Artist Statement / Reflective Essay Amiel Gerald Roldan Cultural Workers: Not Creative? – ILOMOCA, May 16, 2025 For decades, I have committed myself to the practice of painting and artmaking—drawn to it not solely for expression, but for the quiet sustenance it gives. However, prolonged exposure to the structures, personalities, and politics behind the art world has, at times, left me jaded and distracted. I hold myself accountable for these distractions, but they were also lessons. The peripheries of art—documentation, marketing, directorship, curation, administration, facilitation, and pedagogy—have deeply informed my growth. In learning the demands of these roles, I found a sense of order and grounding amidst the turbulence. A pivotal moment in my development was the opportunity granted by the Asian Cultural Council in 2003–2004, which allowed me to work in the United States. That period served as a critical foundation for my growth as a printmaker, painter, and curator. Over the ye...
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