Throughout his many years as an artist, Ecuador native Carlos Tobar has developed a bright and abstract style based on his life experiences, reflections, and examination of great artists. His unique approach and perspective sparked a collaboration with the Align Center for Workforce Development. Displaying Carlos’ work in the building would contribute to a welcoming and accepting atmosphere for the center and bring the community together through shared creativity.
Carlos’ style came out of his experiences growing up in Ecuador. When he was young Carlos lived in a remote, jungle-like environment, lacking many amenities Westerners take for granted. As a child, Carlos’ perception of the colors, sizes, and shapes of the dense foliage and active wildlife of the world around him took on an incredibly vibrant nature. Carlos wanted to capture these perceptions and experiences of growing up in his art. Therefore, he focused on incorporating elements of his childhood abstractly and metaphorically, capturing the wonder of a young boy. As he was learning he imitated the style of famous artists, challenging himself to capture his memories in their unique styles. From his studies and personal experience Carlos has developed a free and bold style.
This body of work first caught the attention of Align/Lenawee Now when Lenawee Now Director of Operations Tim Robinson saw Carlos’ art at an exhibition at Siena Heights University. This exhibition overlapped the theme with the Align Center for Workforce Development, concerning messages about welcoming all people.
Since Carlos wanted to leave a legacy to his children through artistic pursuits, he was eager to a piece displayed at the Align Center showcasing these themes. This mosaic depicts the conceptualized form of various people dancing and celebrating. The forms are in reds, blues, and greens, showcasing people of different backgrounds and walks of life just having fun together. This highlights the center’s focus on all people being welcome and benefitting from the center and depicting a sense of unity.
Carlos offered to create a mural for the center as well. Upon further dialogue, it was determined that a mural would be an excellent way to involve the community in creative pursuits. Rather than have Carlos single-handedly create a piece together such a mosaic, he would hold classes to train the community in such pursuits. Eventually, this class would culminate with the collaborative building of a mosaic mural.
Art has a unique way of bringing people together. Such an undertaking cultivates a spirit of partnership, as brought about through sharing ideas, tasks, and creative energy. The mural will have a unique way of giving the populous a sense of ownership. Since mosaics are made from found objects, participants can include family glassware in the finished product. Adding heirloom pieces with their own stories allows for remembrance of and dialogue of family heritage, and provides for such found items to be a part of the ACWD’s story.
As an instructor, Carlos wants to share his love for this medium with others and help them appreciate what would ordinarily be thrown away, using color, shape, and format to create something beautiful.