Brookhaven Courier

Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: C Alex Treviño (above) welds in the art workshop. His current piece (below) is a large scale statue resembling an eagle. Much controversy has arisen over Alex's previous works displayed at the Farmers Branch Manske Library earlier this semester.

Media Credit: Chris Vivero

Catching up with Alex Treviño, Brookhaven College art sophomore, proved difficult since the controversial removal of some of his artwork from a solo exhibition at the Farmers Branch Manske Library in September.

Most days Treviño can be found in the open-air metal shop in F Building working on his next large-scale art piece, which at times resembles a big science project because of the materials used. In addition to the typical art supplies such as canvas, paper and paint, he said he uses a variety of objects he finds: tarps, scrap metal, lights, foam, packaging and tiles.

Treviño said he scavenges for art material most days.

"I was driving around downtown Dallas one day and I saw these two people with shopping carts filled with gallons of paint," Treviño said. "I asked them where they got them and they said a guy in the area was giving it away."

He said he bought 50 gallons of paint for $50.

He said he used the paint to create a large mural on the side of a friend's liquor store in south Dallas. The owner has since painted over it.

One of Treviños works is one of the controversial paintings removed from the Manske Library exhibit titled "Clash of Culturas." It depicts a lion representing Mexico embattled with an eagle that represents the United States.

"I wrote a summary for them to put on display of what the show was about and they didn't even put that up," Treviño said.

He said he was particularly hurt by the omission. The summary, or what's commonly called the artist's statement, is sometimes an integral part of an artist's exhibition.

Treviño wrote in his statement: "Clash of Culturas is the name of my art show. I grew up in north Dallas and throughout the years I have noticed the social fabric of north Dallas change. … First, second and third generation Latin Americans have made north Dallas their home. They have established homes, worked hard, attended schools, contributed to the economy and even opened businesses.

"I am one of those Latin Americans. As a people, our numbers and our voices have grown in strength. We have mobilized in a collective effort to thwart the efforts of the leaders of Farmers Branch to impose strict restrictions on immigrants and non-documented workers.

"Through my artwork, through this collection I have titled, 'Clash of Culturas,' I attempt to express our voice, our strength, our unity, our culture."

Treviño said someone from Farmers Branch called him and asked if they could borrow his drawings for discussion at a city council meeting.

"I told them that I'd have to think about it, but I wasn't going to let them borrow it. I just said that so I wouldn't sound so rude," he said.

Treviño said he declined their request because he didn't feel they had a right to look at them again since they were the ones who had them removed from the exhibit. For Treviño, the incident is in the past. He said he wants to forget about it already and move on and do new artwork.

One such work, completed not long after the controversy, is an homage to his grandparents titled "Day of the Dead." Pictures of his grandmother and grandfather hover over the shoulders of the Virgin Mary. Ten skulls surround Mary's legs and feet representing the children the grandparents lost to disease and malnutrition in Mexico.

Despite the controversy surrounding his "Clash of Culturas" exhibit, Treviño has received a measure of admiration and praise for how he handled himself during the media coverage. David Newman, Brookhaven art professor, gave Treviño a high-five handshake one afternoon and congratulated him for doing good work.

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