Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Joseph Jesse Ovalle. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Joseph Jesse, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
Growing up in what felt like the middle of nowhere, I was fortunate to have parents who were unconditionally supportive and loving. I was often told I was one of three of the most beautiful children in the world, that I was a genius who sometimes made mistakes or chose not to try, and that I was talented, courageous, and funny. While this might sound like boasting, it truly forms the foundation of my character. I received unconditional love and support, and I wish every child could have the same experience.
That said, life can be very humbling as we grow older. We are all geniuses, beautiful, and gifted, and I see this every day in the classes I teach. At Southwestern Illinois College, where I once studied as an undergraduate, I teach introductory art, art and gender, and some art history courses. Many of my students are still exploring their career paths and developing their opinions. My optimism comes from witnessing their growth as they find and strengthen their voices, beliefs, and perspectives.
Often in the classroom I take a very standoffish approach to critiquing and talking about art history, with my goal being to get the students to share their thoughts, agree or disagree with me. And the days that make me feel the most optimistic is when they all band together in the counter argument against me and make decisions as a group.
An example is this obnoxious ass sculptor who incorporates a lot of pop culture iconography in their work but adds crystals to it. To me, it feels like a cash grab, but my students love it. Each semester, they develop their reasons for appreciating the forms, colors, and meanings behind this artist pieces—mostly defending his work. It’s encouraging to see them form a community that actively engages in criticism and evaluation even if it means disagreeing with me. I used to appreciate similar work when I was eighteen, so I don’t blame them. But it really inspires me when I get to witness my students be those confident and creative geniuses for an hour in that classroom. It makes me want to make work they’ll like, and it makes me feel very fortunate to witness them grow. So my students, my parents and friends keep me optimistic.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am currently serving as an adjunct instructor at Southwestern Illinois College, this marks the beginning of the second year of teaching while also maintaining a full-time practice as a studio artist. My upcoming solo exhibition at the Waldron Arts Center in Bloomington, Indiana, opens on October 18th and will be accessible to the public until November 22nd. This exhibition features a series of satirical works created over the past year, depicting a battle between creatures representing Louis DeJoy and Jeff Bezos. Titled “Devils of Dispatch: A Ballot of Postal Conflict,” the narrative critiques the relationship between Amazon’s private sector and the United States Postal Service. My favorite person in the world, Louis DeJoy, the Postmaster General, famously stated during a congressional hearing that he was unaware of the cost of postage for a postcard, and he has consistently faced scrutiny regarding conflicts of interest related to his stock investments and the private companies contracted through the USPS.
My artwork primarily employs a white color palate, contributing to a broader conversation surrounding oppression, discrimination, race, wealth, and class issues within the United States. My creative process is enjoyable and involves incorporating a visual language that utilizes various materials to build narratives. The focus is on exploring diverse methods of creation daily, whether through ceramics, welding, woodworking, or pipe cleaners. The Bloomington exhibition features pieces made from recycled USPS supplies, a process that is highly recommended. I also use different CNC technologies such as 3D printers, routers, and laser cutters to make as much work as possible.
My Upcoming solo exhibitions are scheduled for January at the Schmidt Art Center in Belleville, Illinois, and later this spring at Owensboro Community & Technical College in Owensboro, Kentucky. For those interested in following along, updates can be found on Instagram @sculpture_god.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Be Kind
The world is a tough place to be, and it can be easy to not be considerate, empathetic, and caring. I try to help my friends and people around me as much as possible. Life is not fair, and we have different support systems, so I try to be the support system for others that I would like to have. Help someone when you can but don’t get taken advantage of. Love with all your heart: people, animals, the work you make (whether its good or not) its all-important. Be kind to your neighbor and say hi or wave, it matters. Also be kind to yourself.
Make Friends
My best friends are the ones I’ve made in school, they are so important. They will be the ones to pick you up from the bars after a black out. They are the ones who will help you get into residencies, get you jobs, offer you shows, be there when you’re depressed. My friends are the reasons for any success I have. Your friends are the ones who show up to your exhibitions and are there for you when you need them most. But it is way easier to make friends when you are kind. It’s also way easier to make friends the more you practice. Everyone wants friends so don’t be afraid. Also ask your friends for anything, those who ask, receive.
Learn Everything
The more you learn the more attractive you will be in life. I love having friends with skillsets and a variety of interests. But learning as much as you can is so cool. Be an asset, learn to weld, learn to woodwork, to program machines, work on cars, learn how to fish and how elements react to one another, learn how to cook, sew, travel, sing, dance and make mistakes. The sooner you start how to learn the easier it gets. Life is so short, and the best art comes with experience.
Maybe these are super cliché and I apologize to my audience if they are, but I couldn’t think of better advice and if I could go back and tell baby Joseph to do these 3 things better I would.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
As an artist who makes large-scale sculptures, space is probably the consistent answer in terms of difficulties in the studio. There is a systematic and institutional problem in America regarding affordable housing, opportunities for home ownership, and renting. Most of us rent, and to me, it’s problematic that the costs of rent are pretty comparable to the price of a mortgage. Anyone who tells you differently is probably a landlord who wants you to keep paying a majority of their mortgage. Sidebar: I also think it’s problematic when foreign entities can form an LLC and rent out property (which they also charge insane rent prices). The housing crisis is multi-faceted, and there are many agents at play keeping prices high. I really think it’s important for everyone in our community to vote and be aware of what is on the ballot. Talk to your state representatives, talk to your community members, and be present. Anyone who doesn’t want you to vote probably wants to take advantage of you.
Be informed about who your landlord is; always look for the best option if you can—don’t settle. I have become wary of landlords who hide behind LLCs and don’t reveal their identity. It’s difficult to find a place to rent, and renting feeds into someone else’s equity. I’m just a boy and don’t have many answers, and I don’t think I can solve this problem, but my strategy for making and storing work is having a big storage unit in a flood zone near where I live. It’s about $120 a month for 400 sq. feet, which is decent for storing work. I am also trying to build a tiny home out of this unit from free items on Marketplace.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://josephovalle.com
- Instagram: @sculpture_god
Image Credits
Image of White leaves by Rachael Roberts
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