"My cultural heritage is filled with color and passion. It is
in my veins and my heart. And so, like many other artists, I am compelled
to creatively express: What I feel, what I see, and what I wish I
could see. Xaviers
website
" Xavier (Big X) Montes was born and raised in Santa Paula, California.
He received his BA in studio art, as well as a teaching credential
from the University of California at Santa Barbara. In the two decades
since that time his profession and vocation as an artist has manifested
in several overlapping areas; namely as a practicing visual artist
(acrylics), as an educator which includes community activism, and
as a musician (fold harp, guitar, and vocals).
Xavier has exhibited throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara counties
for years. But also, has been invited to exhibit his art in the areas
of San Francisco, Sacramento and Los Angeles. During the years of
1984-87, Xavier received an artist-in-residence grant from the California
Arts Council in Sacramento.
One of Xavier's major accomplishments was to establish the Annual
De Colores Art Show, which first opened in 1994. Every year since
that time Xavier has collected and presented contemporary art that
addresses Latino experience, culture and history.
An important inspiration for the De Colores art show was the work
of Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, leaders in the farm worker civil
right movement. Xavier seeks to honor their commitment to human dignity,
thus through the De Colores show, aims to recognize and celebrate
this truth.
Xavier has traveled throughout Mexico, Cuba, and most recently traveled
to New York City, and back, by way of train. Xavier says he needs
to see and feel much of what he paints. In 1998 Xavier received the
First Place Judges Award in the 61st Santa Paula Art and Photography
Exhibition (300 entrees) for "Going Home" a portrait of a contemporary
Mexican revolutionary.
Presently, Xavier lives and paints in his 10' x 15' studio apartment.
He works part time for Santa Paula's local library, Renaissance High
School (Special art projects), and plays music to make ends meet.
"I didn't think it would be this tuff! But rather than spend the
rest of my years worrying about how I'm going to pay for my worldly
possessions (which we can't take with us anyway). I'm going to worry
about my music, color, composition, about how I'm going to say (or
sing) what needs to be said."
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