Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (novinite.com)
Born in Denver, Colorado, Michelle Torrez was raised in a working class family and found painting a way to escape her often difficult childhood. The artist's paintings focus on the emotions of the figures that she renders, capturing their expressions and movement in rapid, painterly brush strokes utilizing a bright palette. As a result of her recent travel to Asia, Torrez began eliminating more of the details from her paintings, leaving viewers to draw upon their own experiences and emotions to interpret them. In 1994 Torrez formed a company to create interior murals for residences and businesses throughout Colorado. The artist's work has been exhibited at the Dallas Museum of Art and many galleries nationwide.
Denver artist Michelle Torrez visited Bulgaria as part of a new initiative, American Artists Abroad, recently launched by the State Department's Art in Embassies Program. The goal of this new initiative is to extend the art exhibitions beyond the walls of the residences into local communities. Michelle Torrez currently has two works on exhibit in U.S. Ambassador James W. Pardew's official residence in Sofia.
Michelle Torrez met Milena Hristova, Editor of The News and novinite.com
Q: Why did you join the American Artists Abroad initiative?
A: I was contacted by the Ambassador himself. He saw my work in a magazine that did a story on me, and asked me if I would be interested in participating in the program. That was of course a wonderful opportunity to be part of a show with people I would not normally work. Then they decided to bring me over here, which is really great!
Q: Is this your trip to Bulgaria?
A: Yes, this is my first trip to Bulgaria and Eastern Europe altogether. There is so much that inspires me here. I have probably taken four hundred photographs, I want to go everywhere and take little pieces of Bulgaria back home with me. I think this is the most interesting place I have ever been, even more so than China. What I find most interesting here is how the people have created their culture from all the history of the different cultures, how people invent their lives and cultures.
Q: Tell us something more about your work with the students from the National Art Academy of Bulgaria?
A: I toured the studios and had a brief exchange with the professors. The students seemed to have a perception that in America it is so easy to be an artist. It is true that there are more opportunities but you have to fight hard, just as in "Metaphor". In a free market economy the artists need to market and promote themselves.
Q: "Metaphor" is one of the two works that you have on exhibit in U.S. Ambassador James W. Pardew's official residence in Sofia. How did you choose them?
A: Actually I had an exhibition in the United States and there were four out of forty works left. Ambassador Pardew liked the boxers in "Metaphor" very much, which really surprised me. This is not a usual painting you would hang in the Embassy.
Q: What inspires you to paint?
A: Some of my paintings are from the television, which is done by quite few artists. What inspires me most are people, colour and movement. I think that living, breathing, thinking, feeling human beings are the most interesting thing in the world.
I would choose to paint people even if I worked in Bulgaria. Bulgarians are a whole new area for me - the faces, attitudes, passion.
Q: Ambassador Pardew claims that you style is very different from what is seen in Bulgaria. Do you agree?
A: Yes, it is more colourful, lighter and more representational.
Q: How do you see the importance of art in diplomacy?
A: Art can portray a culture and brings more understanding, because art portrays more of the nuances of a culture and says different things t different people.
Q: Judging by your impressions, do you think there are any points of convergence between our modern cultures?
A: Yes, there is a lot of convergence. The young people are creating a whole different culture. I see that in America and I see that here. There is the Internet and television and cultures of course are aware of each other, they all have a common direction. I would like to take a little more of the Bulgarian passion, because Americans seem to have become very lax. You are coming out of a difficult time and when you have been through hard time, you come out of it more passionate, wanting more. That is why I want to bring my friends back, I want them to see the Bulgaria and the Bulgarian artists' works.
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