An Albuquerque artist and senior at the University of New Mexico put his talents to use by hosting an event to celebrate life often spoiled by drug addiction and gun violence.
Gerald Lovato created a pop-up exhibition of his art called “Burque Unite” for public viewing Saturday at the Orpheum Community Hub. Lovato designed the exhibition, inspired by his senior thesis for the university, to serve as a catalyst for conversation and change.
“Suicide, gun violence, fentanyl is killing our people,” Lovato told KOB. “When I say our people, I’m not talking about myself as a Chicano, or a Latino – I’m talking about New Mexicans.”
Lovato knows all about the ravages of gun violence and drug addiction. His 16-year-old nephew was killed in a drive-by shooting last year.
“He was such a good kid, a little star athlete, with dreams of playing football,” Lovato told KOB. “I was his protector. It felt like I had let them down, and it’s just destroyed our whole family.”
The boy’s death came only a year after his father, Lovato’s brother, was murdered.
“I was born into a cycle of addiction," Lovato said. "All of my family were drug addicts, and I had to fight to get out of it.”
His art helped him do that. Key to the exhibition are paintings of his nephew and other art on gun violence, suicide and drug use.
“I want my work to be the catalyst for these conversations because these are tough conversations, but we need to have them because our people are dying,” Lovato said.
Monica Bencomo, the Homewise community development coordinator, welcomed the exhibition, a combination of food and conversation.
“It’s an important topic, especially here in Albuquerque and the rest of New Mexico,” she told KOB. “So to be able to host this and be part of the conversation is important to us.”
