Paloma Montoya Top Pick of South Gate Inaugural Exhibition

The City of South Gate has chosen Paloma Montoya’s “I’ve Lost my Head Before” as the work of an artist to highlight at the city’s new gallery and museum.  The  inaugural exhibit CUÍDATE / TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, closes this Saturday, March 26th, after a two month run.  Themed around the idea of coping with life during the pandemic, the exhibition uniquely featured artists either local to South Gate itself or to Southeast Los Angeles.

The exhibition was juried by Color Compton founder Abigail-Lopez-Byrd, Chief Curator of the Museum of Latin American Art Gabriela Urtiaga, and artist Ozzie Juarez, founder of Tlaloc studios.

Montoya says her work here was inspired by her own struggle with depression, suicidal ideation, and management of mental health issues. The piece is a diptych. According to the artist,  “The first part symbolizes my long-term struggle with depression and how it progressed from childhood into adulthood. In some ways, I found healing through these dark moments whether through professional help or other means such as close family relationships and support,” she says. “In the first panel, depression is depicted by an anthropomorphic wolf which in itself is struggling to stay afloat. This figure goes through this cycle often, so while it appears as though it is decapitating itself, it continues to live, but like a chicken with its head cut off. In the second panel, a sense of relief is depicted. A sort of light at the end of the tunnel if you will. A vulnerable figure is depicted as a deer. The deer is in a state of peace and calm. I found myself in these moments after such dark places, and what helped me get to such a place was a deeper understanding of myself and a deep love for who I am.”

The piece is part of an ongoing cycle for Montoya. “The two-part work only focuses on the storm and the calm after it. It is more of a generalization of what my experience is as a whole dealing with major depressive disorder. Because it is a cycle for me, I feel that new works can be created stemming from what is depicted in this particular piece. I do have plans for new works that continue to discuss this aspect of my life.“

She describes her work over all as deeply personal. “It is really more of a journal into my life. I never considered myself great at words, so the best way for me to express myself is through images, images that I create. I attempt to be completely transparent and vulnerable in my work because I believe that is also what makes the artwork much more powerful. If the viewer can relate to it, then that’s great, but for me, it is mostly a cathartic experience.”

Montoya uses a rich and vivid palette. Working in gouache, she says “I enjoy the vividness of the colors and velvet-like texture that gouache creates. I typically tend to use brighter colors because it brings about a sense of lightness when my works can have a dark narrative. Brighter colors are also reminiscent of the natural world, which I draw my inspiration from. For the most part,  [I use]. very rich, brighter sort of palette, possibly colors leaning more toward the neon side sort of palette; but lately, I have had inspiration for works where colors could be depicted in the cooler/darker range.”

Montoya describes the work as significant in “showing transition.  Although this piece was done pre-pandemic, during the pandemic similar mental health issues rose…most of these issues were due to the pandemic itself. The pandemic was in many ways a transition for us… it ultimately leaves us with reflection, self-reflection and on the rest of the world, and how we can heal and heal one another through our own gifts.”

Viewers can see Montoya’s special gift at the South Gate museum and gallery this weekend, where along with a reception – and the last chance to view this beautifully curated exhibition, there will be an interactive installation and art activity, Weaving Hope, by Yeu Q Nguyen, from 1pm-4pm.

• Genie Davis; photos provided