(They say that artists are the beacon for society; the guiding light or flash point for social change. Celebrated artist Roberto Gil de Montes is no exception. Mexican born and raised – educated in America – Roberto Gil de Montes returns to live 6 months of the year in our area on the hills of La Peñita overlooking the Bay. His feet are planted squarely on both sides of the border and he is equally involved in both La Peñita and his other community in Los Angeles.)

Gil de Montes warmly greets me as at the door and shows me inside. Touring Roberto and partner Eduardo Dominguez homes could take hours. Interesting items and pieces are carefully placed tastefully throughout the rooms. Roberto guides me through; the entrance, the pool, the guest room the living areas, decks. It is a comfortable tour; and we laugh and chat as we make our way through one home and then another down the block.

Roberto was born in Guadalajara in 1950 and remembers the artistic influences of his youth. “There were only about a million people at the time. There was no TV and the images came from the churches, the architecture, and the colors of the street. Orozco’s murals. “The Man on Fire.“ That is what I remember. That is what influenced my youth.”

Moving to Los Angeles at 15 years old was a positive experience. “The time was exciting; the Beatles, Rolling Stones and society was going through great change. It was exciting times and I loved it. It was a great time to experience youth.” He hopped trains regularly back to Mexico to visit relatives and friends and never lost his language and love for Mexico.

Gil de Montes studied further and received his MFA (Otis Art Institute) in 1976 and in the 1980’s was included in the Hispanic Art Exhibit: Thirty Contemporary Painters and Sculptors that toured the US. While oils are his main medium, Gil de Montes also works with photography, sculpture and ceramics. He has had public commissions, most notably at Los Angeles Metro's Gateway Transit Center and has paintings exhibited in the Smithsonian Museum of American Art. He is a professor of art at UCLA.

We talk little of art in the early afternoon. We talk of Mexico, politics, youth and beautifying this tiny corner of the universe. Our conversation skips along the moments like a stone on still water, touching down to kiss the major theme of social change and individual contribution to society.

Roberto is concerned with air pollution in the area and specifically the health concerns of burning plastic in the garbage. “We have to show them and educate the community about the harmful effects.” In an effort to get that education started he and partner Edwardo started a school essay program on “How to Beautify La Peñita.” Unfortunately the following year their efforts were thwarted when the powers to be in the school system wanted pencils and paper as a contribution rather than imagination. Roberto shrugs.

Roberto and Eddie are local philanthropists and were early organizers for the Area Benefit Event and have given time and investment in many ways to groups and needy individuals in the area. When asked about their “adopted Mexicans” and the contributions they have given the children and families, Gil de Montes hesitates. “They help us as much as we help them,” he modestly responds and then quickly changes the subject to integration and the need for integration in our area and neighborhoods as more and more people make their homes here.

He criticizes governments on both sides of the border – Calderon for his attempted cut to education and for the US and their treatment of Mexicans North of Border. “They (the US government) could stop it if they wanted” he says. “America rejects the Mexicans. They are just being hypocritical. They want the labor but don’t want to pay benefits.”

Gil de Montes has a world perspective and has traveled extensively for enjoyment and also to drink up the artistic influences of the country. “I am an artist and I need culture. La Peñita is beautiful yes. But it does not have galleries or museums. I like to expose myself to other cultures.” His travels to India, for example, inspired a collection of paintings. When he discusses his recent trip to Cuba, I am reminded that his words and memories will probably be recalled later in oils.

Not one to be considered an armchair critic come-philosopher, Roberto speaks about the importance of living an involved life. He wants to clean up the beach in La Peñita, create a community driven malecón design and support or create an art center or special place. He looks for projects like a cat ready to pounce - put his art, energy and drive into an area that will blossom.

Roberto and Edwardo have reconstructed and remodelled a number of homes in La Peñita. Each home has its own artistic stamp developed for functionality as well as heaps of aesthetic appeal.  He laughs and says “I’m going to beautify this neighborhood one house at a time” and then laughs again.

I believe him.

(Note: I spotted Roberto and Eddie a week after our musings at a new house they had purchased off the square in La Peñita – just down from Soley’s Restaurant. What’s it going to be I asked? “An Art Gallery” Roberto Responded. “A place to visit. Maybe a little restaurant over there.”)

Click here to see an sample of his art: http://www.otis.edu/alumni/da/gildemontes.htm and

http://www.lisacoscinogallery.com/gildemontes/index.html for his paintings on India.