Today we’d like to introduce you to Janie Villarreal McClinchie.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have been drawing and painting since I was a kid gowning up in Laredo, TX. The majority of my artwork is a reflection of my childhood and my culture. I started selling my artwork locally at First Friday’s and local art markets and established myself as a local artist.
In August of 2014, I decided to pursue my art full-time. I then created Que Retro Arts. I did have several storefronts the last one was located inside of Maestro Entrepreneur Center. But then COVID happened and I had to close my little gallery and we didn’t have any events during 2020. Now I am a mobile pop-up gallery, painting party business, and an event organizer. My art markets take place inside Rolling Oaks Mall. Que Retro Arts are known for being the organizer of the annual Frida Fest that takes place in July.
In the past year’s post-COVID we have seen attendance of over 8000 for our two-day event. I love curating art markets that consists of promoting local artist, handcrafted, and creators. I love of kind art that is not only visual but wearable. I am now known for my Que Retro Arts mercados. This month I curated a Dia de Los Muertos Mercado fully of talented local vendors, offendas, bakers that sold pan de Muertos, live entertainment, and a lecture by Fred Anthony Garza about the significance of building an offrenda or an altar and the elements needed to build an alter in your own home.
November 13th, I have Concha Throw Down 2021. I will have a total of 10 bakers and or local panaderias competing for the best Concha in SA! Attendees will be able to sample all the conchas and we also have a celebrity panel of judges that will also decide who takes the title this year. In addition, we will have a mercado full of vendors with everything Concha-themed and live entertainment and closing the event with a cumbia dance-off.
I love celebrating my culture and sharing these types of traditions with our future generations so that these don’t die with us.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh no definitely not. I started as a vendor or in the trenches just like other artists or vendors. I have set up my artwork in bars, sidewalks and anywhere I was allowed to sell. I have endured the weather elements, the rejections from local art shows, the low attendance and barely making my vendor fee. But all of this only made me develop a thicker skin and not give up.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a visual artist and I love creating art. My art influence is a combination of many things. My art is a reflection of my childhood growing up in Laredo, TX, living here in San Antonio, Frida Kahlo, and everything to do with my culture.
I am most proud of my Frida Fest event and how much it has grown from the 1st event back in 2016. What set’s me apart is my desire to educate and pass on the beautiful Hispanic traditions that I grew up with. To me, this is my main goal when creating my art and my events.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me when it comes to my markets is that my vendors get the exposure and recognition that they deserve. The guests attending the markets enjoy themselves and learn something new about my culture. Being told by my guests that they love attending my markets and that they always find beautiful one-of-a-kind items.
I love curating my markets so all of this makes me feel like I doing a good job. Love being called the Frida lady! Love when a customer buys my artwork and tells me that they relate to it.
Contact Info:
- Email: queretroarts@gmail.com
- Website: www.Que-Retro-Arts.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/que_retro_arts/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/queretroarts
- Twitter: @fest_frida
