1979            Born in San Antonio, TX, raised in Houston, TX

1995            San Antonio , TX begins to search for his voice in art.
Graffiti and abstractions take form

1998         Begins studio painting

  1. 2006             2nd Sight Studio opens, James travels back and forth to New Orleans ( Paints in Jackson Square)
  2. 2008           Curator for C.A.L.O. (Contemporary Art and Literature Organization)
  1. 2009-14   Teaches art, The San Antonio School for Inquiry and Creativity

  2. 2018               Opens NMDK Studio
  3. 2018               Opens Gaslyght Modern

 

James Saldivar has worked as  Curator and board member for C.A.L.O.’s (Contemporary Art and Literature Organization) Una Noche de La Gloria. He has taught at the The San Antonio School for Inquiry Creativity for four years as the High School Arts Director,  James taught not only his student but the rest of the teachers on how to teach their classes through art with various projects and working with them side by side infusing both classes to gain the best possible results from the students. Saldivar now teaches out of his studio .

James was born in San Antonio, and moved to Houston, TX as a child where he was raised. He lived in Houston for 12 years before moving back to San Antonio where he has lived and worked to present time. His paintings consist mostly of abstracts with a strong language of color and the dialogue of how it creates, changes, and moves mood. “Color and the emotion are what intrigues me most of all, the conversations they have and how one without the other just doesn’t seem make sense.”

Since the 1990’s his work has involved the juxtaposition of color. The works since then have gone from graffiti, and abstracts to conceptual works, figuration, and back to conceptual abstraction. What he’s working on now has a touch of his philosophy on life.  It’s representational ( in a metaphysical sense), conceptual, and abstract all wrapped

up .

His current body of work, the "Organics" is a touch back to the beginning days in his studio. Over  the years and being away from them they seemed to have evolved .  The contemplation on research he’s done on the chemicals he uses to create his wet on wet fluid technique he needs for his paint to flow, have definitely grown and minimalized. He moved away from them in 2010 to focus on his “Drips”.  Each painting in this series has a strong, moving, and very emotional backdrop. His reason for painting and the need to speak his mind through them leaves James at a very vulnerable position which can be taken advantage of, and does at times, yet this only proves to feed his work with more experience and wisdom to continue on his journey through life and his work as the universe sees fit. Saldivar's techniques the " Organics” and the "Drips" are both representing how we as humans have the need/ want to control our lives and as much as we can. The  universe is going to do what its going to do no matter what we want. At times it may seem as if we have control but don’t be mistaken, it’s just a falsity and merely coincidence.

 

jamessaldivar.com

nmdkstudio@gmail.com


James Saldivar

 

Professional   Experience

-            2ND Sight Studio Owner 2007-Pesent

-            Murals

-            Painting/   Figurative, Abstract, Mixed Media

-            Drawing/   Charcoal, Pastel, Colored and Graphite Pencil, Markers

-            Art   Teacher, The San Antonio   School for Inquiry and Creativity 2009-11

-            Steering   Committee Member - Una Noche de la   Gloria

 

Exhibitions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Individual   Shows

2018       " The I in Us"                                        Frieght Gallery,  S.A.,TX
2013      " Spaces in Between"                       Silkworm, , S.A.,TX
2012       "Universal Connection'                 Comminos Studio, S.A.,TX
2011       “Balanced”                                             Jumpstart Theater, Bluestar ArtComplex,   SA, TX
2011       “ 'Transitions”                                       The Villa Art Space, SA, TX
2010        New Works                                          Bluestar Brewing and Co, SA, TX
2010      “Revelations”                                      Bihl Haus Arts, San Antonio, TX
2008         “Breathe”                                              Circle Infiniti Art Space, San Antonio, TX
2008         “Flow”                                                      Mandala Art Gallery, San Antonio, TX.
2008-11   “On and Off Freds. Rd           2nd Sight Studio, San Antonio,   TX
                                Studio Tour”
2007       “Past and Present”                            Henry De La Paz Studio, San Antonio, TX
2004       “Influenced”                                         One9Zero6, San Antonio, TX
2003     “Juxtapose”                           Jive   Vintage, San Antonio, TX  

 

Group Shows

 

2013              "Nine Lives"                                              Silkworm/ Lonestar Art District, S.A.,TX
2011               "Op de Muur"                                         Audley Society, Museum disrict, Houston, TX

2009-11      “Una   Noche de la Gloria’                Historic Guadalupe Arts District, S.A.,TX

2009                  “Black, Red,and White”                              High Wire Arts, S.A., TX

2008-11          “On and Off Freds. Rd                                   Bihl Haus Arts,, S.A.,T X
                                Art Show”
2008                  “Live Art Show”                                                 One9Zero6 Art  Space ,S.A.,TX

2007                   “Visiones de Virgin de Guadalup”e       Centro Cultural Aztlan, S.A.,TX                                  

2007                  “Culture Vulture “                                            Mandala Art Gallery. S.A.,TX

2007                  “Huevos Ranchero”s Gala                          Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, S.A.,TX

2007                    New works                                                         Circle Infiniti Art Space, S.A.,TX

2007               S.M.A.R.T Fest                                          One9Zero6 Art Gallery, S.A.,TX

            

 

                                             Curatorial shows  

 
2009- 11           Una Noche de la Gloria (Artside)                  Historic   Westside Art District 
2010 -11                S.A.S.I.C. student art show                                          Centro Cultural Aztlan
2017                        Alien Inside - Taylor Bosworth                                  Gaslyght Modern
2017                        Letting Go  - Gabriel Delgado                                    Gaslyght Modern
2017                       Antithesis of Whimsy - Lauren Trevino                Gaslyght Modern
2018                       5 Points of Abstraction                                                   Gaslyght Modern
                               (  Louis Vega Trevino, Ben Mata, Joprge Puron, Marc Wiegand, James Saldivar)


 

                                             Collaborative/ Assisted Murals

 

2008 Feb.       Assisted with Community Mural Project /   Mannhcke Park Neighborhood

                     Association in conjunction with the Witte Museum

                     and the Office cultural   Affairs, San Antonio, Texas

2007 Aug.     Assisted with “Brighter Days” Community Mural Project/

                     West side Mental Health Clinic in conjunction with San An to Cultural Arts , San Antonio, Texas

2007 June     Assisted with 30th Anniversary Community Mural Project,  Presa Community Center, San Antonio, Texas

1998 May      Area 210 Retail Space, San Antonio, Texas

1998   Feb.       Valadez Automotive, San Antonio, Texas

1997   Dec.     Bumper Outlet “Wall of Fame”   Mural Project,  San Antonio ,Texas
1997   Nov.     Texas Clippers, San Antonio,   Texas

 

                                      Independent Murals

2018             Essex Modern City, S.A.,TX
1998             Femnomenon Retail Space, San   Antonio, Texas

1998             Street Fashions Retail Space,   San Antonio, Texas

1997             Sepios Ice House, San Antonio,   Texas

1997             La Popular Bakery, San Antonio,   Texas


                                Publications:

 

 

On and Off Freds. Rd Tour Catalogue, 2008-13

http://www.onandofffred.org/Saldivar.html  

 

The Current

http://www.sacurrent.com/arts/story.asp?id=71928

 

San Antonio Express News http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/Art_in_church_Its_not_what_you_might_think.html?showFullArticle=y

 

Interviews

 

Great   Day SA 1.14.10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFTGpnS3JbI

 

Latin   Fusion TV 10.10.09

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpL6Hl0YiQw