with Janeane Garofalo now that she’s decided to be a spokesperson for the party of “love, openness and diversity” again. Anyway, apart from proving you’re not smart enough to keep your mouth shut, what happens if you’re a media personality of mediocre talent and dubious intelligence and you openly preach the most vile form of inflammatory hatred towards an entire group/race of people in today’s politically correct climate?
You get a pass and high-fives from the MSM of course, but why? (more…)
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
|
Art 101: Hey Sean Penn, Who Wrote This?
by Alvaro Alvillar
Here’s a hint:
Sean Penn and Bono were friends/admirers of this poet and I wonder if they are aware of this very pertinent and timeless poem which reflects today’s “progressive” hypocritical agenda.
I will reveal the rest of the poem and the artist this weekend, a poet I had the great fortune of having met as a very young man in high school at the studio of an artist and friend.
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
|
Are We a Nation of Serfs?
by Alvaro Alvillar“Give me control of a nation’s money supply and I care not who makes its laws.” — Mayer Amschel Rothschild
I thought I’d take the opportunity I have through Big Hollywood to ask about a documentary I’ve recently seen. I consider myself fortunate to have been introduced to this site and all the intelligent, well informed, talented and humorous individuals it has attracted, so what better place than here for some answers, maybe more questions, or just some plain old feedback/dialogue.
Has anyone seen or heard about the 2005 documentary, “America: Freedom to Fascism” by award winning film maker Aaron Russo? (more…)
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
|
‘POLITICALLY ITS OK TO HATE THE WHITE MAN’
by Alvaro AlvillarIn March of 2007, two police officers in Atlanta, Georgia filed a hostile work environment complaint against a work of art that went up in Atlanta’s City Hall East where, among other things, the city police headquarters and Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs are located. Atlanta’s chapter of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers called for the immediate removal of the art. The artist was called a “racist” and the art a work of “hate.”
The people who spread the word “racist” were those in the media eager for headline grabbing attention, but the only reason it became a city-wide controversy was due to the fact the art show took place in a public building, not in a gallery. For this reason, local conservative radio also added fuel to the controversy.
I should add that no taxpayer money funded any of this. All of the participating artists installed their own work, took it down themselves, removed it when the show ended and no work of art was bought by the city. (more…)
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
|
A Little Art 101 For the Weekend…
by Alvaro Alvillar
…what does this mean to you?
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
|
Call To Artists: Political Art For Freedom of Speech
by Alvaro Alvillar
—
You can see Alvaro’s portfolio here.
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
|
Follow Us on Twitter
Subscribe via RSS
Tips & Feedback
