Jonathan Hinojosa
We had a chance to catch up with local artist Jonathan Hinojosa before the end of the year. Recently moved to the area we first met Hinojosa at the 2022 Latinx Family Festival in Condon Park. With a background and formal training in theatre along with some published poetry, Hinojosa is versed in a number of different mediums. He has worked in wood, sculptural ceramics and acrylic painting, to name a few.
As he prepares for his upcoming Grounded Reveries Exhibition along with fellow artist Ellen Davis, we asked about his current work. “My most recent artistic explorations revolve around printmaking and experimenting with alternative photographic processes,” he shared. The opening reception takes place on Friday, January 5, from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at The Center for the Arts in Grass Valley.
When asked at what point in his life he realized his calling we appreciated Hinojosa’s frank and honest response. “It wasn't an immediate epiphany. I just followed down that road and that's the end of it. Work, providing for my family, exhaustion, depression have often consumed me, and at some point—repeatedly—I have had to re-realize where I derive a sense of meaning from, that the dominant culture provides little more than suffering. Is art my calling, though? I don't know. What I do know is that I am captivated by the process of human expression.”
This process of human expression is always what we’re most curious about and so we asked Hinojosa to share about his. “My creative process is one of inquiry, curiosity and finding the boundaries of what constitutes a medium. This often results in the discovery of and experimentation with another medium and, perhaps, blending those seemingly separate processes.”
As we talked about the upcoming exhibition Hinojosa shared that he’s partnered with one of the Nevada County artists that he admires most, Ellen Davis. “What I admire about her work is that she pushes the boundaries of her process to find intriguing results.”
We also had a moment to talk about his children. “I am most proud of my kids; they are the best people I know,” Hinojosa shared when asked what he was most proud of. As a newer resident of Nevada County he appreciates our welcoming community and a willingness to share information and resources.
When asked what comes after Grounded Reveries, Hinojosa speaks to the continuation of inquiry. He is open to commissions, you can find more of his work on his Instagram @jkhinojosa.
This story originally appeared in the January 1st, 2024 edition of the GVNC Culture Connection newsletter.