Karankawa Sun Dream and the Truth Teller

Karankawa Sun Dream and the Truth Teller

Cruz Ortiz

Oil on canvas

2022

Cruz Ortiz lives and works in San Antonio, Texas. In 1993, Ortiz cofounded San Antonio Cultural Arts. It is a non-profit focused on fostering human and community-based arts. Community-engaged art has led to the creation of the Community Mural Program. The Program is responsible for the creation of over 50 public murals throughout San Antonio. They range in style and size but share similar themes of community and hope. Additionally, Ortiz has served on the San Antonio Arts Commission in 2007, the Arts Commission of Austin in 2008, been a board member of ARTPACE San Antonio since 2018, and has been a part of the selection committee for Texas Medal of Arts from 2018-19.  Ortiz uses painting, print, sculpture, drawing, and public activation to address issues related to his experiences growing up in the bicultural landscape of South Texas. Ortiz states “there is constant unrest in the studio to observe and record as much as possible. Most of the works are based on direct observation, as it has been more difficult to trust images that are pre-existing. These paintings are not the end game. They are recordings, sketches, draftings, live portrait sittings, still-life paintings, pleinair landscapes, all research-based findings that are directly gathered by [Oritz.] There is something to be said of finding truths and being a real witness to these truths.”

Location: West Concourse near Gate 1

Creator: Cruz Ortiz

Area: Houston / Downtown