ALAC's resident artists
(listed alphabetically)
Gil Bivins
I grew up in Phoenix with the desire to chase my dreams. My grandfather was my biggest inspiration in mentoring me to be a leader and not a follower. As a child and young teenager, my mother would send us to my uncle's ministry in Sonora Mexico where we would teach kids how to read in English and share arts and crafts programs that we would bring from the United States. My grandfather would encourage us to make a difference in these young children that didn’t have the resources that we had in the United States, I thrived in making a difference in these kids' lives that would eventually becoming lifelong friends. I would eventually focus on my studies at Phoenix Community College where I would receive my Associate of Arts in business, while working at Ramada Inns Inc., as a young adult. Eventually landing my first corporate executive job at Ramada Inns, Inc., with the opportunity to travel throughout the country. My eagerness to succeed in the business world earned favorable management positions with Regency Publications, Inc, as Executive Director of Global Sales; Interactive TV Systems, Executive Director of Sales and Marketing, LandCorp, Executive Director of Sales & Marketing with the focus of Northern America Sales; Cor-Tech International, Business Development Manager, driving revenues through a total of 38 offices throughout my region, in the Western United States. Read the full bio.
Pierston Doctor
Pushing my dynamic style through perspective poses that show powerful movements and gesture. As a Dine artist, I'm portraying and understanding my indigenous stories and hope to pass them on to my future kin, and hope they feel something when looking upon them. I hope to keep pushing my pieces by questioning what's been done and what I can paint by respectfully painting within what we keep sacred and what we may share. My name is Piersten Doctor and I'm born and raised here in Arizona. My favorite mediums is oil paint as I like to do fine art pieces as well as thick paintings with pallet knifes. I love mixing oil pastel with oil paint as it's something that excites my passion as each new piece is created. I hope to learn and do more murals as I'm still a novice with spray paint but very happy to be learning from my community of artist and mentors Jose Andres Giron and Roman P. Reyes at the Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural center. Read full bio in English and Spanish.
Cathy Garcia
Cathy Garcia, creative designer of Cha-Cha ChiC, has always been guided by her natural sense of style of fun, fashion, and flair. Her creativity traces back to her late Nana Nacha who always told her “Mija, Enjoy!” Her mother Delia's own zest for life was also evident when she was on the dance floor the night Cathy made her debut in the world. This love of life was passed on to Cathy and she continues to Cha-Cha until the morning as her mother did. Cathy, a Phoenix native and Carl Hayden graduate has been a Resident Artist of ALAC since 2012. She has been a big contributor to the development of ALAC’s merchandizing of the artifacts/inventory in La Tiendita (gift shop). Cathy is also playing a big part in ALAC in the planning and executing of every major event and exhibition. A good array of Cathy’s beautiful designs is found in La Tiendita. “With A Lot of Heart and A Lot of Heat”, Cathy Garcia has made her life-long dream a reality through her boutique style tees. Read the full bio in English and Spanish.
James Garcia the founder and producing artistic director of New Carpa Theater Co., director, actor and playwright. New Carpa stages Latino and multicultural works. James is also a Phoenix-based freelance journalist, communications and public policy consultant, and the host of Vanguardia America, which airs Saturdays at 8 a.m. on La Onda, 1190 AM in Phoenix. James is the author of more than 30 plays. His current works-in-progress is a one-man show based on the life and philosophy of Cesar Chavez, “The Two Souls of Cesar Chavez;” the upcoming short-play festival, Performing Democracy, and the full-length drama, "Our Civil War." Go to newcarpa.org or find us on Facebook.
Jose Andres Giron
José Andrés Girón has been dedicated to art. Hispanic/Latino cultura. Andrés, as he like to call himself, was born in Phoenix and lived next to the airport close to the Golden Gate Barrio. After the Vietname war, using his GI Benefits, he attended art school at the Hollywood Art Center in California, Phoenix College and ASU in Arizona, where he majored in Art Education. Along other artists, Andrés began to show at parks, community events or wherever there was an audience. He was a member of MARS and ARIZLTAN, which started a Latino arts movement in the late seventies and early eighties in Phoenix, Arizona. In New Mexico he was awarded “Outstanding Artist 2003” in the Contemporary Hispanic Market in Santa Fe, awarded first place in Albuquerque’s Spanish Market and has received awards and citations too numerous to mention. His art is part of the collection of the Latino Art Archives in the Smithsonian in Washington DC, and is the collectable investment in Latino Art History. Read the full bio.
