R 3 N D R V I S U A L A R T I S T P A G E

ARTIST BIO
Born Filiberto Gutierrez Sanchez, Jr in Zacapu, Michoacán Mexico- but raised in the small town (but currently small city) of Watsonville, CA. Filiberto- or Junior as he likes to be called, started drawing at the age of 4. Emulating his artist uncle and completely self-taught, he always hoped to one day become as good an artist as he was (his uncle). Junior drew his inspiration from his uncle, but would later diverge into doing his own thing, finding his own muse by drawing cartoon characters.
By the age of 11 he started creating his own characters, building from childhood influences the likes of Chuck Jones, Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld just to name a few as well as dabbing with the burgeoning style of Anime. Junior always did things for himself, however, moving to San Jose at age 11, he felt alienated, having difficulties making new friends in a much bigger city, he would draw various things for his classmates in order gain friendships.
3 years had passed, at age 14 he became awestruck by Graffiti Art, his curiosity led him to explore this by joining various tagging crews, but would later opt out due to graffiti writing being something more than just about the art, as he would learn that it served as an ersatz (to some) --but in the same vein to gang life. 4 years would pass Junior would later find his inspiration once again, by becoming a total recluse, blocking out any social contact- only accepting that of his own family, he would breakthrough many new technical levels, studying and delving into other forms of art and music, particularly with dada and experimental-avant garde music. Making his art more detailed and daring than ever before.
In 2001, he would befriend Michael Boado (DJ Basura) another visionary with experimental forms of music and art, and they would form "The Distracted Collective." The idea was to make art to interpret the music, by having live art performances, such as painting with some sort of musical backing. However the main idea was simply letting things happen by chance. In November of 2002, The Distracted Collective was officially formed with Michael Boado, Paolo Bello, Nate Leblanc as the DJ's/Music Purveyors, and Anabella Pinon, Beth Schwalen, and Junior Sanchez as the Visual Artists. The Distracted Collective ran for about 2 years, making their mark on audiences in San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, with their Music and Live Art Performances. For Junior he looked back at the experience with great reverence, having worked with such great people, particularly Michael and Anabella, due to their passion and work ethic- he still tributes them for his growth not only as an artist and as an individual.
In 2004, Junior and his family would move from San Jose to Gilroy. For the first time in 4 years Junior was alone, away from his friends, or any social interaction. This lead him to re-evaluate his role as an artist. Without having the distraction of what others were doing, Junior was determined to find his own muse. By chance he would pick up on photography. Not having any previous experience with said medium- or enthusiasm for said medium, he approached it simply on a instinctual level. The catalyst for doing this was just for him, for his own self-gratification, to document his time alone, to look back on the beauty of the mundane details of his life in such a small city taking photos of his environment, falling in love and being more appreciative of nature as he was when he was a child. At the same time, he started to exercise his sub-conscious by doodling, keeping a visual journal with him at all times, learning more about his sub-conscious thoughts this would lead him to his true artist self.
By 2007, Junior completed a bulk of work consisting of 3 photography series of well over 1,000 photographs, various mixed medium projects which he undertook periodically it was the most work he had ever done since becoming a visual artist, throughout this time he had never stopped to pause to admire his own work as he thought that it would kill his momentum. Junior was never one to explain his work or why he does it, totally anti-intellectual he always falls short of explaining, he emphasizes that art doesn't always have to have meaning to be significant, he just does it, he feels its the only way to articulate what he can't describe with words.
He is currently taking a leave of absence from his art, as he is pursuing other endeavors, but he assures us that he is far from done and the best is yet to derive out of him.
artwork select. 2001-05