FM: Yeah, it is about preserving that part of me. I am lucky to have parents who kept me connected to my roots, my culture, and my people. I would say my home is here in the United States, but these paintings are a reminder that my motherland will always be there to welcome me with open arms.

FM: Its meee!!! Jared is my middle name; my whole family calls me by it. I love the way it is pronounced in Spanish: ha-reht. “Jaretito” is a playful nickname I had as a kid, there isn't a direct translation to English but it's along the lines of “little Jared” and/or “Sweet Jared.” But in terms of how it ties into the show, I am directly speaking to my younger self.

FM: Yes, the Library was the piece I showed for my BFA Graduation show. It is depicting my childhood library in Irving, TX, which was my favorite place to go on the weekends. My mother would always tell me to check out the maximum number of books so I wouldn't nag her to go back every couple of days. I loved walking around the tall bookshelves and looking through the colorful book spines. Books filled with animals and dinosaurs were my favorite. It doesn't exist anymore; this painting is all that's left of it. Along with the memories of everyone else who grew up with it.

FM: I would say both. It is about being glad that those moments happened; but also, to empathize with my younger self for never wanting them to go away. My mind feels very relaxed knowing that memory can exist in the form of a painting; they act as proof that these mundane things really happened. Of course, nostalgia is a powerful thing; it exaggerates good moments and filters out the bad. These two specific titles are sprinkled with magic, as if my younger self named them. A pool was really a cooking pot, and “Besadas por el sol” are dead, dried-up mesquite trees. Spirituality in the mundane, is what a professor told me once. :)

FM: No, “Los Marquez” is the name of my pueblo back in Mexico. I think about 90% of the people who live there have “Marquez” as their last name. I have only met about two people here in the United States with this surname. My home has barely changed, we just got an asphalt road about two years ago for the main street. But it is peaceful over there, time seems to move so slow when I visit; I feel like I have more hours in the day. Everything is so close, and everyone knows each other, and if they don't, they’ll know my grandmother. I spend my mornings going to the city for a quick bite and for some shopping; and I spend my evenings watching TV beside my grandmother. You can see every star at night, I have the best sleep of my life in those huge old beds. And of course, mesquite trees are everywhere to provide shade and a sweet snack. As a kid, I visited twice a year, as an adult I try to go every year. I hope to see it soon.

FM: With these two specific paintings I was inspired by Dorian Parkhurst and Grace Wilkinson. They were the two classmates in Advanced Painting who I looked up to. They were like my two older sisters and I'm glad we became good friends. I was inspired by Dorian’s family photos that she references in her work. And I was inspired by Grace’s process of constant reworking, erasing and layering, along with her empty patches of space that reference the surface. As far as art history, Vuillard is an important painter to me. His layering, patterns, and use of color are eye candy; everything is in harmony and is perfectly balanced. Cy Twombly’s mark making reminds me of my handwriting; it has always been described as ugly, hard to read and scribbly. Seeing Cy make his loosey goosey marks the forefront of his paintings made me feel content about something I have always been embarrassed by.

FM: Advanced Painting class that I took during Fall of 2023 with Benjamin Terry as my professor has changed my whole life. A drawing major, at that time I had completed all my required drawing courses for my degree and decided to take painting for my final two semesters. I don't think I have ever been so encouraged, inspired, and motivated in a class before. I was surrounded by an amazing group of classmates who pushed both me and my work in exciting new directions. (Ben likes to say that I was adopted by the painting studio.) It was incredible to be among people who shared the same ambition, drive, struggles, and dedication; you feed off that energy when you are in the studio together. It made me want to stay a little longer after class, go bigger for my next painting, and take their critiques to heart. And of course, I had amazing professors who were instrumental in developing my brand of work. I cannot thank them enough – Claire Kennedy, Benito Huerta, Carrie Iverson, Matt Clark, Carlos Donjuan, and of course my main professor Benjamin Terry. I don't think they know how important they've been to me. But I like to remind them.

FM: Me and my graduating cohort became really good friends during our time at UTA. It was very easy bonding with people who share the same goals and who are going through the same challenges. I was very lucky to see their work evolve over our time together, to get close to them as friends, and to see them grow as people. They were my classmates who became friends and are now my colleagues. I have no doubt in my mind that they are going to succeed; we are bonded for life at this point.
I have work from every one of them – prints, paintings, drawings, ceramics, and even glass sculptures. They are all hanging in my room on my little art wall. Each one of them also has something from me. As far as other rituals, we go to shows together, we let each other know about open calls and we motivate each other. I felt very special when they all came to my solo show! Along with former professors, family, and a couple of painters I admire, I felt surrounded by love in that tiny room.