Jorge Guzman Rodriguez was born on May 9, 1962 in a small town
which is today known as Villa de Santo Tomas in San Salvador Republic of El
Salvador, Central America.
His academic preparation took place
in his native El Salvador. He Graduated from The National School of Commerce
(ENCO) and pursued university studies in accounting and public auditing in the University
José Simeon Cañas.
His work experience was initiated in
1979 at the age of 17 years, working for a firm of audit and accounting in the
afternoons while he was in his second year of high school, then when he graduated
in 1981, he began working for several private companies performing various
activities and duties: Accounting Assistant, Internal Auditor and General
Accountant. In 1985 he founded and developed his own business JG consultants
which consisted of advisors providing their professional services of
accounting, finance and tax to companies and businesses.
Risks and adversities present in the
middle of a fratricidal war for 12 years (such as that experienced in El
Salvador, which started in 1979 and ended with the signing of the peace
agreements on January 16,1992) did not prevent Jorge from fulfilling some of
his dreams: pursue academic improvement and form a family.
In 1984 he married his wife Blanca
Estela, companion and friend for 28 years. They have three children: Rocío
Jamileth, Gabriela Alejandra and Jorge Alberto Jr.
Another one of his dreams was to develop
his vocation as an artist, a passion that comes from his childhood, inspired by
the artistic work done by his grandfather who was one of those bohemian,
isolated and mystical characters that exist in families. He was a poet and
self-taught painter, whose talent passed unnoticed by the lack of support given
to talented artists.
This did not diminish his
grandfather’s efforts to reach the laurels of glory and auto completion as an
artist, to have won some floral games and local art competitions in Ciudad
Arce, a small town located in the Department of La Libertad.
Jorge’s self-taught learning was followed
up on a method of drawing published by the Pan American diffuser, text that
ultimately would be the only memory and legacy of his grandfather, thus began
his world of drawing.
This vocation for the arts would be
reencountered later in 1995 when he met maestro Armando Solis, the same painter
who in his youth, he longed to meet and be able to attend his classes. This
dream became a reality, every weekend and for a period of 2 years he had the
opportunity to learn and share knowledge about the arts with the teacher,
mentor and friend who, he recalls with respect and admiration as being an icon of
the Arts in El Salvador. Mr. Solis was multifaceted because he also
distinguished himself as a sculptor engraver, writer, archaeologist and editor
of several books. He is one of the outstanding figures of the arts in El
Salvador and a worthy representative of Neo impressionism.
This encounter allows Jorge to learn
about the theory of color, light and shadow, watercolor and oil painting
techniques, as well as to exchange ideas and points of view about art and its
representatives. From here emerged the admiration for the work done in spatula
and the range of colors that are present in the work of Carlos Garay, who is
one of the exponents of landscape in Honduras and Camilo Minero, another master
of Salvadoran painting, both friends of Armando Solis, who he met through his
work.
About the artistic movements and
styles, his admiration is the Renaissance, Baroque, impressionism and post
impressionism, surrealism and Neo impressionism. Some Latino artists who have
enjoyed his admiration are muralists Diego Rivera of Mexico, Orozco and Pedro
de Matheu, Jose Mejia Vides, Camilo Minero, Armando Solis and Carlos Garay.
His first collective exhibition was
at La Casona Art Gallery in 1998, in El Salvador with the work titled
"Mininos".
During the years of 1999 to May 8,
2000 he painted more than 75 pieces of art work between still lives, landscapes
and faces that today are part of private collections of family and friends in
El Salvador.
On May 9, 2000, he moved to New York,
State which he adopted as his permanent residence, settling in the village of
Hempstead with his family with whom he emigrated 12 years ago.
Since his arrival, he was determined
to work in his professional career. The opportunity arrived when Mr. Mario
Sanchez hired him for his shipping company, The Naviera. Consequently, he later
started to work for the accounting and tax firm Lore Frank Accounting Services.
In 2001, he was hired by the company Santos Iron Work's Inc., where he worked
in the areas of accounting, tax and finance.
