From the Artist - Felix Vigil:
Felix was assisted by his son, Adam Spenser Vigil, as a collaborative partner. Subverting the idea of who art is made for, creating art is a journey. Whether the medium is paint, bronze, wood, glass, clay, or paper, each has its own intrinsic characteristics and I must acquaint myself with those qualities. The journey for me begins when I observe the world around me. Sometimes it might be a powerful and loud thunderstorm, or a whisper of a word, or the colors of a sunset; maybe the movement of Deer or Buffalo Dancers, or the eloquent songs of mocking birds singing at daybreak that sparks my senses and interest. Inspiration comes in infinite forms. I feel a certain obligation to take these sources of inspiration and explore all perspectives and to find a path to formulate an idea or a visual element or statement. The creative process always takes me into new territory; sometimes rocky, rough and sometimes smooth as silk. Each new image or work will have its own unique message and purpose. These are the elements of the creative process that I love and bring me great joy. To be challenged and to explore all the possibilities of an idea is what I live for. I credit my father, Francis Paul Vigil, for laying the foundation for my artistic endeavors. Mother Juanita gave me her gift of unconditional love. Grandparents Juanito and Lupe Sando taught me the value of hard work and commitment and determination. My family has always been a force of strength and support. I rely on my traditional philosophy and beliefs of the Jicarilla Apache and Hemis to guide me on my artistic journey and on this path, we call life.
About Felix Vigil:
Felix Vigil is a classically trained fine artist whose contemporary vision is influenced and guided by the spirits of his Jicarilla Apache and Hemis ancestors. His body of work includes painting, sculpture, film animation, architecture, and literature. “Ideas for my work come out of the ceremonies, songs and stories of my people. It is inspired by ideas that are very old, but those concepts are still very relevant today. I consider my work contemporary meditations on ancient themes that depict traditional symbols in their essential forms and bring them to life with saturated colors and stylized representations of animals and geographic features of the land. Each piece that I create evolves incrementally, according to its own life cycle.”