JAKE PRENDEZ: CARING FOR CULTURE THROUGH ART

By Jamie Howell

Acranky, old abuelo walks into an art gallery, slouching in behind his otherwise enthusiastic family. Clearly, grandpa would rather be just about anywhere but here.

But then the art does its work. Something connects, a memory stirs and suddenly the elder shifts from sangrón to sonriente — his scowl replaced by a broad smile.

“I thought, ‘My God, this is probably the first time in his life that he’s been to an art gallery or museum where the paintings have resonated with him,’” says Chicano artist and gallery owner Jake Prendez. “That’s why places like my gallery are so important.”

The gallery is the Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery which Prendez owns and operates alongside his fiancé and co-director, Judy Avitia Gonzalez. Situated on the border between White Center and West Seattle, it’s the only Latino/a-centered gallery in the Pacific Northwest.

Prendez, who is making a lecture tour through Chelan County this month, is con- vinced of art’s power to preserve cultural identities, to engage and mobilize communities, and to heal.

That belief drives him to create works like “Don’t be Self Conchas” (a pun on the Mexican sweet breads (conchas) that he used to share with his own abuelo every Saturday as a child; or the self-portrait of him and his son in luchadores (Mexican wrestlers) masks; or his oil painting entitled, “A Little Prayer For Those Who Migrate.”

“My work might not be the most subversive, in-your-face art, but it’s rife with cultural triggers,” he explains. Prendez strives to make art that elicits feelings and resonances typically unavailable to members of his Chicano/Chicana/Latinx community in traditional gallery and exhibition settings.

“Holding onto your culture is a political statement,” Prendez says, and as his voice and platform have grown as an artist, it’s a statement he feels ever more deeply compelled to make.

Prendez references Uncle Ben’s advice to young Peter Parker in Spider Man:

“With great power comes great responsibility.”

“We have a vibrant, amazing, beautiful arts scene that is virtually being ignored in Washington State,” he says. “We’re not going to let them ignore us any longer.”

Prendez and co-director Gonzalez’ ultimate goal for the Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery is to expand it into a fully functioning arts center complete with affordable artist studios, gallery space, performance spaces, a technology lab, gift shop, coffee shop and even a plaza for markets, pop-up events and monthly arts walks. He’s seen similar efforts work in other large cities.

“We deserve a space like that,” he says.

Finding the time and motivation to push that vision while continuing to organize a host of community events and art exhibitions around Seattle, go on speaking tours, run the current gallery and still make art comes down to a mixture of love for and obligation to the Chicano/ Chicana/Latinx community.

“I’m going to continue to make art regardless, but my community needs to be taken care of.” And for Prendez, that care is best delivered in the form of art.

Jake Prendez Lecture Schedule

Monday, Aug. 14, 6 p.m. at the Jake and Edna Maguire Conference Room, Wenatchee Valley College, 1300 Fifth St., Wenatchee

Tuesday, Aug. 15, 6 p.m. at the Peshastin Community Hall, 10204 Main St., Peshastin

Wednesday, Aug. 16, 6 p.m. at the Chelan Public Library 216 N. Emerson St., Chelan

To find out more about Jake and his work, visit jakeprendez.com or check out his gallery online at nepantlaculturalarts.com

7. Tumbleweed 4-7 PM Chelsea Courtney of Chromophile Art LLC, watercolors.

8. Ground Control 4–10 PM Amber Kirby, mixed-media. First Fridays After Party, 7-10 p.m.

9. Ye Olde Bookshoppe

10 AM–6 PM Junk Journals, Local Art & Jewelry

10. Pybus Art Alley 5–8 PM TRAILS Program Artists @ Tierra Village. Live music, Rylei Franks.

11. Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center 4–8 PM Coyote’s Corner

Re-opening & Mural Celebration, Artists: Lindsay Breidenthal, Heather Dappen, Ellen Bruex.

6. Owl Soda Fountain & Gifts 5–8 PM 10% off a Specialty Sundae of your choice when you mention First Friday

7. Epoch 3 PM $2 off all House Cocktails

8. Norwood Wine Bar 5 PM $2 off glass pours

1. MAC Gallery 5–7 PM “Deer Hearts”, Carly Feddersen, indigenous art pieces using silver, glass, elk ivory, bone and stone.

2. LynnArt Gardens 1–7 PM Ted & Arena King, sculptures. Free food and beverages.

3. Visit Wenatchee Visitor’s Center & Tasting Room 5–7 PM Mystic North, handcrafted jewelry. Corban Welter, musician.

4. Two Rivers Art Gallery 5–8 PM Annie Jones, pastels. Mike Bills, guitar.

5. Lemolo Café 4–6 PM Portraits, Terry Valdez, paintings.

6. Café Mela 5–8 PM Pierce Alexander Marks, photography.

1. Horan Estates Winery 5 PM $2 off glass pours

2. Crayelle Cellars 5PM $2 off glass pours

3. Atlas Fare 4:30 PM $2 off glass pours

4. Stones Gastropub 5 PM $10 Specialty Cocktails

5. Watermill Winery On The Ave 5 PM $5 tasting on regular flights, complimentary when