Story by: Laura Mae Bagwell
Photo Courtesy of Julian Quintana
Julian Quintana, a second-generation sculptor, built his craft from the ground up. “At 10 or 11 years old, I used to do castings for my father, small stuff that he started me off with, and it just expanded and grew,” stated Quintana.
Quintana has always made masterpieces, but his mark in the art community sort of began with music. He and his brothers formed a band and performed from California to Texas and recalled how he and his brothers were regarded. He and his brothers had a mission in mind: prove their worth through their work.
Quintana reflected on one memory in particular stating that he and his brothers were performing in a restaurant in Lubbock, Texas. The men and women were seated with their backs away from them, an act that was considered highly disrespectful. Rather than make a scene, the band members grabbed the audience’s attention through song. The performance peaked their interest and eventually they found themselves face-to-face with the same people who ignored them only minutes before. It was at that moment that the potential and power of art became apparent.
Although the tool and the trade changed, Quintana continued to work with his heart and his hands. Bodies and buildings have more in common than meets the eye; both tell stories all on their own – from their cracks that show their capacity to sustain cruel circumstances and conditions to the scars that tell more about their strengths than their weaknesses.
He has been designing custom projects, both personal and professional, for roughly 45 years. He has created various sculptures and structures across the United States, which includes about 15 buildings and 30 homes.
“These are all million dollar homes in access of 4 million dollars per home,” said Quintana, “[I have done projects] in Rancho Santa Fe, a suberb area of San Diego, Point Loma in an area called ‘The Wooded Area’, Coronado Cays where you could park [a] yacht in the back.”
Quintana’s projects range in price and proportion. “The smallest one probably was about $32,000, which was an archway to a nightclub. It was 32 feet long with lighting, and it has a front sign like an arcade,” described Quintana. “I’ve done projects as big as Horton Plaza…for a billion two hundred thousand. [It’s] a shopping mall with 5 levels over 4 square blocks and took a year [to complete].”
As for some local undertakings, Quintana shared that he has worked on several homes in El Paso, O. T. Bassett Tower, and Hotel Paso Del Norte. “[I did] the lobby [of O.T. Bassett Tower]: the ceiling, the walls, the stone, the floor, the outside of the columns… historical [restoration],” described Quintana, “[I did] the dome room [of Hotel Paso Del Norte]: the columns [and the sculptures outside the building].”
When asked about the cultures that are embedded into his craft, Quintana simply stated “it’s just history.” He draws his inspiration from art of all channels and mediums including literature, music, and photography.
Educational disciplines like history leave a lasting impact on the individuals who strive to not only learn but understand their influence on the past, present, and future. After battling cancer, Quintana realized his biggest accomplishment is yet to be achieved; he wants to leave a lasting legacy of his trade and techniques to young up-and-coming artists.
“Artists are 50% talent, 50% secrets,” shared Quintana. He emphasized that we take nothing with us when we pass away; he would rather share his expertise and experiences with others in the hopes that they may retain something of value from his guidance.
He now wants to help aspiring artists reach their maximum potential by offering workshops in the city of El Paso; it would create a solid foundation for artisans who show promise in their discipline as well as in the preservation, restoration, and reconstruction of history.
Quintana plans on offering classes over an 8 to 10 week period, in which students will learn everything to help them kick-start their own profession including custom finishes, historical restoration, mold-making, and three-dimensional sculpting. The courses would be hands-on and students will receive one-on-one training. “I normally stick a piece of clay in front of them for them to show me their ability. Then I know how to approach that particular student and how far I’m going to take him or her,” explained Quintana.
Firsthand experience is crucial to the creative process. “It’s all about being hands-on. That’s what gets you there faster. You will never know how the clay feels until you stick your hands in it,” said Quintana.
Aside from setting up the educational seminars, Quintana is currently working on two projects: the Aztec calendar in Downtown El Paso and a memorial honoring the victims of the August 3rd tragedy in 2019. “[The Aztec calendar] was gifted by Mexico to El Paso,” said Quintana, “but it’s somewhat destroyed now cause nobody is coming to repair it.” He has plans to refabricate the calendar. The memorial is still being proposed, but it features two hands, representative of God’s hands, releasing 23 doves.
Quintana’s work can be seen on his website at https://www.julianquintanaart.com/ or on Instagram @QuintanaArts. For additional information, you can contact Julian Quintana by phone at (915) 926-6602 or email at juliantheartist@gmail.com.
