Today we’d like to introduce you to Gregangelo Herrera. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Gregangelo Herrera, a San Francisco native, has been at the helm of his own arts and entertainment business since 1989. Initially a solo performer, Gregangelo started showcasing his signature rendition of the whirling dervish as well as various ethnic dances from the Middle East.
The business evolved in 1992 with the establishment of Gregangelo & Velocity Circus Troupe, a collective of circus artists and collaborators taking to the air! The troupe gained prominence during the dot-com boom, performing at tech-related events and expanding to theaters across the United States with a feature at the Ms India show in Hyderabad, India.
Between 1992 and 2006, Gregangelo & Velocity Circus Troupe flourished, incorporating hundreds of artists, expanding its repertoire, and staging shows at various venues. Simultaneously, Gregangelo’s private residence transformed into the Gregangelo Museum, a unique space featuring installations from artists worldwide. In 2006, the business adopted the name Gregangelo & Velocity Arts & Entertainment to encompass its broadening artistic endeavors, with the circus troupe and museum operating under this umbrella.
Throughout its existence, the business has been a platform for thousands of multidisciplinary and multicultural artists, offering distinctive cultural experiences in San Francisco.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Against formidable odds, this resilient business, born from the passionate soul of Gregangelo with minimal economic resources but boundless creativity and tireless dedication, has weathered a storm of challenges. From navigating the tumultuous terrain of the San Francisco AIDS epidemic, earthquakes, and economic crashes to confronting the recent COVID pandemic, this venture has demonstrated unwavering perseverance. Established in 1989, it stands as a testament to adaptability, refusing to halt operations even amidst the pandemic. Swiftly conforming to health ordinances, the business ingeniously crafted outdoor shows, catering to one pod at a time, ensuring the preservation of arts and culture in San Francisco during its darkest hours.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a visual and performing artist specializing in creating highly evocative staged and immersive experiences that draw stories from each viewer, inspired by diverse cultures, both ancient and imagined. My work is known for its intricate, layered, colorful, and powerfully palpable aesthetic. What sets us apart is our genuine collaboration with multicultural/multidisciplinary artists, pushing boundaries and melding creative, scientific, and literary minds. Our team, speaking over 12 languages, is bound by the language of creativity. I take pride in inspiring original work from within and pushing the limits of our multicultural cast and crew.
What distinguishes us is the ability to custom-create anything, adapt continuously, remain current, relevant and operate as a self-sufficient for-profit business without external funding, empowering artists to be entrepreneurial and contribute wholeheartedly to culture.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Though, as a kid, I was shy, and introverted, but incredibly observant. I had 0 interest in the normalcies of life, like school, lessons, sports, rules and regulations. Yet I absolutely admired athleticism and curious to learn at my own pace and desire. Still am.
My interests were always in ancient cultures, arts, science, performing arts, and pushing my own imagination and body until I gained these extraordinary lucid highs. I still do that too.
I was always fascinated with the capacity of the human body, hence moving into CIRCUS arts, which pushes all limitations.
I never dabbled in drugs, don’t have the chemistry to drink, so prefer to push the limits of the body and mind, taking the long road and hard way to gain that high that seems to be so desirable among us humans.
Though I’ve got to admit, I’ve huffed a lot of paint and glue in the making of much of the art around here!
Pricing:
- Our experiences range from $80 to $130, and we also offer seasonal offers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gregangelomuseum.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregangelomuseum/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gregangelomuseum/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/36162349/admin/feed/posts/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@velocitysf?feature=shared
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@gregangelomuseum?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Image Credits
Personal Photo by Russel Johnson Ringmaster Photo by Francesca Balaguer Whirling Dervish Photo by Hiromi Yoshida
