Today we’d like to introduce you to Juan Marcial.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up in an Oaxacan household in Santa Monica, CA where the smell of cooking always filled the air. I’m often reminded of my mom’s passion for keeping our traditions alive and am inspired to do the same – but for me it’s by creating art. The colors of the altars for Day of the Dead, the smell of fresh flowers, the hand-stitched aprons she and my aunts would wear. I was constantly surrounded by the bright colors in our food and clothing and there’s no denying our traditions have influenced my style and voice. I was also inspired by one badass lady – my mom. I remember her making paper mache flowers and donating enchiladas for Cinco de Mayo at Will Rogers elementary school. She made growing up poor during the gang epidemic seem like a luxurious life. Her zest for life, her knowledge of Oaxacan cuisine, and her love of helping others had always been an amazing example for me. My mother showed me that anything was possible if you work hard enough, but it took me a long time to connect that lesson with being an artist. I’ve always loved creating with my hands.
From cooking to painting to crafting with anything I can get my hands on. But I never studied art or went to college or design school. For me, making things has always been a way to pay tribute to the women that I admired. Over the years, it grew into a secret passion to create pieces for any person who inspired me. After getting over the fear of showing people my work, the support and positive feedback has encouraged me to start taking my art more serious. I am currently launching a website to display my work online, which is important for any artist, but especially now while we wait for in-person showcases to be safe again. I’m lucky to be continually inspired by all the amazing people I know, but I also enjoy helping others bring their visions to life with commissioned pieces.
Has it been a smooth road?
Growing up in Santa Monica during the gang epidemic in the 80s we were never encouraged to make art. It seemed like everything we did to express ourselves was labeled destructive and made illegal. Graffiti was not celebrated like it is now; Hip-hop was not as mainstream as it is now. A lot of people forget how many of our friends and family we lost to gang violence in Santa Monica. On top of everything else there was also constant harassment from the police. But thankfully, I found sports to be one of the only escapes from the day-to-day violence that surrounded us. Despite all the challenges, my family was always my foundation and looking back, I see how they also sparked my artistic abilities. I remember the conversation with my brother about girls and the meaning behind intention. He encouraged me to make gifts because it was more impressive than buying something. We didn’t have much money, but he showed me that was ok because time and effort are actually far more valuable and appreciated.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
One of my more unique interests is in embroidery. I’ve always admired our Oaxacan cloth napkins and aprons that are decorated with colorful needlepoint and I felt it was a perfect medium to merge our traditions with more modern-day visuals. I’m also fortunate to work on commercial production sets. As a result, I have access to a lot of recycled materials and I take things that people discard and deem trash and turn them into art. A lot of my pieces are considered found art or recycled art. Most of everything I’ve made is being used in a completely different way than originally intended. Anything from giant flowers out of seamless (large scale background paper) to wearable wings out of recycled directors boards. Since we film all over Los Angeles and many surrounding areas, I’ve had access to some pretty remote locations. One of my last photo frames was made out of an old rusted box fan I found near Lone Pine, CA. And currently, through the process of learning how to shoot my own videos, I have started teaching people how to shoot and edit their own YouTube shows. I hope to continue teaching and encouraging people to never stop learning and to always fight for their dreams.
What’s your favorite memory from childhood?
Being the youngest in a family with eight kids, my favorite memories could be summed up to the times I got to visit my older siblings or extended family at their jobs during my summer breaks. It was a chance to connect with them individually, and I felt proud to share the perks of my family’s hard work with my friends. From getting to play free video games because my uncles worked at the Santa Monica Pier Arcade, to my brothers hooking us up with prime 4th of July firework watching on Tampico Tilly’s terrace. It instilled in me that affection is often expressed and acknowledged best through action, and for that I’m grateful. Because now, I know that my action of creating art is my most powerful form of communication with those I love, as well as with those I have yet to meet.
Contact Info:
- Website: juanscon.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @itsacon327
- Facebook: Juan Marcial
Image Credit:
Photography colab – Kate Hahn – Juan Marcial
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