infuses creative process
with a social view
Freehold artist Kortez
infuses creative process
with a social view
By clare marie celano
Staff Writer
JERRY WOLKOWITZ Freehold artist Christopher Robinson, known as Kortez, uses an old window as his canvas as his daughter, Imani Njeri, 5, watches him at work.
FREEHOLD — Whether it be social injustice, family love, human frailties or deep emotion, local artist Kortez sees it and makes it art.
Observing Christopher Robinson, known as "Kortez," as he worked his magic with a palette of colors and a brush in the living room of his apartment/studio, one gets the sense that he is not only painting a picture, but telling a story.
Watching his 5-year-old daughter, Imani, who stayed by her father’s side for much of a recent interview, was even more significant. It was apparent that the pint-sized "would be" artist knew that something serious yet wonderful was happening.
Kortez, 34, a borough resident, sees art in things that others might not give a second look to. Sometimes using unorthodox canvases such as old wooden window frames and panes of glass, or pieces of wood, Kortez makes the unorthodox an art form.
JERRY WOLKOWITZ A piece of art comes to life under the creative hand of Freehold artist Kortez.
Mixing bright, bold colors of yellow, blue, red and orange in combination with neutrals of beige, brown and black, he then adds to the mix a large dose of emotion and comes up with work that speaks of "having been there."
His art lines the walls of his studio and each canvas is a story in and of itself. Using his artist’s brush, he creates a landscape of likenesses and images, many that honor his African-American heritage.
Collages, one of his favorite art forms, tell of social injustice such as racism, rape and police brutality as he perceives it. Using news clippings and photographs to tell a story, he then adds his brush strokes of color to complete the piece.
"Up scaling" graffiti to an art form, in the artist’s own words, collages of hip-hop artists and rap music notables are softened by the touching paintings of faces and people who have lined the fabric of his life. They also stand beside books titled Daddy and Me and Arthur Ashe and Daughter Camera, depicting the multifaceted interests and personality of this man.
Combining media like ceramics, computer graphics and live painting into his art repertoire, art takes on meaning for the everyday person because his art is, in fact, about everyday life and emotions.
Paintings like those that reflect the illness and death of both his mother and his brother. Paintings and drawings that reflect gaunt faces, that speak of sadness tempered with love, reflect the body of work he did when caring for his dying brother.
"The look on their faces (those of his mother and brother) is etched forever in my mind. I don’t know if it’s pleasant or part of an ongoing nightmare, but that’s what comes out most of the time when I paint faces. Often the faces reflect how I feel, alone, depressed and tired," Kortez explained. "As life goes on, I hope the faces change. But then again, I’ve learned to embrace and find beauty in all the portraits I paint."
Here lies the real story of the real man who can be seen in his portraits along the walls of this colorful studio. Although these paintings are technically portraits, they reveal eyes that "tell it all." He repeats the familiar quotation: "The eyes are the windows to the soul."
Kortez, who fell in love with art at an early age, credits his parents Marva and Don with being major influences in his life and in his art.
"During those early years it was the subtle guidance of my mother that opened my eyes to artists like Picasso, Warhol and Dali," Kortez said.
He added that his father, a biologist, would share his abstract sketches of single-celled organisms in his biology books, which sparked the youngster to see art there as well.
Kortez attended the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts in Newark, majoring in fine art. He also interned with Freehold artist Nita Shapiro.
His career has included creating a mural at the African Globe Theater in New Jersey, with the help of children from the Newark school district. In addition to art, Kortez has also made music a large part of his career.
As part of this commissioned work, an event sponsored by British Airways offered a trip to the United Kingdom. There, Kortez spun music for a London pub and had a guest spot on radio. He called the trip "one of the best times in his life" and said he someday hopes to return there.
Levi’s jeans and Evian water have also sponsored him to paint at nightclubs. Giantstep Records, which sponsors new musicians in the genres of hip-hop and acid jazz, hosted weekly parties at Club Shine in New York, where the artist was asked to do "live" painting.
Kortez said he finds this medium challenging and rewarding. He does "live" painting to music, using a large canvas in front of an audience. He said he never knows how this "visual freestyle" work will end up.
Kortez’s art has been shown at the executive lounge of British Airways at Newark Liberty International Airport, at the African American Heritage Festival at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, and at several shows in the tristate area. He also had a solo show at the Common Boundaries gallery in Jersey City. The artist is busy preparing for an upcoming show at Divine Madness in Asbury Park on Nov. 23, where he will feature a combination of new work and old pieces.
Also on his agenda of art is his freelance work in ceramics for Black Market Creations in Eatontown and work as a disc jockey. Over the past several years Kortez has "spun" in galleries and clubs in New York and New Jersey.
The artist is also part of an upcoming Web-based company in Freehold, called Art Music Propaganda. Selections of his artwork can be viewed on the Internet at Giantstep.com.
Being charitable and helping others are important aspects of the artist’s life and filter into his art as well. To honor the victims of Sept. 11, 2001, Kortez designed a series of patriotic flag paintings that incorporate black Americans into America. He created a flag painting, then designed cut-out stars along the flag, and inserted photos of notable black Americans inside each one. Famous faces like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Sojourner Truth and Malcolm X line the work. Incorporating the design into a smaller version, he crafted the design on photo frames and donated them for fund raising to The Artist’s Space in New York.
On a more local level, Kortez shares his creative talents with children and seniors, teaching art classes at the YMCA of Western Monmouth County Community Center on Center Street. Over the summer he taught ceramics, and he has used other media to inspire children to find their way into the world of art.
Mel O’Neal, the director of the YMCA’s community center, said he looks upon Kortez as "a true artist and a true talent."
"I have a great deal of respect for Kortez both as an artist and a true humanitarian," O’Neal said. "All of his work here has been on a volunteer basis. Anytime he’s been asked to do something, it’s always done. He serves the kids and the seniors in this community very well."
When he’s not working at his art, Kortez works as a substance abuse trainee assistant at New Hope, Freehold. Here, he sees "life" every day, and much of it ends up in his art.
"I try to see the beauty in all people, even those on the verge of death. I try to find a common ground with them. If more people would take the time to do this, they would realize that we have more things in common than differences and the world would be a better place," he said.