About the artist
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Background

Trasfondo
Juan grew up in the lower-class Tegucigalpa suburb of Flor del Campo. He has been active in his small community church since high school as a member of the youth group, and later as a Sunday school teacher and musician (guitar). He graduated in 1998 from the neighborhood technical high school, which taught both standard academics and vocational skills. There Juan was trained as an electrician, but like his parents, he wanted to pursue a university education. Through the support of his church, he was able to attend the private Central American Technological University (UNITEC) from 1999-2005 and received his bachelor's degree in business administration in 2006, but not before finally succumbing to his longtime urge to study the arts. Juan creció en la colonia Flor del Campo en Tegucigalpa. Allí, ha sido un miembro activo de la pequeña iglesia independiente a la que pertenece desde joven, apoyando como maestro de escuela dominical y como músico. Asistió al Instituto Técnico Saúl Zelaya Jimenez de donde se graduó como técnico en electricidad. Luego, con la ayuda de su iglesia, tuvo la oportunidad de asistir a la Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana (UNITEC) de 1999 a 2005 de donde se graduó con una licenciatura en administración de negocios. Pero durante los años de educación en negocios, Juan había iniciado ya los primeros pasos en la realización de su sueño de estudiar arte
Studies in art

Estudios de arte
In 2004 Juan began his studies at Honduras' only fine arts program, at the National School of Fine Arts (ENBA), a magnet high school in the center of Tegucigalpa's sister city, Comayaguela. The program includes a strong foundation in drawing and painting, and basic training in a wide variety of artistic techniques including sculpting, ceramics, woodcarving, and lithography, and media such as wood, paper, linoleum, watercolors, ink, and clay. Both the art instruction and the friendships gained with both professors and fellow students have had a great impact in Juan's art. In November of 2006, Juan graduated from the three year bachillerato program in fine arts, and was soon off to Washington, DC to join his wife. In Washington he's taken advantage of the Smithsonian Institutes' Resident Associates Program to take a class in black and white photography and dark room and an accuracy drawing class and competition. En el 2004 Juan inició sus estudio en la Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes (ENBA), el principal centro de formación para artistas en Honduras. El programa en Artes Plásticas al cual ingresó, se concentra fuertemente en las áreas de dibujo y pintura; pero también incluye amplia formación en las áreas de cerámica, escultura, tallado en madera y grabado. Las enseñanzas en arte y las amistatdes ganadas allí tuvieron un gran impacto en su vida. En Noviembre de 2006, Juan completó el programa de tres años y pronto partió hacia Washington, DC para reunirse con su esposa. En Washington, ha continuado expandiendo sus habilidades con clases de fotografía en blanco y negro y manejo de cuarto oscuro, y la competencia de dibujo de exactitud organizados por el Programa de Residentes del Smithsonian.
Resume EDUCATION
National School of Fine Arts (ENBA), Tegucigalpa, Honduras; February 2004 – November 2006
Professional degree in Fine Arts Selected course work: Drawing, Painting (Oil, Watercolor, Acrylic), Printmaking, Technical Drawing, Ceramics, Sculpting, Wood Carving, Art History, Anatomy for Artists, Art Restoration.

HONORS AND AWARDS
- Honorable Mention, members' exhibition, The Art League; June 2011, Alexandria, VA.
- Selected artist for a solo exhibition in 2012, The Art League; Novemberr 2010, Alexandria, VA.
- Honorable Mention, members' exhibition, The Art League; June 2010, Alexandria, VA.
- First Prize, Accuracy Drawing Competition, Smithsonian Associates Program; October 2009, DC.

EXHIBITIONS
- Biennial Maryland Regional Juried Art Exhibition, UMUC, August – October 2011, Adelphi MD.
- A Celebration of Hispanic Art, Mayflower Renaissance Hotel, June 14th, Washington DC.
- Members Monthly Show, The Art League Gallery, May, June, July, September and November, 2011, Alexandria VA.
- HCAA members show Beginnings, Franklin's Restaurant, January – April 2011, Hyattsville MD.
- The Magic of the Melting Pot: Immigration in America, Studio Gallery, January 2011, Washington DC.
- A Motley Debut, solo exhibition and art sale, House of D, September 9th 2010, Washington DC.
- CITY Gallery’s First Annual Regional Juried Exhibition, August 2010, Washington DC.
- Members Monthly Show, The Art League Gallery, June and July 2010, Alexandria VA.
- Invited artist, Studio Gallery, May – June 2010, Washington DC.
- Staff exhibit, The Phillips Collection, September - November 2009; Washington DC.
- Metamorphosis Art Show, Willow Restaurant, September 13th 2009, Arlington VA.
- 1460 Wall Mountables; DC Art Center July - August 2008 and 2009, Washington DC.
- Sacred Space exhibition, Asbury First United Methodist Church, May 2007, Rochester, NY
- ENBA exhibition; Center of Hispanic Culture, October 2006, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
- Art Night, sponsored by National AIDS Fund, San Martin Hotel, November. 2006, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
- Group exhibition Language Without Words, French Alliance, August 2006; Tegucigalpa, Honduras.