Austin Artists' Works Featured At Airport

AUSTIN, Texas - The work of two local artists is being showcased at the Austin airport for travelers to enjoy, officials said.

Deshawn Washington, an abstract artist working on a variety of media told Austin-Bergstrom International Airport officials of his hopes that his pieces convey his own personal narrative. He said he uses his art as a coping mechanism to help him overcome hardships. The vibrancy of the African-American artist's intensely personal work illustrate his struggles with disabilities in such pieces as “Flower Rupture” and “Superiority Complex #9” reflecting his inner turmoil and memories of an upbringing in East Austin.

Ray “Bacasegua” Valdez creates culturally motivated pieces depicting native people and objects, with a specific focus on highlighting the traditions of his tribe, the Texas Band of Yaqui Indians. A quintessential example is “1st Nation People,” which features a pulp mask painted with acrylic to look like a Yaqui ceremonial painted face, airport officials described. His largest work, “Niyol,” depicts a native person amid brilliant colors. He explained to airport officials how each individual stroke in the ambitious piece was carefully plotted out, taking more than 60 hours to create.

“To be able to tell my story, to get people to listen,” Valdez said, when asked why he creates art. Valdez grew up creating things but hadn't thought of art as something he would pursue until a foray into art classes opened the doors to that path: “I went within and had the confidence to just tell my story,” he told airport officials. Valdez said he believes what gives life to works of art is not just aesthetics or technique but the personal life experience of its creator.

— Contributed by Marisol Peters, public information office intern at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.