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Mixmaster presents “100 Creatives,” in which we feature cultural entrepreneurs of Dallas in random order. Know an artistic mind who deserves a little bit of blog love? Email lauren.smart@dallasobserver.com with the whos and whys.
Edward Ruiz. Confetti Eddie. The man with the giant dinosaur outside of his studio. You might know him by any of these names, but did you know that Dallas is Ruiz’ hometown? Well, it’s true. The Oak Cliff-born visual artist, now a fixture in Exposition Park, has cemented himself as a magical force to be reckoned with. Drawing on his art, design, and theatre background, Ruiz has learned to fuse the technical and the entertaining to perform his art and illusions. And he just wants to share it with all of us.
How did you first find your way into your craft?
Originally, I was studying to become an architect, but I quickly realized that there were too many straight lines in architecture, and redirected my art skills towards commercial art and design. Then, I starting meeting all of these artists who were showing in alternative spaces and began to learn about art that was expressive; it was here that I first found my way into my craft.
If you had to describe your aesthetic in five words, what would they be?
Classic, clever, simple, raw, sophisticated.
What’s your contribution to the Dallas arts scene?
It’s been a long one, but I really just want to surprise people and challenge what they think art can be. I’ve owned and curated three different art galleries, I’ve worked for two museums (the Dallas Museum of Art and the Museum of Nature and Science), and I donate my time to local charities like Art Conspiracy. When I exhibit my own work, they are usually interactive pieces that bring together video and light projections, or they are happenings.
What’s your next big project?
It’s hard to say what the next biggest project, because they are all so big to me. But I am continuing to host magic shows and to perform as Confetti Eddie, with my lovely assistant Karleena. The next show is at 8 p.m. Friday, September 12, and it features guest magician Trigg Watson, the Lollibombs Burlesque’s Veronica JoAnna, singer Lyric Laveau, and a secret guest mentalist.
I’m also planning a stage installation for the 10th anniversary of ArtCon.
A mystery patron offers you unlimited funds for life. What will you do with it?
Open up a fancy vaudeville house. The kind of place Harry Houdini would enjoy visiting. Any one interested in helping fund this project let me know. Hint, hint, mystery patron.
100 Creatives:
100. Theater Mastermind Matt Posey
99. Comedy Queen Amanda Austin
98. Deep Ellum Enterpriser Brandon Castillo
97. Humanitarian Artist Willie Baronet
96. Funny Man Paul Varghese
95. Painting Provocateur Art Peña
94. Magic Man Trigg Watson
93. Enigmatic Musician George Quartz
92. Artistic Luminary Joshua King
91. Inventive Director Rene Moreno
90. Color Mavens Marianne Newsom and Sunny Sliger
89. Literary Lion Thea Temple
88. Movie Maestro Eric Steele
87. Storytelling Dynamo Nicole Stewart
86. Collaborative Artist Ryder Richards
85. Party Planning Print maker Raymond Butler
84. Avant-gardist Publisher Javier Valadez
83. Movie Nerd James Wallace
82. Artistic Tastemakers Elissa & Erin Stafford
81. Pioneering Arts Advocates Mark Lowry & Michael Warner
80. Imaginative Director Jeremy Bartel
79. Behind-the-Scenes Teacher Rachel Hull
78. Kaleidoscopic Artist Taylor “Effin” Cleveland
77. Filmmaker & Environmentalist Michael Cain
76. Music Activist Salim Nourallah
75. Underground Entrepreneur Daniel Yanez
74. Original Talent Celia Eberle
73. Comic Artist Aaron Aryanpur
72. Classical Thespian Raphael Parry
71. Dance Captain Valerie Shelton Tabor
70. Underground Culture Mainstay Karen X. Minzer
69. Effervescent Gallerist Brandy Michele Adams
68. Birthday Party Enthusiast Paige Chenault
67. Community Architect Monica Diodati
66. Intrepid Publisher Will Evans
65. Writerly Wit Noa Gavin
64. Maverick Artist Roberto Munguia
63. Fresh Perspective Kelsey Leigh Ervi
62. Virtuosic Violinist Nathan Olson
61. Open Classical’s Dynamic Duo Mark Landson & Patricia Yakesch
60. Rising Talent Michelle Rawlings
59. Adventurous Filmmaker Toby Halbrooks
