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Ever since I could remember, I picked things up- a broken motorcycle mirror in the alley, a rusted plumbing pipe in the back yard, a little red wagon left behind. Abandoned objects that possessed an unknown past, discarded present, and no relevant future. Are these damaged goods deemed ready for the local dump, or could this be a metaphor to my own existence?

Working with what’s been identified as trash to some, has become my life’s passion. Creating sculpture is as close to inventing life as it comes for me. Growing up in a crowded Chicano home in South El Monte, too close to the gang activity, too familiar with drug and alcohol abuse, and too many events of separation and despair, placed me in an environment of dysfunction and discard. Rather than seeking refuge or solace, I searched for what I could salvage from what I was left with – my own existence, my own strength. I reclaimed my spirit. I moved forward and I became an artist.

The materials and mediums I use are based on what people usually wear out. From broken doll heads to un-repairable brake drums, if it can be assembled, it becomes another characteristic of “Salvageable Concepts.” And it constantly reminds me to seek more out of life and stay focused on what’s around me.