Audio By Carbonatix
Phoenix is brimming with creativity. And every other year, we put the spotlight on 100 of the city’s creative forces. Leading up to the release of this year’s Best of Phoenix issue, we’re profiling 100 more. Welcome to the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives. Up today: 23. Jorge Torres.
For Jorge Torres, art’s not much without community.
The 32-year-old Coronado resident founded Palabra, a space that blends artistic endeavors with hair styling and works from a collective of artists that includes Yai Cecream and Tyson Krank. Palabra’s two-year anniversary is this December. And this past year, Torres has opened a pop-up gallery under the same banner at Biltmore Fashion Park’s UNION and moved and expanded its downtown location.
See also: Phoenix Artist Tato Caraveo: 100 Creatives
Torres spends his days sipping cold brew, cutting and styling hair, and scouting out new artists. And, of course, developing new ideas and events for Palabra.
September’s set to be a major month for the collective, which will have a new show open at its pop-up space, and its expanded downtown location will have a formal launch. Beyond that, Torres says that his hair collective has a look book in the works. Additionally, he’s working on a few new collaborations “with beautiful and inspiring locals like Nom de Plume Roasters, Patisserie, and Desert Spoon.”
Word.
I came to Phoenix with my mother and brother on January 28th, 1996.
I make art because it’s thought provoking without any boundaries. It allows everyone and anyone as both a viewer and creator to perceive and produce as they may.
I’m most productive when I’m alone both mentally and physically.
Palabra Collective is my inspiration wall.
I’ve learned most from keeping true to myself with the utmost respect and humble approach to everything.
Good work should always inspire.
The Phoenix creative scene could use more unity and constructive criticism.
See the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives:
100. Bill Dambrova
99. Niki Blaker
98. Jeff Slim
97. Beth May
96. Doug Bell
95. Daniel Langhans
94. Nanibaa Beck
93. Nicole Royse
92. Ib Andersen
91. Casandra Hernandez
90. Chris Reed
89. Shelby Maticic
88. Olivia Timmons
87. Courtney Price
86. Travis Mills
85. Catrina Kahler
84. Angel Castro
83. Cole Reed
82. Lisa Albinger
81. Larry Madrigal
80. Julieta Felix
79. Lauren Strohacker
78. Levi Christiansen
77. Thomas Porter
76. Carrie Leigh Hobson
75. Cody Carpenter
74. Jon Jenkins
73. Aurelie Flores
72. Michelle Ponce
71. Devin Fleenor
70. Noelle Martinez
69. Bucky Miller
68. Liliana Gomez
67. Jake Friedman
66. Clarita Lulić
65. Randy Murray
64. Mo Neuharth
63. Jeremy Hamman
62. La Muñeca
61. Kevin Goldman
60. Emily Costello
59. Kerstin Dale
58. Vara Ayanna
57. Nathaniel Lewis
56. Ruben Gonzales
55. Lisa Poje
54. Bobby Zokaites
53. Frances Smith Cohen
52. Julie Rada
51. David Miller
50. Xanthia Walker
49. Kyllan Maney
48. Cary Truelick
47. Constance McBride
46. James D. Porter
45. Allyson Boggess
44. Abigail Lynch
43. Ashley Cooper
42. Jaclyn Roessel
41. Brandon Boetto
40. Melissa Dunmore
39. Gavin Sisson
38. Rossitza Todorova
37. Monica Robles
36. Josh Kirby
35. Jesse Perry
34. Yai Cecream
33. Nathan Blackwell
32. Carley Conder
31. Ben Willis
30. Nicole Michieli
29. Brian Cresson
28. Tyson Krank
27. Mikey Estes
26. Anwar Newton
25. Sarah “Saza” Dimmick
24. Tato Caraveo
