Gabriel García Román
Tell us about you and your work
I am a left-handed Mexican-Amaricón artist living in New York City. I was born in the high deserts of Zacatecas, Mexico and raised in the mean streets of Chicago's north side . My family immigrated to the states when I was two years old. Coming from a working-class family with very little means, I learned to be creative and make do with what I had. I consider that the building blocks to my artistic path. It wasn't until I was in my mid 20s when I started "making" art. That is when I discovered photography and the floodgates opened since.
I returned to school at 33yrs old and received my B.A. from The City College of New York where I studied studio art. As an artist, I am constantly looking for ways to counteract the flatness that is inherent to the medium of photography: weaving, folding, cutting, interlacing prints or collaging are all different attempts at realizing that goal. Recently those same techniques and actions have been transferred over to ceramics, wood and textiles where I am constantly pushing these materials' boundaries. My life’s work is Queer Icons, a portrait series that highlights and honors the Queer/Trans community of color. This series has garnered a lot of attention, most recently in the 2019 World Pride where 100 of my prints were turned into flags and were paraded through the streets of NYC for the 50th anniversary of Stonewall.
I am a double Virgo with Scorpio moon, so I'm sensitive, methodical, inquisitive, productive and full of emotions...I'd like to think that being an artist was written in the stars. It seems like the older I get, the less I can sit still. If I'm not on my table saw, sewing machine, at the print shop, riding my bike, out dancing or standing on my head in yoga class then I must be sleeping.
What inspires you?
Everyday people inspire me, specifically immigrant communities and queer communities inspire me, two groups that live in the margins of this society yet with all of the obstacles placed before them they are resilient. They make do with the little that is given to them. Rasquachismo comes to mind…the idea of making something out of nothing is inspiring.
What does community mean to you?
Community to me means a chosen-family. Like minded folks coming together to create a safe space that allows us to speak and think freely without judgement. Usually a guiding principle that unites us. It’s a safe space where we are encouraged to grow.
Favorite film
I’d have to say Baraka is my favorite movie simply for the fact that it’s the only movie I’ve seen multiple times and I’m in awe each time. Baraka is a non-narrative documentary, there is now dialog or voice-over. It’s just 90 minutes of visual stimuli exploring nature and humans in nature. I become hypnotized by the music and lost in the shots of humans in ritualistic movements.
Favorite song
This has got to be one of the hardest questions I’ve ever had to answer. It all really depends on my mood. I have my favorite song for when I’m going through a break-up. I have a favorite song for when I want to get in the mood to dance. I have a favorite song to wind down after a stressful day. However if I was forced to choose I’d say War’s “Country City Country” It’s a 13 minute journey that starts off slow with a deep organ and goes from melancholy to an up-tempo percussion and then slowly winds down for a quiet finish.
Favorite place
I’d have to say that my favorite place is in the middle of a crowded dark dance floor. As an overthinking introvert, the dance floor has become a place of refuge. I can slip into the crowd and completely let go of all my inhibitions, letting the DJ dictate what my body will do next.
