The Los Angeles “preeminent badass muralist” came to Moorpark College, not to cause trouble, but to discuss art.
Yepes told of his evolution from gangs to art in his East Los Angeles upbringing. The self-taught artist has painted over 800,000 square feet of art and through his work, became a prominent figure in the art world as well as Chicano history.
Etman believed that Yepes was interesting to all students, including studio art students, students of Hispanic descent, Chicano studies majors, and child development students for his art academy, Academia de Arte Yepes.
Academia de Arte Yepes is an art school that Yepes founded in Downtown Los Angeles that children from ages 8 to 18 can participate in. Yepes teaches one four-hour class seven days a week and never repeats a class. He gives 10 years of hands on teaching instruction to his students in three months. Yepes’ school is also free to attend. He does not use grants or donations, but his own money he earns from his paintings to run the school. It is his was of giving back to his community, he said.
Etman, as an educator, was particularly impressed with Academia de Arte Yepes.
“The education component is fascinating and how art can do so much more,” said Etman. “Too often art is just dismissed; it’s left at the bottom of the list. The discipline is unimportant and cut back, but there is so much that can be learned through the practice of art.”
Academia de Arte Yepes became so successful that in 2008, the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena asked the students to paint a mural for the Cassini Equinox Mission. The “Cassini Instrument Operations” murals were completed in six months.
Etman was pleased with the overall atmosphere of the discussion.
“I thought it was very successful because there was a lot of engagement during his lecture,” said Etman. “Lots of people were asking questions.”
Yepes had plenty of advice to give to the budding artists in the audience as well.
He recommended not watching television and to keep the mind busy instead to charge the imagination. Yepes hasn’t seen a movie or watched television in over 35 years. He also encouraged students to stick with their education.
“You have to excel all over, not just art. What that does is that it gives you your knowledge base and imagination to work from,” explained Yepes. “Learn everything about everything and somehow you will apply it to your art.”
To learn more about George Yepes visit www.georgeyepes.com. To see his work, you can visit ChimMaya Boutique and Galley in Los Angeles. Go to www.chimmaya.com or call (323) 869-8881 for more information.
