WS -Whats up hermano? hows it going?
2H-It's going well. Just trying to build Sol Collective and the HERMANO empire.
WS -How long have you been doing art?
2H-Actually painting and designing for 2 years. But, if I look back over the years, I have had my hand in some art form or another for a long time.
WS -What kind of art do you do? does it have a name?
2H-I guess they call it low brow but some homies down south call it low- brown. It's also referred to as urban art. I don't know, it's all changing so fast because the mainstream galleries are peeping at us folks now because of people like Banksy and Shepard Farey.
WS -What is the inspiration behind you art?
2H-When I first started out, it was all about the music, but as I ventured further into it, it was actually the about soul that the music brought out. So following the soul, I get inspired by things like strength, power, love, and the people who have the courage to make changes.
WS -who are greatest influenses in reaching your art goals?
2H-I don't think I have any specific art goals. But I do want to continue to hone my craft and reach more people. I think there is a message in my work that people respond to. For some reason, my work speaks to certain people. It's a positive and powerful reaction that I think needs to made available to the others.As far as artistic influences, I'd have to say Freddi C from down south, and Tes 1 from Florida. I straight bit their work when I first painted because I didn't know what I was doing. Their work spoke to me as well and I wanted to try.
WS-Being from sacramento What are your thoughts on the art scene here in sacramento?
2H-Well, Sacramento is a work in progress. There are so many good artists here that until recently had no place to show. The "other" galleries wouldn't have us. Now you have places like Fool's Foundation and Sol Collective that are galleries not boutiques showing low-brow urban work. It's great and it's only getting better. I'm sure there are more galleries in midtown but I don't get a chance to venture that way on 2nd Saturdays because of our work at Sol Collective.
WS- Tell the readers about your gallery inside Sol Collective and what its all about and who all is involved there with you ?
2H-I'm lucky enough to be part of Sol Collective which is an art, culture and activism center. Along with being a gallery, we have an after school program teaching the youth art, video production, graphic design, music production and life skills. The director is Estela Sanchez. Anand Parmar (aka CrushDelight) is the music and events manager. Adam Saake and I manage the gallery. We have 2 other resident artists who share the space: Josh Silveira and Raul Mejia. The back part of Sol Collective, where my art is hung, is a permanent collection for resident artists. It's where all the creation happens.
WS -So you also have a website.Whats the adress and what can we expect to see on there?
2H-Yeah, the website is www.2hermano.com It used to be just gallery where you can see my art but that was so static. I turned it into a blog where I post my work daily. It works better that way because I include video or music that goes along with and explains the work a little more. Also, I'm in the process of linking the shirt store to the website. hERMANO designed clothing!
WS -Any events or announcments we should keep pan eye or ear out for?
2H-I'm painting at the Legend/Icon annual event later this month. I think I'm in next months issue of Legend Magazine. I have a solo show at Sol Collective during the Malcolm X honoring show in May and a Frida Kahlo show in San Francisco in June.
WS - Any last words, shout outs, ect?
2H-I just want to close by telling anyone who will listen to fuck the haters. I think we'd all be happier if we didn't listen to or worry about what the haters will say. " F.T.P."