Word: maestro
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...Maestro" is essentially the story of Gaxiola's talent and energy for self-transformation. The film is pleasantly laid back right from the start, following Gaxiola during the early days in Berkeley when he toted a hand-painted sign proclaiming "Cafe Guerbois," from hangout to hangout. Gaxiola describes his decision to take on the persona of a cowboy simply, saying it was his fantasy and "If you want to do anything passionately enough...
...first glance, Gaxiola's gaudy, sequin-bedecked costume and psychedelic lizard skin boots may scream overkill more than dedicated passion. But footage of Gaxiola as he works shows a jack-of-all-trades clearly inspired by a deep reserve of energy and practical know-how. For thirteen years, the Maestro had his own day, Maestro Day, in his hometown of Albany, California. The event, free to the public and held in the high school gym, featured Gaxiola singing modern day cowboy ballads, playing the piano and painting quick cowboy portraits on stage (and one thousand homemade cookies baked...
...Maestro has filled his backyard with cow sculpture, created hundreds of clay cadillacs (the modern cowboy's horse), painted with air brushes and fabric paint and appliqued sequins and playing cards onto his works. Though the work does a very good impression of kitsch, it is distinguished by its relentless variety and Gaxiola's unique, informed stance towards the art World...
...often literal, paint-ball ones, at the money grubbing art world. The commodification of art sickens and provokes Gaxiola, who rebutts Warhol's statement, "Business art is a much better thing to be making than art," with the ardent, "Art is a religion, not a business." More stunningly, the Maestro does not sell his paintings, preferring the freedom to do what he wants when he wants to the lure of the greenback...
Gaxiola lives vigorously and with all the defiantly independent spirit of the cowboy. With the example of his extraordinary life backing up his attitude, the whole takes on rather more than the sum of its parts. The Maestro bright paint stands out against the muddied horizon of the conventional art world with a surprising vigor...