Happy Life!
Rolo's Art
Born in Puerto Rico and established in New York for most of his life, Rolando is primarily a sculptor and a musician, although he has dabbled in different art forms at different times.
His pieces are primarily constructed of metal and wood, and he uses recycled materials and found objects infusing them with new life. Rolando’s work combines different techniques which he draws from his extensive experience as a carpenter builder. As he explains:
A maker is what a maker does
“I am both a craftsman and an artist which means you have to work diligently and passionately while guided by the demands and requirements of the materials. You got to have the technical know-how, the handling of tools, and the knowledge of materials; but most importantly, you got to have the curiosity, the constant questioning, the open-mindedness, the vulnerability and the honesty to keep looking, observing, learning from the work and evolving through it. That’s how the craftsman and the artist coexist. That’s also how David Smith saw himself, first as a worker, and then as an artist. This way of understanding himself was also connected to his political beliefs. David Smith is very inspiring to me, as well as Henry Moore, and the original multidisciplinary master, Picasso who also did ceramics and sculptures in different mediums including welded metal - something that many people don't know. I also like contemporary multidisciplinary makers like Diresta and Mitchell Dillman”.
Rolando’s work leans towards the abstract but is also very grounded on the experientially concrete. Through it, he explores the relationship between conceptualization and experience, embodiment and alienation, the sacred and the profane, as well as race, ethnicity, immigration, and social justice.
In addition to sculptural work, Rolando is also a musician, and he performs jazzy, ambient, and experimental pieces that include drama, literature, and soundscapes. Moreover, he has been a facilitator of many cultural and community events and was the creator of a Latinx cultural space in New York City. He has taken courses at the New York school of the Arts, and the Carving Studio and Sculpture Center in Vermont. Rolando is a member of the Wurtsboro Art Alliance and holds a BA in philosophy from Columbia University.