Magnifying voices: Art collective bands together for 'On the Fringe' at NHCC

Art has always been locked inside Arnold Puentes.

Yet, it wasn’t until he retired recently that he could pursue it full time.

“I actually have time for it,” he says. “It’s always been an important part of my life. Now I have more time to do it.”

Puentes is one of the driving forces behind the exhibit “On the Fringe,” which is on display at La Fonda del Bosque at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.

The exhibit runs through May 31, and will feature about 40 pieces.

“We talked to the restaurant owner about putting up a show inside of it,” he says. “She was gracious enough to keep it up through the end of May. We’ll be up for Cinco de Mayo as well.”

The exhibition features the work of Joshua Barreras, Martino Chavez, Geronimo Garcia, Alonzo Rodriguez, Augustine Romero, Jacob Saavedra, Joe Stephenson and Puentes.

Puentes says the idea for the exhibition came about through a conversation among the featured artists.

“The group was recently established,” Puentes explains. “There are no rules right now as we’re still laying the ground work for what we want to accomplish with this group. It’s something that will evolve over time.”

The artists work in various mediums including aerosol, muralism, computer-generated, easel painting, sculptural, and more.

“Rarely showing in local galleries, often overlooked for community art projects and city 1% for art awards, this group forges ahead regardless,” Puentes says. “With a bond of common artistic goals that give us unique perspectives on many cultural, social, economic, stylistic, and creative fronts, we keep in tune with the past while venturing undaunted into the future. Our work is very much on the fringe.”

Take a look at the artists behind 'On the Fringe'

Conversations to establish the group began about four months ago.

Puentes says the group will grow as more artists become aware of it.

“We are established artists, but not recognized by various organizations as artists,” Puentes says. “We’ve all been in the industry long enough to understand that there are politics in the art scene. We’re forging our own path to be seen.”