OC Local Artist Shouts at His Community for Social Justice

 OC Local Artist Shouts at His Community for Social Justice 


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Hey Foo, You like my Tats #1 and #2, both works from 2019



Sarah Iriantas 03/16/2021


 

Why do artists create? Art takes effort, time, money, so what is the final goal? Many say art is powerful, but where does its power come from?

William Camargo, founder of the Latinx Dispora Archives and Commissioner of Heritage and Culture in the City of Anaheim, knows exactly what makes art powerful, Camargo explains in his Artist Talk at the Wignall Museum, that his desire to create art comes from his past. As he was growing up, he learned about the history of Orange County and saw how it portrays the discrimination against Latinos today. His goal is to take snapshots of his experience and tie it to historical facts in order to create a cohesive story that will make people reflect. He does this through photography to have the viewers understand the subjects within the photos more intimately and become aware of the inequitable situation’s Latinos had to face.

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Camargo understands that art does not have to be glamourous or extravagant to be powerful. The artist comments, “There are stories to tell in my backyard.” He does not seek to create art that is only aesthetically pleasant, he also focuses on the purpose, on the story and substance behind each shot.


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Ultimately, an artwork derives its power from the impact it has on people. Far from being decorative, Camargo’s art is impactful precisely because it moves people into action to fight against injustice.


Camargo’s story provides a much-needed opportunity for the artists to reflect on their own intentions. Why do we make art? Is it only for ourselves, or do we make it with the intention of impacting people for the good of society? It’s no secret that artists can receive wealth and stardom with the pieces they create. However, Camargo as an artist is not only receiving publicity through his expertise, but he is also representing the minorities who have been neglected and overlooked for the past decade. When one comes across his work, they don’t merely see photos of candids, but they are able to perceive the lifestyle that manifests a single group. When one sees Camargo, one is not just looking at an artist or a photographer, who they are witnessing is a brother, a neighbor, an American Latino. 

In Camargo’s discussion within the “Artist Talk You Turn”, he discusses how when becoming a photojournalist, he is parachuting into a community and is used to coming out of it to merely create his own art. However this situation has evolved and he comes to a realization that he is not coming out to make art, but rather he is beginning to take these issues from the community with him and thinks of ways to represent this idea more to the public. How can there be justice for this community? 

Many artists can learn from Camargo. There is nothing wrong with making art for fame or stable income. However, when creating art to create awareness for a community, then one is not just an artist, but also a true activist. These artists open a whole other perspective for an audience that might be unaware of these matters in question.
 



Camargo, William. Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art exhibition interview. 21 February 2021

Camargo, William. Artist Talk, Your Turn exhibition interview. 4 February 2021
https://youtu.be/0O3WIhJsANs


Word Count: 558

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