On Monday, I heard that local artist Alexander Huerta had passed away.
It was crushing.
He was one of the first people I met in Vegas. My wife and I went to the Arts district for a first Thursday, his studio was open, and we had a long conversation that night. I was taken by his Vintage Urban pieces on black scratch board, as well as his earlier, brilliant explosions of color. For the past seven years, I’ve followed his work with its twists and turns. Always unique, he never settled.
But beyond the paintings, I deeply respected him. He told me of his first life as an alcoholic, and how he discovered painting on his own. Painting saved his life…and so thoroughly enriched ours.
Life and kids got in the way so I didn’t get to hang out with him very often, but every time I’d drive by his second story studio on Charleston, I’d think of him. More often than not, his window was open. He was legit. He put in the work.
He was a pillar in this small town, an institution who showed up every day and gave us his true art.
Dude. I miss you.
Coda. A groundbreaking ceremony was held at Nevada State College for their new School of Education building this Wednesday. One of his pieces is displayed on the third floor of the Roger’s Student Center. It was comforting to say hello before and after the event. He left us some great work, but damn I’d rather he stayed.