Ismael Cazarez was born in los Angeles, California, in 1952. He was seven years old when his family moved to Eagle Pass, Texas, a border town on the Rio Grande River. It was there that Ismael had the opportunity to immerse himself in his Mexican heritage. Ismael returned to East Los Angeles attending Garfield High School and East Los Angeles College. It was the start of the 70’s. The Mechicano Art Center opened its doors on Whittier Blvd, one block from his home. Ismael walked in and saw Chicano art for the first time! Paintings depicted Pancho Villa on a horse, Zapata gallantly standing with his sword. Frank Martinez’s canvases depicting Aztec warriors in battle with armored Spanish soldiers. Frank’s expressive style and the art of others inspired Ismael to connect with the cosmic spirit of Aztlan. Since then Ismael has created art out of joy, passion and love. In 1973 he studied art at Cal State University Northridge. A mural was painted at the Chicano Studies Department by a team of muralists, Ismael was one of the artists. As a student, he co-founded El Jardin de Flor y Canto Art Center in Pacoima, California. He taught mural painting during a youth summer job program. He earned a Master’s degree in studio arts, from California State University, Los Angeles, in 1982. As a student volunteer, Ismael taught mural painting at the California Youth Authority in Chino, California. Ismael also volunteered painting murals in the Ramona Gardens Housing Projects in Los Angeles. The idea was to enhance the community with color and culture. About 15 murals were painted by Ismael in and around the L.A. area, one is still intact. It is at the dance studio hallway in the P.E. department building at California State University, Los Angeles. Ismael has also taught at the Norwalk State Mental Hospital, a grant from the Cal Arts Commission made it possible. Para Los Niño’s, Plaza de la Raza, El Sereno Senior Center are some of the community centers where Ismael has taught creative arts and exhibited his art. His art works have been exhibited in many art galleries over the years. He has also assisted many muralists on mural projects. Ismael is also a musician, playing primal rhythms on percussions or cosmic jazz on flute, as well as political blues on harmonica. He improvises the music every time, coming up with different sounding compositions. As a dancer, he connects with the primal essence of a creative being. Ismael is a visionary, flowing with the cosmic energy and enjoying the creative magic of Aztlan. In the 1990’s Ismael moved to Baja California Sur, Mexico, living on a farm near the town of Loreto. During the ten years of living in Baja, Ismael was involved with nature and learned that he had a green thumb. He learned to cook seafood in creative ways, immersed himself in the Mexican culture. The experience renewed his respect for the land and all living things. Ismael believes that art is essential to humans. He believes that creativity is the evolutionary process of the universe. Life as an artist for him has been a mystical journey, to which he is totally committed. Recently Ismael has been exhibiting in downtown Los Angeles for the pass 6 months at different art galleries, selling his art work to collectors and fellow artists. He was named artist of the month for January 2012 by the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles. He is featured in “Mural Remix” an installation by performance artist Sandra De La Loza at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The installation is part of the Getty Pacific Standard Time exhibitions. The UCLA Chicano Studies Department has printed a catalog book about the exhibitions. Ismael is recognized as an associated artist of the Mechicano Art Center creating art in Los Angeles since 1970. Ismael will be featured in an art exhibit of political posters. The art exhibit “Decade of Dissent” 1965-1975, presented by the Center for the Study of Political Graphics, at the West Hollywood Library, February 2012. Ismael was instrumental in the printing of posters at the Mechicano Art Center, 1971-1974. Ismael continues with his quest of creating great art. He works with ceramics, all types of paintings on canvas or paper. Also metal, wood and stone, producing sculptures. He can be found working on a conceptual art work using found objects. Ismael is happy to be in tune with his soul, being thank full for his being, as an artist!
