GORRITI

Published by DEIA, June 9, 2011





I remember a very special visit to one of the most authentic people that I know.
It was cool outside. It was autumn, a luminous day of those but humid at the same time, the ones that I like, with the aroma of the wooden smoke coming out from the chimney. The Malloak in front, as if of a giant-sized painting in three dimensions we talked about and at the front door of his home, its owner, Juan Gorriti, sculptor, painter and a thousand things more, but above all owner of his own destiny like few I have known.
I greet him with a strong hug and after a long and amusing chat he invites me in to taste the beans his wife has prepared. Everything next to Gorriti tastes different; he has the pleasure of what's sincere. A slug of wine, a couple of fried eggs and one already forgets about the problems of the city, hastes, paperwork...
Gorriti is a man with a special magic, with the wisdom of a farm man and the most creative artists' talent. A human being that, unlike other ones, expresses what he feels bluntly, in a natural way. Always it is said that artists receive infinity of influences and I believe that in the case of Gorriti those influences are mutual because anyone that has talked with him or has seen his artworks realizes that inspires life in all that he touches and converts the common, the normal in something with proper and different personality.
I am fascinated with his vision of what surrounds him: “Our villages and farmhouses, mountains, forests, all that surrounds us are big art galleries... ” Their art, their talent, are an accurate reflection of their philosophy of life, without internal wars obscuring their existing, letting oneself get carried away by what is born inside, without filters. And, curiously, that seems the less risky for us all, I believe is what really satisfies him, turning his gaze into something clean and in peace.
All that wraps him up is susceptible to be a part of his art although, particularly, I am delighted with what one is capable of achieving with wood, creating, like Mother Nature, transforming.

www.kepajunkera.com

LABORDETA

Published in DEIA, Sept. 30, 2010



WHEN I think about José Antonio Labordeta it always comes to my mind the picture of that type of person who we all have at home, friendly, communicator, even having friends in hell and that begins to talk to any stranger around, establishing a generous and ally conversation, as if they known each other all their lives. It is of great virtue that normally accompanies the goodhearted, intelligent people and who loves to delight live life to its fullest. José Antonio Labordeta Subías was born in Zaragoza in March 1935 and he has been an authentic person where there are. Writer, singer-songwriter, screenwriter, actor, television host and politician are some of his occupations that this illustrious Aragonese has done during his life career. Without any doubt he is well known by the public in hosting the television program "Un País en la Mochila” (A Country in the Backpack) and for his facet as a congressman for the Chunta Aragonesista, Labordeta has also published 20 records and a long list of books that certify without any doubt the plurality and the eclecticism of this human being that in the course of his life has harvested the adhesions of some, the criticisms of others and the affection of almost all. It catches my attention how there are ideals in life that it seems one cannot develop or evolving, beliefs that apparently can only have a road, a way of doing things. The same ones that denounce and accuse some people of controlling, to subjugate the will of others are then the first ones in doing exactly the same thing, obliging their fellow colleagues not to materialize their ideas under new points of view.

Once we shared stage, with some curious anecdotes and it was a pity that, already because of his health problems, he couldn’t participate in Etxea. But we are left with his example. The modus operandi of doing things as one believes he should do, without listening to no one, neither ones nor the others. The pure essence of a free man.

www.kepajunkera.com

Photo by J.F. Moreno, from the elmundo.es.