Juan Cruz, artist:

Master of the Mixed Media 

(A conversation with pictures)

I wonder a lot. When I was a kid I always wanted to be a doctor. But we were very, very poor. I’m still poor. Then when I was a teenager and drawing a lot, I told people I wanted to be an artist. People would say 'why do you want to be an artist, they have them 10 cents a dozen out here.'  When I first herd that I didn’t draw, or pick up a pencil until years and years later. I got into gangs and went to jail and that’s when I started thinking and bringing it back out. If it wouldn’t have been for this, I often ask myself, 'what would I be doing?'

I’ve been blessed with a gift a nice family, friends and I notice that everybody needs. I notice a lot of people help me because they know I need, but I’m doing something. I sometimes think man did I do all this, you know. You got other people that need but they are never don’t do nothing. They say I need, but they never produce anything. I ask what are you doing with your life. People will help you if they know you are doing something positive.

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