We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ruben Chato Hinojosa. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ruben Chato below.
Hi Ruben Chato , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
Selected as the Official San Diego International Film Festival Awards Artist 2014-2020
I had recently survived a brain anyrusem surgery in 2012. Some people would have given up and take it easy, but that has never been my path in life. I’m an Apache and a military warrior of foreign wars.
I was invited to an actors party at a beautiful home in Rancho Santa Fe, CA. I met actor Randolph Mantooth and his Film Producer sister Tonya Mantooth. They invited me to the 2013 San Diego International Film Festival as an American Indian Actor.
I invited more American Indian actors, Saginaw Grant, Alan Tafoya, Sam Bearpaw, Marisa Quinn, Bella King and local Tribal Leaders. This opened the door for an American Indian Advisory board for the Festival. We brought Indigenous Films to the Festival each of the following years.
The San Diego International Film Festival Board of directors learned that I was also an artist. The board also wanted a 2014 signature award and asked me to submit an awards proposal.
My award was accepted and the inspirational story came to life! In the years ahead I have created over 100 signature awards for the Festival.
I’m known for my charitable donations with my art for many great causes. I donated my orginal sculptures to the Film Festival’s Focus program. The orginal Eagle Awards received 10k for their Focus Program.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I was raised to be humble by my Apache grandfather. When Homeland and San Diego Veterans Magazine interviewed me for an article for there November 2018.issue I noticed the opening title was, “Layers of the Warrior Artist”. After reading the article I realized that I truly live a creative life and love donating art for charitable causes. It was important to express this on my Chato.com website. I love helping our youths, pets, military, animals and other organizations with fundraising with my art donations.
Life has blessed me with a second chance, which made me unveil the balance to happiness. When you truly give from your heart to others our heavenly father blesses you in many ways.
I have been blessed to have my prestigious Eagle Awards in the collections of Sir Patrick Stewart, Heather Graham, Kate Beckinsale, Kenny Loggins, Annette Bening, Alan Arkin, Gina Davis, Jason Mitchell, Eli Roth, Adrian Brody and many other film industry professionals. The 1st orginal Eagle Award Sculpture was displayed at the California State Capitol 2nd floor rotunda in 2018.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
My childhood was the path to first encounter with a Golden Eagle. We were about 5 feet apart from each other. It was as if his eye was part of my soul. I have had a deep connection with them since that day. Nowadays I’m well-known for my Eagle paintings and Sculptures in Fine Art. Regardless of any adversities in my life, if I create an Eagle with my creativity goodness follows. My best description is like, “On Eagles Wings”!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Expressing my creativity is a deep inner healing for me. It removes all of the stresses of life. It’s just me inside that painting or sculpture with my music and nothing else but that heavenly warmth upon your heart.
I never think about how much my art is worth, but I do think about how it will change someone’s life.
Contact Info:
- Website: Chato.com
- Instagram: artist_ruben_chato
- Facebook: Artist Ruben Chato Hinojosa
- Linkedin: Artist Ruben Chato Hinojosa
- Youtube: Artist Ruben Chato
Image Credits
Main photo is taken by Felipe Kinnear