Entrevista a Gerardo Yepiz por José Inerzia y Adriana Trujillo, Acamonchi Art Studio, Agosto 2009

Artist
Vegan
Bike Activist
Owner, Acamonchi Art Studio

www.acamonchi-art.com

Gerardo Yepiz is in a gang. But dont worry, they practice
non-violence. Its a bike gang, actually, and they call themselves the
Cretins. Gerardo rode with the Cretins the other night and into the
early hours of the morning. Aboard every imaginable type of
bicycle—mountain bikes, cruisers, low riders, fixed gears, tall bikes,
road bikes, custom-built bikes and others—150 riders dressed in a wild
array of outfits took to the streets of San Diego for a pedal-powered
party on wheels.

Bike riding has great potential for friendship and community, says
Gerardo, as he talks about the purpose of these mass rides—to laugh,
have fun, meet new people and get crazy on bikes in a peaceful
expression of individuality. But in the original spirit of critical
mass, these rides harbor an undercurrent of grassroots activism as
well. Theres a political statement behind it, says Gerardo.
Reclaiming the streets, making it safe for everyone to ride and for
[motorists] to be more aware and drive safely.

Driving is something Gerardo knows little about. Although his left
bicep is inked with a lime green Volkswagen Beetle tattoo, hes never
owned a car and doesnt have a drivers license. I know how to drive,
I just choose not to drive, says Gerardo. His reasons for living
car-free bend towards health, environmentalism and anti-consumerism.
Im anti-car, but I live up to it. And the tattoo? To me, this
tattoo represents contemporary Mexico City, explains Gerardo It
tells the story of the Mexico I experience when Im there—urban
Mexico. Gerardo was born and raised in Ensenada, a small town 70
miles south of the California/Mexico border where as a teenager, he
discovered commercial art working at print shops screening t-shirts
and posters.

In his 20s, Gerardo moved to San Diego and opened an art studio called
Acamonchi where he creates commercial and fine art in many forms.
Tucked in a mixed residential/industrial block of San Diego, Acamonchi
is a speck of color in a crowd of apartments, thrift shops, hip
neighborhood cafes and the occasional abandoned building. Gerardo is
known for his skills in stencil-making and screen printing, and makes
posters, t-shirts and other collateral for his clients—mostly action
sports brands, bands and a variety of businesses. His fine art,
primarily collage-like paintings, is resplendent in color and takes
shape across a canvas of recycled and found objects. An expert in
mixed-media, Gerardo uses stencils, photographs, block prints,
free-drawing and painting techniques to create urban, graffiti-like
pieces that have been shown in museums and galleries worldwide.

Bikes, cars and traffic are prevalent themes in Gerardos art,
encouraging the viewer to consider their effects on the modern world.
For Gerardo, art and bicycling are both outlets by which to express
his views on politics, consumerism and social and environmental
issues. Art is such a powerful political tool, says Gerardo,
explaining that, to him, riding bikes is not just a casual activity,
but a political statement as powerful as his art.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Acamonchi
• Gerardo Yepiz
• San Diego
• CA
• North Park
• Arte Mexicano
• Bordocs
• Tijuana
• Adriana Trujillo
• Mexican Art
• Nortec Collective
• Stencil Graffiti

[acamonchi06]

Born in Ensenada, Mexico, in 1970, Gerardo Yepiz is a major contributor to the worldwide street art and graffiti scene. He is a graphic designer, silkscreen printer and visual artist who has exhibited in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the UK, France, Spain, Japan and The Netherlands. His work is closely tied to the international music and action sports industries. He is an outspoken vegan as well as bike activist.

[anggelicius]

personalmente ,toda una inspiracion,para el arte callejero y el arte en general,una propuesta inovadora y con un mensaje muy particular

[ponchomoon]

pinch bato chingón, mis respetos la neta :)