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
