Meet Juan D Mendoza | Multidisciplinary Artist
We had the good fortune of connecting with Juan D Mendoza and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Juan D, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Since my early childhood I realized living the life is a big risk, I used be scared by the fact I needed to walk out from home for going to school and to be hit by a car over the street, I deal with a lot of anxiety when people around were drinking alcohol and getting in trouble, also feel very worried about my father and other family members smoking. I was always thinking in the worst scenarios and felling frustrated and so stressed.
Later, I just noticed that weird voice that was always telling me everything could kill me, was gradually losing its power, then I realized am more mature and now I can say, the biggest risk in life is living. I had that mind-change close to my 35th birthday. It was 2018 when my father almost die because an oil well explosion at work and resulted seriously damaged and permanently disabled. That event changed our lives so far for everyone at home.
Talking about my career in arts, I used to work so hard by teaching and doing a variety of office duties at two universities in my hometown in Guanajuato, Mexico. Simultaneously worked part times and as a freelancer with several art institutions such as museums, art galleries, government departments and also for private and nonprofit organizations in things related with the promotion, production, management and administration of all kind of art festivals, fairs, exhibitions, and events. For about 15 years I was performing different roles and was having a good career and life; however I started thinking that I need to pursue new challenges and to do things differently.
In 2015 I decided to move to California to do a fresh start so I quit my jobs and other projects to come the US to my father’s house. I was not completely aware about the size of that risk, I left behind my mother and brothers, my friends and colleagues and started from the bottom again. With no connections, no network neither any references, applying for jobs was painful specially when your work experience, records and work history was left in another country. So many people are still questioning me why I decided to do that, my old supervisors, coworkers and friends cannot believe I did that movement. It has been a struggle because of many factors, especially because of the language and culture, however I have been learning how to do the things now. For instance, I had never ever applied for a job position, I realized that when I had to submit my applications and to attach my resume, cover letters and recommendation letters. Never did a job interview neither had a clue about the hiring process. That sounds weird I know but in 15 years, all the time people use to come to me to offer me jobs and new projects.
So far, so good I can say these years I have lived in the US taught me a lot plus my previous experience. I am not talking just because of the language or lifestyle, I am talking about the way I see things now. I am more conscious about my strengths and weaknesses, also I have a clearer idea about what I want in life. Now every day is an exciting opportunity to take the risk and to push myself to succeed. I have to say things were not easy at the beginning, I struggled a lot to be known, to introduce myself, to connect ant to engage with people. I know am an outsider but do not feel discouraged neither feel I am a foreigner anymore. I have had the opportunity to bring my art back to art galleries and museums, I am performing and acting at so many venues as part of comedy and variety shows in the South of California and Mexico. I had the chance to travel to Italy and have a bunch of projects that are coming soon.
Despite the pandemic situation, confinement and health restrictions everywhere, this times taught me a lot and I am reinventing myself again. I see no reason to be scared and worried because things that may happen or not. Now I live each day and all day as it was the only one, the last one. I want to take the risk of living the life.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Self-taught musician, actor, painter and entertainer. His career in Fine Arts has been acknowledged by the arts and culture institutions in Guanajuato Mexico and his artwork is part of the Colección Ashida (Mexico), the Luciano Benetton Imago Mundi Art Collection (Italy) and has been featured in museums and art galleries in The United States.
A prolific Theatre Director, Storytelling and Playwright; in 2000 founded Espejoscopio Teatro at the age of 17 in Guanajuato, Mexico. Author of Monologos sobre un Altar de Muertos, this theater play has been presented continuously since 2000 until today.
An enthusiastic educator and administrator in two universities, some museums, art galleries and government departments. In 2006 he became CEO of the Arts, Culture and Recreation Department of the H. Ayuntamiento de Penjamo 2006-2009
In 2015 moved to Ventura and brought with him his eclectic combination of Folk Music, Traditional Songs from the World, Popular Hits & Oldies, touches of Jazz, Hawaiian, Cuban, Brazilian, Portuguese, Latino Americano and Mexican styles. Whiskey, Tequila, Mezcal & Pineapples.
Featured in the E.P Foster Library of Ventura, The Library of Ojai, Beyond of Baroque in Venice CA, Art City Studios, Project Space 643 and at some other poetry, open mics and artistic events in South California, currently continuing his vocal lessons at the Miss. Michelle Ostrove Vocal & Piano Studio in Port Hueneme Beach and studying piano with Miss. Astrid Morales.
What I consider interesting about my art is the variety and diversity of things I do. Always jumping from visual arts to theater and comedy shows, from producing and promoting events and festivals to my singing different styles of music. Also I oscillate between the folk art to the classic and to the most contemporary. This last one has been one of my keys of success because I have a pretty good balance and understanding between the tradition, the academia and the new trends, those three boxes, are easy to fill out with everything I promote and perform.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take my friend to Scot Neri’s Boobietrap in the Walk of Fame of Los Angeles the night of my performance of The Phantom of the Opera with Intrepid Dance Project cast, will have a drink or a beer and will be doing my makeup while waiting for my turn. Will introduce him with my friends comedians, dancers, entertainers and magicians. Will ask autographs from all of them and will take a bunch of photos to post them on Instagram. After of that, will take him to a brewery or a sports bar to speak about the show and to laugh together with the jokes and characters in the show. Will go to Roscoe’s to have some chicken and waffles and finally, to go for the last drink of the night to an underground club in China Town, shooting photos with Bruce Lee and some selfies under the Chinese Lamps.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There is so many kind people I would love to say thank you for believing in myself, hope not to miss anyone but if I do it so, I apologize for that.
Want to say firstly thanks to Jennifer Jonnasen and to Intrepid Dance Project for bringing with them and to introduce me to the magic of Hollywood and for giving me the chance to show out my talents and also for referring me to The Shoutout LA series.
To our Laureated Poet of Ventura Phil Taggart and his lovely wife Marsha de la O for introducing me with the artistic community in Ventura, also to my dear friend Friday Gretchen because of her enthusiasm and encouragement.
To my teacher and friend Marcus Van and all the teachers of the Ventura Adult and Continuing Education for giving me the tools I needed to communicate each other in English.
To Leonardo Ramirez Cartier because of his mentoring in the arts and his guidance in the art galleries and museums.
To Senator Erandi Bermudez for believing in my talents and for the opportunity to succeed in my career as a cultural promoter when he nominated me Director of Arts and Culture in the city of Penjamo, Guanajuato, Mexico in 2006.
To my teachers and everyone who taught me and shared their knowledge, time and heart with me, Especially for those who passed away. My dear Carmen Arias and most recently my teacher and friend Randy Walz.
To my parents and brothers for being my inspiration and motivation to work hard, for being part of my success and to heal my soul when things didn’t work.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juandentertainer/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juan-d-mendoza-9bb8a2102/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/espejoscopio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JuanDMendozaAr
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umaOnUv0FRk
Other: https://linktr.ee/juandmendoza?fbclid=IwAR2m8YoHPvx303afzXopsWQSSM2K-iHO5lmvabUOovGZCOSe9dopYnKesYg http://www.imagomundiart.com/artworks/juan-de-dios-mendoza-i-have-dream http://artesvisualesicl.blogspot.com/2013/10/vitrina-para-trofeos-xxxxl-juan-de-dios.html?m=1
Image Credits
Photos signed by Richard Michael Johnson
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