Artist shares story of how he became inspired with students

There were no techniques taught in this April 10 art class. Students were learning more important things from guest teacher and professional artist Alexander P. Huerta.

Innovations International Charter School of Nevada, 1600 E. Oakey Blvd., invited Huerta to speak to students for the second year in a row.

Huerta, 46, came in uniform — black jeans covered in colorful paints. He spoke passionately for nearly 30 minutes about his life and art. He said he loves doing these visits and talking to children about art.

At one point he asked the students, “What is art?”

Students named different forms, but Huerta quickly corrected them.

“Art can be anything you want it to be,” he said. “If you think it’s art, it’s art.

“In class, remember you’re doing artwork for you. Your artwork is based on what you feel inside. It’s from the inside out, always.”

Huerta, a Sunrise-area resident, creates abstract mixed media and found pieces sculpture.

Huerta also asked who in the class wants to be an artist for life. Only 18-year-old Jesus Sanchez raised his hand. Sanchez is a tattoo artist and, like Huerta, is self-taught.

“I like him,” Sanchez said of Huerta. “I like the way he uses colors.”

Sanchez said the message he took away from Huerta’s speech was “never give up.”

Art specialist Sandy Zinkevich said Huerta is the only guest artist to visit her class and that kids benefit from such exposure.

“They love him,” Zinkevich said. “He speaks from the heart. It’s a little different from the instruction I give them because I’m trying to teach them techniques, but it’s good for them to branch out.

“I want them to seriously think of careers in art. I think the best lesson, especially with the younger ones, is to be yourself.”

Huerta never considered being an artist when he was young. He grew up in the Bay Area and moved to Las Vegas at 16 in 1983 and graduated from Clark High School, 4291 W. Pennwood Ave. Afterward he worked as a dishwasher and then in the sportsbook at Harrah’s and later at the MGM Grand.

It was Pablo Picasso and his 1932 oil painting “Le Rêve” that changed everything. Huerta happened to view an art collection one day in 1996 “for no reason,” he said.

“I stood in front of ‘Le Rêve’ –– it was the moment that had a direct effect on me,” Huerta said. “I wanted to stimulate my eyes like his painting did. I couldn’t afford a million dollar painting, so I thought, ‘Man, I should paint.’ ”

Huerta knew nothing about art but bought his first paints in November 1996.

“I didn’t know I could paint,” he said. “I didn’t know my life would turn into this.”

Huerta had a history of alcohol abuse and had an arrest for driving under the influence in 2002. He said it was “rock bottom” in his life. He said it also was an epiphany, and he stopped drinking immediately.

“I never thought my life could be lived this authentically,” he said. “These last 11 years have been the best of my life.”

Huerta’s work is on display at the Peace N Art Studio, in room 230 at The Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd.

“I’ve got a story to tell,” he said. “It’s about adversity, about survival, about resurrection.”

Contact View education reporter Jeff Mosier at jmosier@viewnews.com or 702-224-5524.