Latino artist receives Congressional recognition

Talented local artist/photographer Gabriel Gonzalez received the “Representative Marcia L. Fudge Distinguished Citizens Award”
PRESS RELEASE

Cleveland, Ohio, August 12th 2009 — During her first congressional district address, The Honorable Marcia L. Fudge honored Gabriel Gonzalez as an Emerging Leader, for exhibiting exemplary leadership skills and a unique commitment to the greater Cleveland area.

Graduating and becoming a teacher at the Cleveland School of the Arts, at the tender age of 18 years old, Gabriel continued to pursue his passion for art and dedication to social endeavors by becoming a founding member of the first Latino owned, operated and featured art gallery, La Cosecha Galeria in 2000. His passion went deep enough to take on the task of filming his first documentary about Vieques, an island off Puerto Rico controversially used for testing by the U.S. military. All the while during the last 8 years becoming one of the most renowned photographers not only in Cleveland, but nationally. He has made our very own Cleveland Puerto Rican Parade and Latino Festival famous by using photos taken by him and turning them not only memories, but also his main series and most well loved of his artwork. His unique blend of culture and art has revolutionized the photography genre.

Now at the age of 28, Gabe received his 2nd distinguished congressional honor Wednesday. The late great Stephanie Tubbs Jones also saw the potential of this young man by doing so.

He has continued to show outstanding charity and good will by organizing and being one of the featured artists in the inaugural Benefit for Breast Cancer Awareness August 22nd 2009.