Erik Gonzalez
CRETE
Erik Gonzalez has been an active aerosol artist for over fifteen years and has had his work profiled on both national and global media outlets that include newspapers, magazines, web media, television and radio interviews. Erik is also a member of various professional urban marketing collectives.
In addition to recreational painting, Erik is also passionate about delivering positive and meaningful messages to young people through his work such as the importance of art and education, youth empowerment, risk behavior prevention, and more. Erik has been working in partnership with various organizations to deliver creative outreach and other programs.
Erik Gonzalez Solo Show
April 4 - June, 2016
Opening Reception April 16 @ 7pm - 10pm
Erik Gonzalez—artist, rebel, designer, community leader—is a living example of a movement that’s taken California by storm. Having expanded this summer to Washington state, he and his team pave the way for communities that want to engage the public through cultural and artistic events. Urbanists Collective focuses on a creative calling that, through education, demonstration, and outreach, showcases art as it happens.
Executive Director Erik is a little bit hip-hop, a little bit rock and roll, radiating warmth and an easygoing manner. He’s someone you could talk with for days. There’s no horizon for Erik—just one big cosmic door. With the heart of a true artist and grin that could stop you in your tracks, he sparks ideas back and forth, virtually lifting off into the Vibe space.
About Urbanists Collective, which he founded, Erik illuminates, “We’re community engagement specialists. Urbanism is traditionally associated with architecture, urban planning, or landscape design. Everyone knows what architects do, and we’re kind of the architects of bringing artworks that are alive into the public arena. We are actively redefining spaces that everyone in a community or city has access to.”
UC is all about sponsoring dynamic experiences via events and festivals, incorporating activism into the arts, and thereby attracting underserved populations and young people. For example, their rural murals project created rural community hubs by creating artwork on common grounds, or Art Brigade that created a spray painted mural at the Hanford Police department with a focus on suicide prevention and relationship building between youth and police.
UC is also the co-curator of “Taste the Arts,” an annual festival that celebrates the rich cultural and artistic heritage of Tulare county in California. Along with pop-up workshops, enrichment programs have been implemented at many school campuses and youth venues. In most recent years, Erik developed DSGN, Co Creative Studio, a program that introduces young people to creative careers and entrepreneurship skills. DSGN was inspired by coworking spaces and creative industries. The program is currently working with career pathway students in California, and other community youth.
Rest of the interview can be found at..
https://www.vibecoworks.com/news/2019/10/15/urbanist-erik-gonzalez
About the Artist:
Erik Gonzalez
www.erik85.com/