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Concordia Art Works – Pablo Brings Mexican Art to Alberta Street

Posted on September 27, 2020 by Web Manager Posted in Arts & Culture, Concordia News

By Maquette Reeverts | Alberta Art Works

Pablo Gonzalez
Pablo Gonzalez moved to Portland to pursue his art. In 19 years, he’s left his mark – and continues to – on many walls on Alberta Street. Photo by Maquette Reeverts

Born in Zongolica – meaning crafty hair – in Veracruz, Mexico, Pablo Gonzalez came to Portland in 2001 to pursue his art. He loved the beautiful trees and worked at Al Forno’s Pizza, where he did his first murals on Alberta Street.

Influenced by the Mexican tradition of murals, he carried a portfolio of his work to show store owners in his search of walls to paint. He now has quite a body of work on Alberta.

La Sirenita hosts his mermaid, her scales made of CDs reflecting the afternoon sun. On the alley wall, he collaborated with Consuela del Moral to paint Fertiledad del la Tierra – Fertile Earth – depicting various Mexican symbols, animals and designs.

On the once-vacant building on 23rd Avenue and Alberta, Pablo and friends painted a whale, elephant and large roses atop a stenciled background on the façade.

On Dar Salam’s front patio, find his trompe l’oeil. It’s an art technique that uses realistic imagery and perspective to create the optical illusion you are sitting on a Middle Eastern village street as you dine.

His latest mural at southeast 136th Avenue and Powell Street honors Black Lives Matter. Larger-than-life portraits of George Floyd and Quincey Hanes contrast a local incident with the more nationally known tragedy.

He received some negative feedback – being a Mexican artist – and pushback from the building owner, but he knew the importance of the message and continued his work.

Now Pablo’s portfolio is full of examples of interior and exterior murals, food carts and works on canvas. Visit PablosMurals.com to see his body of work.

Pablo invites fellow artists to an outdoor show in his yard for Last Thursdays. Find his sign on 19th Avenue and Alberta directing you to his house behind the Alberta Street Gallery. Listen for the DJ playing on the front porch.

“Times are tough,” Pablo said. “But I just keep going forward with positivity.”

CNA respects the views and beliefs of all Concordians, and their cultures and faiths. The views expressed by this writer do not necessarily reflect the views of CNA.

Michel Reeverts, aka Maquette , holds a master of arts degree in art education, serves Alberta Art Works as director and Alberta Street Gallery as a board member. She is also a practicing artist. Contact her at Maquette@AlbertaArtWorks.org.

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