Check out Sergio Hernandez, Serg ‘s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sergio Hernandez, Serg.

Sergio, Serg, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I was born in South Central Los Angeles in 1948. My mother was a school teacher and my father were a carpenter/maintenance man for a major Los Angeles bakery.

I grew up during a time of great changes in America. As a teenager I witnessed the Watts Riots, the ramping up of the Vietnam War, the police/sheriff abuses in the inner city and the civil rights struggle. I also had the opportunity to join a group of Chicano writers, artists and poets who created the first social political magazine, Con Safos: Reflections of life in the Barrio. It was my good fortune to be associated with this group of mentors because they encouraged and helped me to attend college and finish my education. As an EOP (Educational Opportunities Program) student at San Fernando Valley State College, now CSUN, I became active in the Chicano student movement, my work began to reflect the social political climate of the day and my growing awareness of my cultural identity.

In addition to painting, I created a cartoon strip, “Arnie & Porfi” for Con Safos Magazine which reflected the political, social, and educational struggles in the barrios in the 60’s and 70’s. I still draw satirical political cartoons and publish them on social media.

I have lectured at Bilket University, in Ankara, Turkey, University of Wisconsin, Cornell University, CSU Channel Islands, CSUN and other venues about art activism. I have illustrated book covers, poems, shorts stories, magazine covers and penned numerous cartoons. In 2009 I received 2nd place award from the National Newspaper association for “BEST ORIGINAL EDITORIAL CARTOON.” This year I’ve shown work at the University of Redlands, Pasadena Museum of California Art, Crocker Museum, The DA Gallery, Neutra Gallery, Santa Paula Museum and Museum of Latin American Art.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
My art reflects subjects that are important to me such as social political issues, cultural topics and the beauty of the southwest deserts. I alternate between my painting to draw satirical political cartoons. I want people to be informed, reflect and spark discussion. Although my paintings and my cartoon work are different sometimes I combine the two for an interesting visual effect.

Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
I believe it has become harder for artists especially young artists trying to make a living and maintain a studio due to the rising cost property; it has become difficult to find locations with reasonable rents. America is not an art friendly culture, unlike Europe that has had a long appreciation for the arts. The current administration is trying to cut the funds from the National endowment of the Arts.

Cities could offer low cost medical insurance for artists. I have lost artist friends who succumbed to long term debilitating diseases because they did not have the resources for medication or hospital care. The cities could hire artists to beautify blighted areas of the city and/or provide unused public spaces at low costs. Artist could be hired to provide art classes to students in all areas of the city.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
You can see my work on my website: www.serghernandez.art I’m on Facebook, Instagram as Cartoonist_Serg and Twitter @ConSafosMovie. Buy my prints and attend my shows.

Contact Info:

• Address: Serg Hernandez
• Website: www.serghernandez.art
• Phone: 6613057914
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: Cartoonist_Serg
• Facebook: Sergio Hernnadez
• Twitter: @ConSafosMovie

Image Credit:
Photograph Jose Garcia

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