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Feature

Photo of The Egg by
Andrea Rollier

Now Showing at the Capital Repertory Theatre

Meet The Author

A Hot Night in the Tropics with Nilo Cruz- Monday, November 17,
2008 6pm-9pm

Please join Honorary Hosts William and Dana Kennedy for a
celebration and benefit for Capital Repertory Theatre as we bring
you an intimate theatre interview with Nilo Cruz, Pulitzer
Prize-winning author of Anna in the Tropics.

Music Provided by Sensemaya

Food Wine Cuban Cigars and lots more. For more info clic here

The heat and sensuality of the tropics collide with the passion of Tolstoy's Anna
Karenina in this provocative and exciting story from Latino Pulitzer Prize winner Nilo Cruz.

Enjoy Conjunto Casino's Goza Mi Son Montuno taken
from a vinyl compilation on Panart records. Consider
the clicks and pops as evidence of vintage quality
and a few drunk uncles bumping into the Victrola.
Pa' eso bebe!

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Interview with the artist Anthony "Tony" Montes

albanylatino : Where were you born?

Anthony “Tony” Montes: I was born at Carson C. Peck Memorial Hospital between Albany
and Troy Avenues in Brooklyn, New York on November 4th, 1965.

albanylatino : When did your parents come to New York?

Anthony “Tony” Montes: My mother and father are both originally from Camaguey, Cuba.
They left their homeland because of the political situation after the 1959 revolution of Fidel
Castro. Like many other Cubans of their generation, they were originally supporters of the
revolution but it was only after Castro came into power that he changed his spots and
declared himself a communist. Property, finances and businesses that my family and
thousands of other Cubans owned were taken over by the government and became property
of the "state." My parents were lucky to have had the chance to leave Cuba when they did,
because right up until the present day it's not like you have a choice to leave the
country if you are a Cuban citizen. My mother and father were "Novios" in Cuba. They had to
go out with 'chaperones' and all that old romantic stuff back then. My father came directly to
New York Citym, alone, at the age of twenty in 1962. My mother went with her parents and
little sister back to Spain, where my grandfather was born (He came on a boat to Moron as a
small child). When my father had established himself well enough in New York City, the whole
family came over and lived together in an apartment in Brooklyn.

albanylatino : Where did you spend your childhood?

Anthony “Tony” Montes: We moved to a house in Elmhurst, Queens on 50th Avenue at
Junction Boulevard around the corner from Corona Avenue. Both of my younger brothers
were born in Elmhurst. As kids we roamed all around Elmhurst and surrounding Corona and
Jackson Heights. I also had a lot of aunts, uncles and cousins that lived in the area. In the
late 1960's and 1970 there was sizeable Cuban community there. My father even belonged to
the "Club Cubano" there. They had parties, art exhibits and dancing and I know that the
famous charanga/Danzon flautist Belisario Lopez performed there. Eventually most of all the
Cubans moved away to Miami. The neighborhood has a big South American presence now,
but there are still a few hard core Cuban restaurants and bodegas there.

albanylatino : How did growing up in Corona or other NYC neighborhoods influenc you as a
person/artist?

Anthony “Tony” Montes: What can I say? It was the best. I have very fond memories of my
childhood and old neighborhood. But I didn't grow up just in NYC. When I was twelve years
old, my father got a job with a bank that required us to move. We moved to Buenos Aires
Argentina for one year, then to Miami, Florida for five years, then to la Republica de Panama.
My parents and brothers stayed in Panama a few more years, moved to Puerto Rico and
eventually settled in Miami. After one year in Panama I moved back to New York. I moved
back into the old house with my grandparents, worked with my grandfather in the construction
business and went to art school.

albanylatino : When did realize you had a talent for the visual arts/drawing/painting etc.

Anthony “Tony” Montes: I've been drawing and painting as long as I can remember. Started
as a baby and never stopped.

albanylatino : When and how did you decide to become dedicated to your art?

Anthony “Tony” Montes: As a little kid, I loved comic books and monster movies. I used to
draw and try to invent my own new monsters and superheroes. When I was in High school in
Florida, I used to carry around a notebook and do drawings in it everyday. Not just drawing
things from life, but trying to create and inventing new things. At the time I was discovering
the work of Salvador Dali, the Surrealist and Dada movements and the fascinating imagery of
15th Century painter Hieronymus Bosch. Those high school art notebooks were filled with my
interpretations of Surrealism. I was very popular. Every day the guys and girls came to check
out what kind of new, freaky, cool picture I had recently drawn. My teachers encouraged me
to pursue a career in art. I attended and graduated from the School of Visual Arts with a BFA
in Graphic Design and worked as a Graphic Artist for various firms for over 15 years. But I
always wanted to be a fine artist. In 1997 I moved upstate and started working on my own
canvasses.

albanylatino : How would you describe your style of painting?