In 2009 he decided to resume his
professional independence to work in his own company JG Consultant Advisor
providing services in business and income tax, also planning and development of
projects around culture and art for not for profit organizations.
His interest in the arts is
strengthened even more upon his arrival in New York allowing him to visualize
that dream of youth. It became a personal hobby to share with family and
friends and it also represented an additional career and economic future with
which to contribute to the family income.
Meeting with friends who shared a
passion for the arts became source of information to find out the reality
and disagreements of the artists, initiatives, and failures around culture and
the arts.
This group of multifaceted artists,
bohemians and dreamers, one filmmaker and writer, another a painter, sculptor
and writer, through friendship, long
gatherings and exchange of ideas and projects, contributed to the definition of
his objectives and work plans in the constant search of the "I artist ".
Thanks to the mediation of his
friend Gonzalo Guevara, he was introduced to the artistic context in the area,
taking part in his first group exhibition on American soil, organized by the
Saint Paul Church in Brooklyn, where he participated in the work entitled
"Porque la diferencia"-"Why the difference"
The need to find the "I artist",
framed him in a constant search for something different that resulted in his
work emanating a characteristic that defines his style as an artist. This
became a challenge that led him to experiment with texture, work spatula, mixed
techniques, color, funds and materials.
The exchange of ideas and healthy
criticism with his good friend Gonzalo, motivated him to scan more landscapes
and still lives, to find echo in the abstract, mainly in abstract expressionism
and the theme. In mid-2003 he was invited to participate in a collective
exhibition which was organized by the African American Museum in Hempstead
where he participated with 3 oil paintings and a wooden sculpture, made on a plant
root found.
Restless ideas motivated by the
adversities of life, social and economic context that surrounds it, as well as
the frustrations of artist friends who had abandoned their art due to lack of
opportunities or censorship, encourages the beginning of a search for
alternatives to wake up a sleeping
community indifferent to the cultural
and the artistic.
In 2004, motivated by his friend
Gonzalo, he organized his first exhibition in his home-studio to share art work
created since his arrival in 2000. Here one of the experiences that would mark
and introduce him to partner community activism, was the presence of young
Hispanic/Latino students at open studio and to receive the news that one of
them had died days later, product of violence on the streets.
This event brings the opportunity to
meet artist Jaime Cruz and organize the first formal event. Diego Rios a friend
and agent of Real Estate of Colombian origin, made available to us the use of
an apartment located in Freeport for the realization of the exhibition titled
"QUIXOTES’ ART" where he participated with his friends Gonzalo
Guevara and Jaime Cruz.
From this event emerges the
initiative of a cultural project and the arts in social function to educate the
community and generate opportunities for artists projecting them as models to
be followed by the youth. This project was supported by artist Jaime Cruz and
was later joined by poet Santiago Miranda thus Ikarus Cultural Program, as a
private initiative and commitment to disseminate and promote the Hispanic Latino
art throughout Long Island was born. This work has been done since 2005. In
February 2000 it was incorporated as a foundation under the laws of the State
of New York, assuming the post of President and founding Director.
His life throughout his 12 years
in Hempstead is summed up in what he called dreams come true, utopian and
quixotic, giving thanks to God, family, friends, fellow artists and this nation
for allowing and helping to fulfill them.
The American Dream: Check the academic achievement of his children and family:
Gabriela Alejandra who graduated
from Hempstead High School, received the degree of Associate in Business
Administration in NCC and also an International Business degree from LI
University CW Post.
Jorge Guzman Jr. who graduated
from Hempstead High School, received an Associate degree in Business
Administration in NCC and is currently studying at Stony Brook University doing
his last semester of Business Administration & Finance.
Jamileth Rocio graduated from the University of Life, giving us the joy of
bringing into the world two beautiful princesses Mia Alexandra and Alexia June
and who are his inspiration in the zenith of his life.
Jorge A. Guzman Artist
Self-taught painter, oil handling techniques, acrylic, watercolor, Chinese ink,
mixed media, photo manipulation, has also created some sculptures and
installations (Concept Art) and participated in creating murals.
His inspiration is the surrounding context, and family experiences, ideals and
vision to shape a message that invites reflection.
