Erico Ortiz: July 2014

Monday, July 28, 2014

Donations abound...

Lately, I find myself being asked often to donate pieces of art to benefit my church community and charitable organizations in the greater Milwaukee area. I was approached by America SCORES Milwaukee, an organization that provides out-of-school opportunities for children, including athletics and arts, to consider creating an original piece of art for an October fundraising event. The Inspired Art project takes poems written by America SCORES Milwaukee youth and asks local and regional artists to create one of a kind pieces inspired by their words. Each piece of original artwork is photographed and compiled into a graphic collection of SCORES art and imagery with selected pieces brought to auction in a gallery-night themed cocktail event. Inspired Art truly brings the words of youth to life. It took a while to choose the right poem for me, but here it is.

Edwin, Age 10

Star

I wish I was a star

To be high in the sky

Shining down on you

As you say goodnight

"Good Night" (acrylic, 24x24") July 2014

Biographical Note

Erico Ortiz was born in Cayey, Puerto Rico in 1955. He earned his undergraduate degree at Marquette University (Spanish Education) and a Masters Degree from UW-Milwaukee (Administrative Leadership). Erico taught Spanish for ten years and then became a school administrator, having worked at several Milwaukee Public Schools until retiring in 2011. He has worked with several community theatre companies, both on stage and behind the scenes, something he still enjoys today. He plays guitar and, until June 2019, could be found Sunday mornings directing the Spanish choir at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish in Milwaukee. In 2014, he opened Inspiration Studios, a small art gallery and performance venue in downtown West Allis that he owns and manages. Erico's life is all about the arts!

Artist's Statement

In 1998, a study leave immersed me in art education courses at UW-Milwaukee. While this was not the traditional studio coursework that a budding artist would undertake, I learned the value of critical thinking and problem-solving as they relate to educating students in the arts. After years of rather humble artistic endeavors, my retirement from the Milwaukee Public Schools in 2011 provided the opportunity I needed to explore visual arts as never before. I began to paint! I realized that inspiration was all around me—in people and places, sights and sounds, music and movies.

As part of my creative process, I determine the idea for a project. Then the first challenge is the mixing and blending of colors to achieve a certain effect on a canvas, a challenge I truly enjoy. Sometimes that selection process takes on a life of its own... and I'm forced to abandon my initial intention to give way to a new creative thought. Still honing skills and techniques, I am often thrilled (and sometimes pleasantly surprised!) by the resulting color compositions and the overall product.

What began as a hobby has become a way of viewing the world and expressing my mind’s eye on canvas. If you choose to view these pages, you will see that I am still finding my way.

Erico Ortiz

Gallery Exhibits