Anthony “Tony” Montes: Pop Art Latino NewYorquino

albanylatino : Who were/are your influences?

Anthony “Tony” Montes: Too many to mention. I have gained a great appreciation of many
different artists and styles over the years. In addition to fine art, my studies and work in
graphic design have influenced me greatly. I'm very interested in the design of things like
Cigar Boxes, Stamps, LP covers, hand painted signs and old canned food labels. These
things as well as music influence my work.

albanylatino : Musical themes are very prominent, why?

Anthony “Tony” Montes: Music is the universal language; it speaks to and from the heart. It
is also a source of heritage, history and pride. I listen to music while I paint, sing along with the
records and get right in the groove. I have an extensive collection of records and I try to
continually educate myself about the music and the musicians. I believe it develops a deeper
appreciation and enjoyment of the music.

albanylatino : I see an emphasis on the blackness of the Cuban culture, what is the
inspiration for such a focus?

Anthony “Tony” Montes: Africa is the motherland. The cradle of life. Also, the basis of all
the different Cuban rhythms are African in origin, as are many of the instruments.
Additionally, in Cuba, entire religious belief systems, social orders, music, language and
traditions endured over centuries and slavery and remain intact and alive today. Africa is a
big part of Cuban Culture. I pay homage to this in my work.

albanylatino : I also see a NewYorican influence in your depictions of Joe Cuba and Tito
Puente. Talk about that.

Anthony “Tony” Montes: Well, I'm a Newyorquino, coño! I am a New Yorker of Cuban
descent. I love that music and I love New York. There has not been enough written about or
enough credit given to the creation, development and role of latin music and musicians in New
York.

albanylatino :   Bodegas (grocery stores) also figure prominently in several of your paintings,
is there any particular reason for that?

Anthony “Tony” Montes: It's partly love of the graphic elements, hand-painted signage, etc.
and part nostalgia. My cousin owned a Bodega on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens called "La
Antillana" I used to hang out there, eating, talking, laughing and having a good time. I think
we need a few more bodegas in Albany and points north. I live in a rural part of Saratoga
County and have to drive a half hour just to get some platanos. No joda!

albanylatino : I noticed that you have exhibited extensively throughout NY and Florida.
What has been the reaction; I’m especially interested in how the Cubans react to your musical
themes.   Do they share "war" stories?

Anthony “Tony” Montes: The Miami Cuban community has been embracing of my work. I
recently received an award from the Mayor of the City of Miami for my participation in an
international art exhibit sponsored by the Dade County and the City of Miami. I've also had
some mixed reactions to my work. Some Cuban Old timers are put off by the NewYorican
influences. Others find some of the imagery offensive. Most responses have been positive.
Musicians and most people generally like my work. I'm not going to change what I do. I have
my vision and I'm staying true it.

albanylatino : Can you elaborate on the "offensive imagery" and what it is about the
"NewYorican" influences that troubles the "Cuban Old timers."

Anthony “Tony” Montes: Nostalgia for Cuba of yesteryear - my work does not necessarily
represent that. Although there are exiled Cubans all over the world, a very common route for
Cubans who left in the 1960's was: Cuba to New York City to Miami. New York represents a
time of hardship and struggle. Arriving in a foreign place with nothing but the clothes on their
backs, having to learn a new language, dealing with the cold temperatures, etc. Many would
rather forget all that and bask in the nostalgia of Cuba in the days before Fidel.

albanylatino : Tell me about your musical interests and influences.

Anthony “Tony” Montes: Too many to mention here. Most Cuban and New York based
Latin music from the 1920's thru the 1970's interests me. I play the electric bass guitar, sing
and play some percussion, but just for fun. Not professionally.

albanylatino : You stopped 29 years ago!   What about Cuban and NY based latin music
caused your interest to wain after the 1970's?