My name is Carlos L J Montufar, a first-generation Chicano, a Mexican-Salvadorian mix and true lover of the arts. Being born in Monterey Park, CA, my mother took me to a Flamenco performance at Placita Olvera in Los Angeles, and though I was very young, the impact it had on me would eventually set my path as a dancer. Meanwhile, my family later moved to El Paso, TX, where I would develop my drawing and painting skills, later gaining recognition through community arts awards and mural painting for my graduating class at Americas High School. Flamenco was always such a passion of mine, but the “boys don’t dance” and machismo mentality kept me from truly searching. Moving to Phoenix, AZ in 2001 opened up the flood gates to embracing my identity as well as making it my choice to dance. I was on a speed lane to becoming a performer, dancing in CALO FLAMENCO, the largest Flamenco Company in Arizona to achieving a scholarship to performing with the largest Flamenco repertoire company in the nation, YJASTROS in Albuquerque, NM. I have had the opportunity of dancing in Doug Aitken’s: Black Mirror with Chloe Sevigny, contracted with CHARO in Las Vegas, NV and teaching in Flamenco arts education to communities in New York and North Carolina through Carlota Santana as well as collaborating with the various local groups in Arizona. In 2016, I established 501c3 organization, Phoenix World Arts Collective, with a mission of supporting our community through cultural awareness and world artistry. it is an honor to be a resident artist at ALAC, producing La Pinta Flamenca, a traditional Flamenco tablao, showcasing the finest flamenco guitarists, singers and dancers from both the US and Spain.
Vanessa Ortiz Zapata
Hi and welcome to my little color corner of the world, my name is Vanessa Ortiz Zapata. I’m a local Arizona Artist. I use my curiosity and love for life as inspiration for my incredible artwork. I paint and create with vibrant colors, various medias and pore my soul into every piece. I immerse myself into a world free of fear and full of hope. I paint what I feel and love the most. Busy mind working all the time. I let my hands guided me by my dreams. Freedom to travel to this world and dreams. Life is good and it only happens through my mistakes to bring me full circle. Since I was little, I have always been curious and at the same time intrigued with Art. I’m originally from Los Banos, California, but lived half of my life in between Kansas and Oklahoma. I was told from a young age that it would be impossible for me to attend college, but never stop. I graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Fine Art in Drawing in 2010. I reside in Arizona where I connected with mother nature and the beauty of the Superstitions Mountains. From a young age I always said I would live in Phoenix, Arizona. My spirit feels the freedom. I find the Arizona desert is a vital part of my inspiration and well being. Read the full bio in English and Spanish.
Roman P. Reyes
Roman is internationally renowned as an artist and actor. His art can be seen in the Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Center and other spaces places around Phoenix. He has a “Bachelor of Science in Commercial Art” from Arizona State University and a “MBA, International” from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. He's completed most of his course work for an Ed. D Degree at Nova University. He retired from Phoenix College as a Professor Emeritus after 34 years of teaching. Internationally, he has done artwork and art related projects in New Zealand, Ireland, Abu Dhabi, Mexico, Cuba, China and Brazil. He is well known for his work on the, "Trilogy: The Lord of the Rings" as a special effects artist. The Trilogy garnered 13 Academy awards and Roman's talent contributed to that effort. He was the guest of his “Highness, Sheik Nayan”, of the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi where he was recognized for his mural that was described as "cutting edge" created with computer graphics. Another international milestone was as artist-in-residence at the Charleville Castle in Ireland. During his career he has created numerous murals, paintings, sculptures, and computer graphic art works. His painting "Change" depicting Cesar Chavez, Barack Obama and MLK Jr. sharing a "fist bump" was accepted by President Obama while he was in office and hung in the White House during his term as president. Read the full bio.
Elizabeth Toledo
Born in California to immigrant parents Elizabeth was raised in Arizona and Sonora. When Elizabeth speaks of her earliest memories, she talks about art; “I have always loved art in all of its forms. Growing up I would draw continuously, otherwise, I would be singing.” Her artwork demonstrates the cultural influences of her life. Her upbringing in the Arizona/Sonora desert, with its rich landscapes, array of strong colors, passionate monsoons, powerful arroyos and comforting heat, have been her inspiration to create with the ardor displayed. Her artwork consists mostly of female figure drawings and paintings with a surreal influence and with the intent of bringing forth the pains and passions of the female existence.
Elizabeth has been the Executive Director of The Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Center since 2016. ALAC is a nonprofit organization that promotes the community’s artists of all disciplines, and bringing cultural awareness and education via art exhibitions, festivals and cultural events throughout Arizona. Here Elizabeth has been able to further her advocacy in providing direction and mentorship to the community’s artists. Read full bio in English and Spanish,
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AZ Latinos Arts & Cultural Center, 147 E. Adams St., Phoenix, Arizona, 85004, 602-254-9817, [email protected]
AZ Latinos Arts & Cultural Center, 147 E. Adams St., Phoenix, Arizona, 85004, 602-254-9817, [email protected]