“I don’t listen to what art critics say. I don’t know anybody who needs a critic to find out what art is.” – Jean Michel Basquiat
ST. AUGUSTINE, FL: Justin Torres is one of the artists participating in St. Augustine’s monthly Art Walk on October 3, 2008 from 5:30-8:30 p.m., where his art will be showcased at Schmagels Bagels, located at 69 Hypolita Street in downtown St. Augustine. The Art Walk takes place on the first Friday of every month, where everyone has a chance to visit participating businesses that are showcases varies artist’s work. Refreshments are provided at each venue.
Born in Annapolis, Maryland, Torres and his family moved toFlorida when he was two years old. Though he was inspired by Andy Warhol and Jean-Michelle Besquait, his mother was the one that influence him the most as he began art at a young age – which helped keep him off the streets and out of trouble.
“I was creating things out of my brain” states the 26-year-old. “It’s been in my blood, man, definitely,” said Justin Torres.
Matt Montanaro, owner of Schmagels Bagels said, “one day Justin and I started talking about art, he later showed me some of his work. I was impressed so I offered to host some of his pieces here at Schmagels.”
Torres has been a canvas artist for five years and a painter of glass windows for ten, and prefers the latter. Painting on glass windows, Justin said, is “decorated-friendly. Not only is it a piece of art, but it is also a window you can look in and out of” – like “a functional window.”
The piece showing at the Walk tonight, Justin describes it as “a smorgasbord” of Florida’s streets, politics, religion, and the rest of everyday life in general. “I’m trying to make it beautiful” he said. “This is definitely me.”
Torres likes to visit cities along the East Coast such as Miami and New York, but for now, he plans to stay in St. Augustine, Florida to hone in on his craft and develop a following.
You can find out more about Justin Torres at
http://www.myspace.com/afro_art