Anthony “Tony” Montes: There is a lot of great music still being performed and recording
today. Generally speaking, the music in Cuba changed with time due to involvement and
regulations by the Cuban Government. For example, Cuban composers were required to write
songs that glorify the revolution. Also all during the Cold War right up until the fall of the
Soviet Union (which Cuba financially depended on) there was a lack of an exchange of
influences with New York and other parts of the world. To me, because of this the quality of
music suffered. Now, I'm not talking about people who are playing guitars in their houses or
forming Rumbas on street corner, but the music recorded and made available commercially.
In New York, the music became much more overtly commercial. Especially with the rise of the
"Salsa Romantica' movement. Following the trend of American popular music, the focus
became the singer as a "pop star" with music as an afterthought. Previously, a great singer
was accompanied by a great orchestra or conjunto. In the 1980's there was a lot of bad
commercial music being played by great musicians because they had to make a living and
that is what was in demand.

albanylatino : When did you move to Saratoga?

Anthony “Tony” Montes: In 1997.

albanylatino : How has your art been received in the upstate region and how has the region
influenced your art?

Anthony “Tony” Montes: It has been well received. I've had a number of exhibitions in
galleries and public places in Saratoga, Albany and Troy. My work was included in group
exhibit at the New York State Museum curated by Laudelina Martinez of the Martinez Gallery,
and I've had several articles published about my work in the local media. I love where I live.
I'm in a country home in Rural Saratoga County and I commute to Empire State Plaza
everyday. I also get down to the city about once a month or so. For me, it is the perfect
balance of city and country and an ideal setting for me to both work and raise my family.

albanylatino : If you were asked to name 5 songs/composers that any person interested in
Cuban music should listen to, what would they be?   Why?   Would your parents have
different picks?

Anthony “Tony” Montes: It is very difficult to narrow it down to five... OK, I just called my dad
in Miami and his picks are: Beny More, Celia Cruz. Orquesta Aragon, Olga Guillot, Rolando
LaSerie.

albanylatino : Those are great picks. I think I could hang out with your father.

Anthony “Tony” Montes: I agree with him but would substitute Arsenio Rodriguez and La
Sonora Matancera for Olga Guillot and LaSerie for a more complete array of musical styles
and genres. We are both refering to old time Cuban music here, not New York Cuban stuff
which would have to include names like Machito and Mongo Santamaria. I approach music as
an artist and a musician. While my dad's approach is that of a dancer . If we were talking
about 1950's Puerto Rican band leaders his man would be Tito Rodriguez and mine would be
Tito Puente. We both share a common love of nuestra musica and also view the above list of
artists as a source of national pride. It's all great.

albanylatino : As I was putting together your feature, I selected your painting Goza and then
dug up Conjunto Casino's Goza Mi Son Montuno.   How’d you like that combination.

Anthony “Tony” Montes: Tremendo. What else can I say, The 'martillo' right off the bat,
horns piercing, lushness giving way to that heavy Montuno feel, the reference to Ignacio
Pinero. A great piece of music.

albanylatino : In the last few years many of the artists depicted in your works have passed
away (Mongo, Cachao, Celia, Puente, Fajardo and most of the Buena Vista group) What was
your reaction to their passing?

Anthony “Tony” Montes: It saddens me of course. The death of Tito Puente hit me hard. I
could not believe that the "king" and last of the big 3 of the Palladium and the whole latin big
band mambo era was gone. We still have Orlando Marin at 75 and Manny Oquendo at 78
roncando los timbales regularly. Like a musician that interprets an old Danzon, Son Montuno
or Guaguanco, I try to accomplish that objective in my paintings.

albanylatino : Did you ever get to meet and share your art with any of the artists that you
paint?   Tell me about those encounters.

Anthony “Tony” Montes: I was lucky enough to meet Cachao a few months before his
death. For me, his contribution to Cuban music is immeasurable. But it's up to us to keep this
music alive. I've had the pleasure of meeting and sharing my artwork with Eddie Zervigon,
Flautist and Director of Orquesta Broadway and with legendary violinist/flautist Pupi
Legarreta. Two Cuban masters that I greatly admire. They are living and playing actively in
New York City (Zervigon) and Philadelphia (Legarreta). Additionally, musicologists Dr.
Cristobal Diaz Ayala and Eloy Cepero own original paintings. Dr. Ayala has written several
books on the history of Cuban music. There is also an invaluable online reference to Dr.
Ayala's extensive record collection that he donated to Florida International University. Mr.
Cepero appears in "Son Sabroson" a documentary on the history of Cuban music and has
hosted several radio and TV specials on Cuban Music in the Miami Area. He is also author of
the book "Retrato de una familia Cubana."

albanylatino : Anything else you would like to share with albanylatino about your art, your
music, your life?

Anthony “Tony” Montes: Check out my website: www.montesarts.com.
Thanks for the interview. Much success to albanylatino.com. Que Viva La Musica!

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