Summary
Early in 2024, Vision gallery approached me to create a solo exhibition housed in the Agave room at the Chandler museum where my “History of Chandler” mural was recently installed. For years I had been struggling to find balance in my work and personal life. I tried to process that experience by designing and hand printing serigraphs at Mesa Arts Center on the weekends. Expressing myself through art had become my creative outlet in addition to working as a full time designer. The work in this exhibit came about from the support of Vision Gallery and The City of Chandler trusting and encouraging me to see my experience through to the end.
Project Overview
As one of the most prolific graphic designers and Printmaker in the Phoenix Valley, Jonny Arvizu has been at the service of others for much of his career.
But what happens when your foundation is shaken? How does a creative who is always helping others help themselves? What happens to a creative who has an honest awakening and realizes they need to pour some loving attention into themselves?
For Arvizu’s first solo exhibition, I can’t help myself, he began making work that was deeply personal. The result is an exhibition that delves into self-love and introspection – looking at his past his present and his potential futures.
Concepts
The exhibition is rooted in symbols of my youth. The click of the play button on my Sony Walkman, plugging in an audio jack. I have hewn toward art and design from the Golden Age of America (1930 to 1970).
indulging my interest for old electronics and tech from childhood, the boombox symbolizes both my joy in illustration as a career and also the dreams I had to own beautiful things as a kid.
The religious and tarot symbols represent my personal process of transformation. Creating art just for myself. Art that lights me from within.
Production
I created large format digital gallery prints for the large scale works in Adobe Illustrator (my preferred software). Designed, produced and hand screen-printed and framed serigraphs from my work at Mesa Arts Center. Designed, Cut and installed vinyl for the exhibition displays. Hand-painted 2 large murals. Created web, print and social media promotional collateral.
Results
The work speaks to my journey, it speaks to my experience and I contend it is visually engaging. I am proud of the experience and grateful for the opportunity to express myself on such a public scale.
Client: Chandler Museum
Fine Art Installation: Jonny Arvizu
Advertising Design: Jonny Arvizu