A conversation with the artist; EJ Nieves returns to Crestview with his art

A few weeks ago, E.J. Nieves popped into the News Bulletin office to introduce himself. He had been the subject of an artist profile following the installation of his “Color Graphs” exhibit at the Crestview Public Library.

Told about the special Community Culture insert appearing in today’s paper, E.J. immediately offered to design the cover. “It needs to incorporate both visual and performing arts,” News Bulletin designer Greg Allen and I cautioned him. E.J. enthusiastically agreed.

Two days later the cover art appeared in Greg’s and my “in” boxes. E.J. had, indeed, captured the range of the artistic spectrum in one cohesive piece of rather stunning design work. Greg and I couldn’t have been giddier.

Art is an important part of E.J.’s life. It is through art that he expresses himself, and it is with art that he seeks meaning. He has recently volunteered his time to paint the historic tunnel at Edge Elementary School to make the presentlygloomy passage under a busy street more appealing for the children, thus increasing their safety. In January E.J. will install an exciting new project called “Numbers” at the Crestview Library.

He offered us some insight on this series while in conversation with The News Bulletin about the role of art in the community and in his life.

Crestview News Bulletin: In your mind, what role do the visual arts perform in the community.

E.J. Nieves: I believe the arts should carry the ideas, the struggles, the triumphs, and the dreams of a community. Many times people within a community have the ideas to take a place into the next level culturally, spiritually, or even commercially. It is not until those ideas and concepts are brought forth through an image or article or movie that the people within the community truly understand an idea or vision. A perfect example is one I take from a past experience several months ago while I was residing in the Daytona Beach area. A brand new hospital was being built right off Highway 95.

For a great while people wondered how the huge facility would look like until one day an artist rendition was displayed on a billboard directly adjacent to the hospital building site faced toward the highway for everyone to see…the public finally saw how the hospital would look and were in awe and amazement. That is the power of the arts. It allows the community to truly experience a vision. I have talked to many people in Crestview that want more “culture”… I say people with the gifts of video, drawing, writing, etc., come together to create that culture for Crestview through art events and indie movie nights.

CNB: What role do the arts perform for the artist?

E.J.: The arts actually play an essential role for the artists. Visual arts are to artists what gas is to a car. Without it an artist cannot run properly or for that matter, run at all. Without the arts an artist cannot evolve. Without the history of arts and the visual through greats like Dali and Warhol we cannot truly have stepping stones and foundations to progress from. Visual arts as a whole should be so genuine, genius, and original from one artist to the next that it should infuse a sense of camaraderie and competition at the same time. Because as artists, we know we’re working together to progress for the same fight.

CNB: How often do you create artworks?

E.J.: Lately I have been creating artworks on a weekly basis. I can be very funny because I work on several projects at the same time. Sometimes this can be a blessing and a curse. A blessing that much work is being generated…and a curse because sometimes a series of work that I would like identified by their own particular trait is infused by influences from other paintings from other series that might be lying around my studio space as I work on three or four together…and not always from the same sets or series of works.

CNB: Tell us about your new “Numbers” art project.

E.J.: The numbers project is my new baby. It has everything to do with my interpretation of the numbers zero through nine. Once again practicing my art of random activity, I set forth in creating a series of works dedicated to the number scale. Anything really can happen in this series...I have set no rules for myself. I have not planned any piece. All that lays before me is the number scale and a mesh of color options that range from the darkest dark to the lightest light. I have been blessed to have author Carlos Baca write a piece of poetry for each number. It should be a really interesting and beautiful show. January and February Carlos and myself will host the walls of the Crestview Library with the craziness and beauty of paint and poetry. We like to call it, “When a Brush meets a Pen.”

CNB: Is creating art therapeutic?

E.J.: It’s definitely therapeutic. Bad days…struggles…hurt..pain…victories…celebrations… I express all through art…so yes, ART IS MY THERAPY. Brian you coined the term, “His Canvas is his Journal.” And I write my life on these paintings.

CNB: Is there anything else you wish to share with us?

E.J.: Yes, we need donations of house paint! I am working on the historic underground tunnel at Edge Elementary and we do not have adequate funding. We need tons of paint…especially black and white…gallons and gallons of black and white. Thanks to everyone for all your help and support.