We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jose Luna a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jose, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I started painting at a very young age of 14. My goal was to develop my art and style and pursue it after I graduated from college. At age 24, I started working as a probation officer, until I retire at age 59, a few months shy of 60. Over the years, I’ve always painted and showed my art at small galleries, fundraisers, and l even created an art gallery showcase at home in the art studio in the backyard. Since my retirement, I have applied my complete focus painting world/environmental issues. The series is called, “World Conversations”.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Well, I started off with a teaching degree and working as an instructor as well as balancing a second full-time Job as a probation officer. Early on, I got involved in special contract programs within the Probation department. New and innovative/progressive programs addressing youth/community/families throughout Los Angeles county. We were instrumental in creating intervention/prevention programs for communities, schools etc. we included other law-enforcement and counseling agencies. My personal goal was to help reshape the mindset that was so deeply engrained during the early 1980s. This broken system of incarcerating youth of all colors for simply smoking a cigarettes, marijuana, joint, or drinking a beer or small infractions. With a small team of other officers no different than me. We were able to examine the penal code book and find other innovative laws to reshape the courts, school system, and law-enforcement. Using the 236 penal code, which basically gave all law Enforcement, the ability to simply refer a young person to counseling and support programs for them, and their families within their own communities. Rather than issuing them a violation ticket/citation or the threat of incarceration. This slowly started to change the course and direction overall within an old and outdated legal system. Introducing more mental health, counseling, parent support groups, etc. that were beneficial and with incredible results. Eventually because of this, Juvenile halls that once housed large population of minors/youth soon started to decrease in numbers as well as Juvenile camps throughout all Los Angeles county. In time most juvenile institutions/camps started to shut down. No longer were youth throughout Los Angeles county being targeted, profiled, and placed in a system, that was outdated. Keeping a young person out of the court system was our upmost goal. Many of these families were poor and unable to provide good legal support. Since most large cities are influence by Los Angeles County, they intern, were able to slowly do the same, creating similar changes throughout. I would consider this to be one of my and a handful of other colleagues greatest achievement. Throughout my entire art direction, I have always been able to transfer that same philosophy and desire within my art. Creating messages in each art piece that only with a careful eye will be embraced. The desire to preserve what’s good in this world and to treat everything the way that you would want to be treated. To use your energy for a greater good.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Well, Art is a gift that we all have within us in some way, small or large. When you recognize it, and you realize your abilities to convey a message, thought or simply inspire. Then it’s really a simple decision to keep creating, not only for you, but for everyone around to see. . It is a gift not to ignore. The topics and subjects are endless. It’s important for me to illustrate within an art piece, changes that are occurring before our own eyes, overtime. To help inspire others with a careful eye to slowly recognize that, as humans, we have the ability to create change and undo much that has been done. My reward in creating has more to do with offering to others, a gift of awareness, and the acknowledgment that we have the power and ability to preserve this wonderful and magical world as we know it. By simply mixing paints and colors, and with a careful or intentional and at times unintentional stroke of a brush, and the desire to create a piece that will inspire others, is really my passion.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
As a young man, probably more appropriately a young boy age 10 or 11. I started to experience problems with my knees and heels/feet. For many years, I would walk on my toes. During my Junior high school years I would run on my toes and I almost beat the school best track mile. My parents did their best to help me. Of course with financial challenges. Visiting different Doctors and buying support shoes that would ease my discomforts. By the time I was in high school. I was on the swim, football team, also surfing early in the morning prior to school sometimes 4 am. Basically, just enjoying being young. Still dealing with knees and feet that would flare up and give me difficult moments. At times, easing the pain using crutches, or pulling back a bit. At the age of 17. I awoke with a body swollen from neck to toe, completely inflamed. The inflammation affected all of my joints. I spent most of a year in bed going to doctors. Eventually I was diagnosed with Ryder’s syndrome. A Germin term that is no longer used. It’s called Reactive arthritis. The turning point occurred at age 18 when I was able to apply for Medicare due to my health issues. With the help of an incredible Doctor, I was able to turn things around. I missed out in my last year of High school, going to the prom etc. l experienced what most kids did during the recent Covid pandemic. So I totally get them. Yet, I was simply so grateful to at least have the support of a good doctor and the medication at the time that helped me recover. Over the years, I have use good nutrition in a balance of knowledge to keep my health in check. I’m also a survivor of cancer during my mid forties. I’ve was blind in my left eye for two years during my late twenties, due to the same arthritis. Inflammation of the eye or iritis. Eventually through surgery regaining my sight. I believe my resilience to overcome had much to do with my parents. With very little money, they were able to create an incredible life for themselves, and for their children. My mother never gave up on me, if anything, she embodied me with much strength to overcome all things. I give thanks to my father as well for all that he gave, with very little knowledge of how to be a parent at the time. I’m also aware that now that I’m older at an early age of 63. Many of my friends are now going through Health challenges which can be very scary and stressful. Throughout all my challenges in life, it was important for me to share it with others during that time. Through a phone call and in time an email. This helped me to keep a positive outlook. My intention was to offer others with the knowledge of how recover and slowly overcome a health issue. I realize my situation was very unique. Hoping that one day to help them get through their Health journeys. I figured if I could help someone else with their health adversities, then my early health challenges and throughout the long years, were not completely in vain.
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