He has created more than 300 pieces of art over 12 years in various styles and
techniques with which he has participated in 8 solo exhibitions and 103 group
exhibitions of which 24 are Boston, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, 79 in Long
Island and Manhattan.
Some of his pieces have been selected to illustrate the cover of some books of
poets and writers Hispanic-Latino:
• Book cover of "Two guitars and a verse of forgetting martyrs” David
Urias 2012
• Book cover of "Dark
Nostalgia in Solitude" Santiago Miranda & Illustration-2007
• Book cover of "Hotel
Soledad" Gonzalo Guevara-2006
• Cover of 3rd annual awards gala program-National Society of Hispanic
MBA-Boston-2005
His work as an artist and cultural promoter has been acknowledged by various
elected officials and public institutions on Long Island, as well as
internationally:
2012.
• Assemblyman Philip Ramos -
Citation for his dedication and exemplary work in the community.
• Suffolk County Executive Steven
Bellone Certificate of appreciation for-supporting the Development of Latin
American Arts and Culture.
• Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone Certificate of appreciation for
supporting the artistic self realization of the Individual.
2011
• Town of Hempstead NY-Latino Art Exhibit Curator Citation Annual
Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month display at Hempstead Town Hall
• Town of Hempstead NY-Certificate of Recognition Annual Celebration of
Hispanic Heritage Month display at Hempstead Town Hall
• Secretary of Education and Culture of Marinilla, Colombia-Certificate of
Participation
• The Inc. Village of Hempstead-Certificate of Recognition - Our Cultural
Connections Art Exhibit
• Town of Babylon Supervisor Office of the Steve Bellone, Certificate of
Special Recognition-Hispanic Heritage Month.
2010
• Town of Hempstead NY-Latino Art Exhibit Curator Citation Annual
Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month display at Hempstead Town Hall
• Town of Hempstead NY-Certificate of Recognition Annual Celebration of
Hispanic Heritage Month display at Hempstead Town Hall
• Senator Brian X. Foley Certificate of Recognition Hispanic Heritage Month
Celebration "Heritage, Diversity & Integration" display State
Office Building, Hauppauge, NY
2009.
• Honored by Nassau County
Executive Office, Minority Affairs. Coordinating Agency for Spanish Americans (CASA),
and the Hispanic Heritage Committee.
• Annual Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month the Town of Hempstead
• 20th Annual Hyde Park Art
Association Exhibition, Boston City Hall, Boston MA-Honorable Mention for
"Three Muses"
2007.
• Annual Celebration of Hispanic
Heritage Month the Town of Hempstead.
• The 18Th Annual Hyde Park Art Association Exhibitions Boston City
Hall-Honorable Mention for "Violence".
2003.
• Multicultural 7th Exhibition -
African American Museum Inc. Village of Hempstead, Town of Hempstead Nassau
County Legislature-African American Museum.
He is currently an active member of:
• President and Founding Director of Ikarus Gallery Cultural Program, Inc.
• Hyde Park Art Association (HPAA) - Boston Massachusetts.
• Long Beach Art League.
• Chamber of Commerce and Industry of America Long Island
Hempstead Community Benefits
• Executive Board – CBA.
• Hempstead Community Benefits Committee - CBA
As activist and cultural promoter he
has created and promoted programs:
• Ikarus Editors
• House of Salvadoran Culture-NY.
• Cultural Exchange among Nations, held in Colombia in 2011.
As a community activist, he has
worked with several organizations and is involved in several causes:
• Immigration Legal Service of
Long Island
• Independent Salvadoran Committee NY Inc.
• Active 20-30 Club
• Hurricane Ida
• Haiti Earthquake
• Lutheran Church of the Epiphany, Hempstead, NY-Coat Giving Campaign
As an editor, writer and poet, he
edited and illustrated the book “Dark Nostalgia in Solitude” of Salvadoran poet
Santiago Miranda and is currently working on publishing his own book.
As citizen journalist, he serves
as director and editor of the digital newspapers “Ikarus News” and Salvadoran-Long
Island Forum.
Translation by Gladys Rodriguez
