(Sonny) Reynaldo Rivera is a local sculptor and native New Mexican whose work focuses on the rugged beauty of southwest culture. His work is displayed in Colorado, Washington, Utah, California, Texas, Kansas, Arizona and New Mexico. His sculptures include Spanish Conquistador Don Juan de Onate, author Rudolfo Anaya and monuments to historic events such as the terrorist attacks of September 11th. He works mainly in bronze and clay.
Daily Lobo: Is it difficult to make a living as an artist?
Reynaldo Rivera: Very difficult. The economy affects artists a lot. Most of my art is commissioned by cities or counties or states. It’s monumental- meaning I make monuments- and when there is a government that says there is no money, then what can you do. I have made a good living, but not many have been as lucky as I have… There are hundreds of artists competing from all across the country for commissions. Art is not just a local thing anymore and there are some people that are very good that live elsewhere. Second place wins nothing.
DL: What is the most important thing that you communicate through your art?
RR: Well it has to tell a story and what I mean by that is it must be high energy. …For instance this sculpture tells the story of the curandera. These are uneducated people who deliver babies and know about la yerba buena.
DL: How did you get interested in art?
RR: I went to school in Chicago to the American Academy of Art for three years, got a scholarship and went to Florence, Italy for a year.
DL: Did you get a degree?
RR: No I wasn’t there for a degree, I was there to learn. I was already 40 years old.
DL: What did you do before?
RR: Before that I was a hair stylist.
DL: What are you working on right now?
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RR: The Albuquerque museum in September and October has a miniature sculpture contest, and I am working on these pieces.
DL: Do you make a lot of work that doesn’t sell, or that you make outside of commission and just hope will sell?
RR: I should do more sculptures just of things that I like, but I don’t. I am fairly busy. I am one of the lucky guys. You have got to enjoy your work, but it’s hard to do what you want though sometimes because the work is commissioned and they have something specific in mind. But I try to shape the projects.
