Art Chronology part 1 1993 to 2007 Juan D. Estrada
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Prison Art (1988-1991) In 1988 I was given a 5-year sentence in the state of California, I would complete my sentence at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility. This was the first time I had ever been in prison; I had no idea what this experience would be like. I was in my senior year at Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles when this occurred, so my outlook was still mainly focused on art, I had painted a couple of murals in the county jail during my arraignment so maybe I could do the same in prison. Donovan was a new California prison during this time, and everything was grey concrete inside and out, even in the cells so the idea of color was absent. The first couple of months I worked in landscaping and later found out I could take a vocational course. The only art-related course was the UCLA Extension Program which focused on printing and publishing. I was in Level 4 when I arrived at Donavon so to be a part of a college program was perfect. The course consisted of learning...
The creation of Zender in the 1980's.
Painting in the 1980’s From 1975 to 1981, I was a Chicano gang member from elementary school till 8th grade, so my knowledge of life was seen through this window. In 1981 I moved from South Central LA to Maywood California, where the community had little gang activity and kids were mostley influenced by hip hop and music videos. This would also be where I began to gain an appreciation for hip hop music with the likes of LL Cool J, Run DMC, Whodini, and many more. Break dancing was at its peak, and this was my introduction to Graffiti art, in the form of a visit to a club in the mid-Wilshire District called: RADIOTRON. If you seen the movie, well that was me…I was a B Boy, and to be a B Boy in those days meant you danced, DJ, rapped, and did some Graffiti. I am not going to give the full history of LA Hip Hop, but I am going to explain how the graffiti art form influenced my work. New York had its history on trains (See Documentary Wild Style). In LA we had Yards. Specifically, th...
Juan D. Estrada Childhood, Growing up in East LA.
I have decided to begin to share my life story with the public, this is actually one of the hardest things to do because I tend to be very private when it comes to my past. For many years Ive been a mentor to many young artists and I always do my best to give only my positive stories, but to understand my art or to even understand me as an artist both the dark and light side of life must be known. throughout my series I will always connect my past with my art this is to keep this blog artistic and not just biographical. I was born in East Los Angeles in 1966 in a small house on 1034 1/2 S. Herbert Street in between Whittier Blvd and the 5 freeway, My father was an alcoholic for as long as I can remember: my older brother has more stories about these early years than I do. I just remember Christmases and special birthdays, I do remember when my mother died, it was a major turning point for my two sisters and brother. My father had a new w...