On Thursday, October 10th at the Broadway Gallery, Passaic County Community College held an Artist Reception/Exhibition for Fabian Mira and his Mixed Media art from 4:30 to 7:00 PM. This event was made possible by the contribution of the NJ State Council of the Arts Department, PCCC, and PCCC Cultural Affairs. Light refreshments and food were provided during the event, along with live music performances by Viva Vallenato Cumbia Band.
Students and faculty on campus (and via Zoom) gathered around to collectively admire and appreciate Fabian’s various artworks. They also had the opportunity to talk face-to-face with the artist and gain perspective on his artistry. The event was an enlightening moment for people on campus to appreciate art as a community and build connections with each other. Many conversations and discussions regarding the craft were held at the time of this event. It was especially beneficial to art students on campus, allowing them to gain new angles on what it’s like to have a career in the industry. The reception was a way for the institution to highlight and appreciate Hispanic/Latino artists during this Hispanic Heritage Month. The event brought forth a community of art lovers on campus to appreciate together and even have the chance to purchase one of Fabian’s many art pieces on display at the event.
Fabian Mira is a mixed-media artist from the colorful and vivid country of Colombia. He grew up in a family that shared the same passion and love for art as he does, which only drove his passions to a further intensity. His love and influence for art come from his personal observation and admiration of human experience, nature, spirituality, and religion. Fabian Mira did his studies at Escuela Popular De Arte in his home country Colombia. Two years later he went on to study the intricacies of textiles and interior design at Escuela de Diseno Technologico. When he came to the US, he continued to pursue his education and worked as a model at the Art Students League in New York.
-Conversation with the Artist: Fabian Mira-
So, you said you’ve been doing art all your life correct?
Fabian: Yes, since I was a child, I liked to paint and draw.
Have you always known that you were an artist or were there any elements in your life that inspired you to start creating?
Fabian Mira: I think because some of my brothers picked up painting...so since I was a child that was my inspiration to see other people painting and drawing. So, you know all my life I see people around painting and drawing. So, my inspiration comes from that, I think. But after that you know I start to use my own art... start to do my own art I like to paint women as you can see you know. That is like my inspiration.
What parts of life would you say inspire you and your art the most, are there any particular events or moments?
Fabian Mira: I think.... When I paint more is when I am like uh...a little bit sad or a little bit depressed. I think because this gives me like uh the connection with my soul so I can paint
better, I think. In the moments in my life that I feel like uh down a little bit so that makes me rise (referring to painting and making art).
I noticed that the selection of colors you use for your art is very vivid and bright. What inspires your color palette? Is there an intention that you want to portray with the color palette that you use?
Fabian Mira: I went to school for design...fashion design, and always they would say “Oh you have to use these kinds of colors and these kinds of things for clothes or for uh everything”, but for me, I try to use different colors, all the palettes. So, for my paintings I try to combine red with uh something (referring to colors) that people say “Oh these colors
don’t match” but you know I try to match. When you see it (referring to the art) it’s a lot of colors but when you see it it's like a coordination of colors.
What would you say is a theme you really connect with and that you try to incorporate in your art? For example, I see that some of your pieces have spiritual elements.
Fabian Mira: I think you know; painting is when you show your soul. Like a musician. When you play guitar or piano, you try to be focused on sharing your soul. That’s what I try to do with my paintings to show my soul and I think because I am religious and my family is religious, I concentrate (my art) on that, but my spiritual thing is like a different thing. And I try to show my art in that. But I think the spirituality is more important.
What do you hope to bring or achieve for your audience, what is something that you want to express to your audience through your art?
Fabian Mira: It’s something very difficult because you know people have a different perspective on art. Something you think is beautiful other people think it's not. So, I just want to show what I do and what I love to do, and people have the decision to like it or not. It’s not my goal to pretend you like something that you don't. But I try to- my goal is that people like what I do.
And again, your art style is amazing I am in awe of your work, especially this- [Lucky Charms by Fabian Mira; Acrylic]
Fabian Mira: You can see it’s very spiritual because it has all the charms, I believe in those kinds of things. So, I want to do something because this is something I made from my mind. I try to collect all the charms that I believe you know? Even people think “Oh it’s fantasy or whatever”, but for me it's something spiritual and something that I believe in.
I see that you included the sacred heart in there too!
Fabian Mira: You know because always religion is connected to me, so I try to be connected with the religion and spirituality. But on the other side I like sensuality too, and I like beauty, I like flowers, I like women, I like different new things like that. So, I try to combine everything a little bit.
Do you feel closer to your spirituality and your religion when you paint certain elements that come from it?
Fabian Mira: Yes. Yes of course, but I think for me this piece [Namika by Fabian Mira; Oil on Canvas] with this lady here. Some people can see a nude piece, but maybe if you see other things like in the eyes you can see something different. It’s not like something sensual. I try to show the person and their sensitivity, but it’s like I say to you it’s not my eyes it’s the people’s eyes.
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The Mixed Media by Fabian Mira exhibition will be available at the Broadway Gallery on the Main Campus until November 7, 2024, so go ahead and check it out if you haven’t! Don’t miss it!
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