Artist: Mark Gonzalez

Ginormous Besties 2

Artist's Statement
The topic I have chosen to make my art piece on is “the importance of the relationships in the exchange of information”. The sculpture I’d like to create is Ruby Gillman and Ginormica taking a selfie. Selfies are a great way to share information with your friends and family. We put these on our social media when we are enjoying something and want to have a good time. It’s about connecting friends and making people happy through a digitized media, but in a literal medium that is sculpture.

Conference artists shared with the Center on KTDRR these biographical statements. The bios represent their choices about how to describe their expertise.

Mark Gonzalez is a 25 year old artist. His proficiency in sculpting began at the early age of 3. His medium being chewing gum. While his mother Lorena was driving one day, Mark was suspiciously silent in the back seat. When asked by his mother what he was doing, 3 year old Mark handed her an elephant made out of gum. From that moment on, an artist was born. In the following months, Lorena sought out different kinds of clay to replace the chewing gum. Mark tested dozens of different types of clay but none were up for the job until they discovered Crayola Model Magic clay. From that day on, Crayola Model Magic clay has been Mark’s leading material for sculpting . Mark’s artistry only blossomed further after his diagnosis of Autism at age 6. Like many in the disabled community, art gave him the creative outlet he needed to express himself. Over the years, Mark found inspiration to further diversify his artwork. His inspiration primarily stemming from pop culture and DC comics from the 90s to early 2000s such as The Lizzie Mcguire Movie, Monsters Vs Aliens, Batman The Animated Series, and The DC Super Hero Girls. Just like the superheroes he admires, Mark has his own superpowers, the power to create, inspire, and empower. Mark is a resident artist at Open Door Studio in Oxnard, California.