Austin's own Ricardo (Rick) Hernandez—a painter, potter, and sculptor deeply enmeshed in the local arts scene—is stepping into the spotlight with a landmark exhibition, "Raised to Engage: Past and Present, Ricardo Hernandez, A Life in Arts." Marking a first for Hernandez, the solo show encapsulates a journey through personal and communal narratives at the Old Bakery & Emporium, a nexus for art and history buffs in the heart of the city. Hernandez, a University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) alum, has been shaping the Texas arts landscape since the 70's, his work previously seen only as part of group endeavors.
While Rick's artistry began to blossom post his 1976 graduation with a BFA majoring in ceramics and a minor in sculpture, his professional ascent truly kicked off with a three-year stint as an Artist in Residence for the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) kicking off his career immediately following his academic pursuits in 1977, through which he sharpened both his creative and administrative skill sets; this latter talent was honed further during his tenure at TCA, where Hernandez ultimately became the Executive Director before retiring in 2007. Since then, apart from his hands-on work with the clay and easel, his influence has extended to the AmeriCorps Artist in Residence Program via Imagine Art in Austin, juggling directing the program and serving on arts org boards.
According to the City of Austin's news release, interested individuals eager to indulge in Hernandez's artistic dialogue can RSVP to the show through the link provided. For those unfamiliar, the Old Bakery & Emporium venue hosting Rick's exhibition straddles the line between promoting local over-50 talents and peering into Austin's settler history, the latter through the Lundberg-Maerki Historical Collection housed within.
It's rare in today's transient pop-up world to find roots that delve as deep into the bedrock of a community as Hernandez's do–from elevating the Texan artistic narrative across various platforms to the boardrooms where arts policies and programs are shaped, his has been a life both behind the scenes and in creating the scenes we witness on the gallery walls. Whether it's imparting knowledge in workshops nationwide or ensuring art remains accessible and integrated into Austin's pulsating heart, Rick Hernandez embodies a marriage of practice and administration, reflecting a lifelong commitment to the arts that now culminates in this eagerly anticipated one-man show.
