Title : Young artists break mold with new gallery

Description : July 97' El Paso Times article

Young artists break the mold with new gallery
By Fred MacVaugh

El Paso Times

El Pasoans William Ibarra and Brian St. John each wanted to open an art gallery. • St. John, 20, had looked into starting one himself but discovered the prospect was too costly. Until he met 26-year old Ibarra. • The artists shared the same dream – and Ibarra owned space in a Downtown building on Yandell. • World art. Levels, El Paso’s newest art house, opens to the public Saturday and Sunday and features a selection of colorful surrealist-influenced paintings by Brian St. John and charcoal drawings by David Fleet, who’s also from El Paso. • Arts patron Ruby Ann Daumier said the two are opening the art house for art’s sake rather than for money. • Ibarra’s not in it for the money he said. The Chicago native who moved to El Paso with his parents several years ago said he just wants to promote art and art awareness. • “(There’s a) good art scene happening in the Southwest,” he said, “but we need to get unified.” • Unlike other El Paso galleries – such as the Bridge Center, Adair Margo and Studio W – World art. Levels caters more to new and experimental artists. • El Paso doesn’t have “many venues for young artists,” Bridge Center for Contemporary Art Director Richard Baron said. • World art. Levels will help give them exposure. • But Ibarra said neither he nor St. John wanted to focus on Southwestern art only. They anticipate a time in the future when they can bring in art from around the world. • But for now, their chief aim is to involve the community. In their plans are joint showings with other El Paso galleries. (Nothing’s been set yet, however.) • Ibarra said he’d be “happy as long as we can reach out to the community.” • Their intent with World art. Levels is to “awaken the minds of an entranced society” and “instill passion” about art – all art, he said. • “We want to cater to the young, old” and those with little formal education about art, Ibarra said. • And to make gallery visitors feel comfortable, the artist want to create an open atmosphere, where people can come in, sit down, talk, enjoy art and have a good time. • While most galleries open during regular business hours, World art. Levels won’t open until 7 p.m. • In addition to showing paintings, sketches and drawings, they intend to organize musical and film events as well as poetry and prose readings each weekend. Special poetry events are planned for this weekend.

Photo By Victor Cabada El Paso Times