SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - A new book by Shreveport artist Dave Marz tells the story of an artist’s life journey.
Dave Marz’s psycho-romance will be on the shelves at Barnes & Noble, and a book signing will be held at Shreveport’s location on July 12, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at Bayou Walk, 6646 Youree Dr.
Life is Your Masterpiece by Dave Marz explores the life of Lucca Martilla, from abuse by his father, a star-crossed love, and his growth as an artist while discovering his sexual identity, and eventually, his cultural heritage as a Mexican-American.
During his life, Lucca faces many trials, from abuse from his family to meeting the girl of his dreams, but her parents stand in the way of their love. Their paths separate as Lucca goes on to learn at an art school in Chicago, while she goes to fashion school in New York.
Innocence fades, Lucca grows from an unglamorous loner by imitating famous women icons like Marilyn Monroe, Louise Brooks, or Brigitte Bardot, and writes letters to famous long-gone painters like Van Gogh, blending fiction into reality.
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Having been wiped clean of his Mexican heritage from a young age, and desperate for salvation, Lucca faces his reality during an assignment to photograph the Texas-Mexico border. It is there that Lucca discovers his voice.
Life is Your Masterpiece is described as a wanderlust of art, romance, and nostalgia as a young soul searches for an extraordinary life.
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About Dave Marz
Dave Marz is a Mexican-American visual artist and a former art professor for 20+ years. He has been a graphic designer and illustrator since 1985. He was born in California and spent much of his life in Chicago before moving to Shreveport, Louisiana. Marz has lectured nationally and internationally on graphic design pedagogy, including space theory, preservation, and distance learning partnerships at international design programs and conferences, including CAA. His design manifesto on Existential Design was requested for publication by Rudy VanderLans and was printed in Émigré magazine in 1998.
At first, Marz’s book was autobiographical, but a different direction was taken.
“I was told that, unless you are someone famous, a movie star or something, chances are no one is going to read your story,” explains Marz.
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His book slowly morphed into a fiction story about an artist’s thrilling life.
“I sorta had to change gears, and through rewrites and being a part of active groups online. I got good feedback, and it just sorta morphed into a romance novel,” says Marz.
Immigration & Culture
The character Lucca faces many challenges we face currently.
“He is very insecure. He’s Mexican-American, and it talks about some of the situations that have happened due to racism,” says Marz. “It’s a hot-button issue today, obviously, because of immigration and the border wall and so on.”
At first, Marz had reservations about publishing the story because of the state of the nation.
“I wasn’t sure if it was something that I wanted to publish, because it does talk about many of the hot-button issues today. Immigration, race, sexual orientation, so I thought, mmm well, but then I thought, now really is the right time if you are going to say something, stand for something, now really is the time to do it. I changed my mind and went forward with it because I think there is a lot to say,” explains Marz.
“As an artist, you know, that is important. Art is always challenging societies. Challenging the moral, pushing the morality, or challenging society’s viewpoints on other cultures or freedoms we fight hard for,” says Hazelton in response. “Cause, I mean that’s what art is about, the freedom of it. It’s expressing oneself. So, it’s very brave of you.”
“Taking people out of their comfort zone,” says Marz.
“That’s very important,” Hazelton says in response.
Marz says it’s a good thing and we have to talk about these issues, like race.
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“One of the things I did mention in the book is my admiration for the African American community, because that is what they did. They didn’t hide. They stood for who they are. Cultural beliefs, and I always admired them for that,” says Marz. “And, I wish the Mexican-American community would do the same thing.”
A discussion between Hazelton and Marz explores the loss of culture for both Cajun and Mexican-American cultures and languages.
“As a professor, a lot of students would tell me that they would not be allowed to speak Spanish at school at all as children, or they would get the ruler or hands,” says Marz.
“We would get the same thing. A lot of our French-speaking natives were told that they couldn’t speak their cajun language in school, they would be failed. Told not to teach their children, cause they had to ‘Americanize’, and so a lot of culture is lost that way,” explains Hazelton.
“Yesterday, I heard, I don’t know if it was a senator or a congressman was talking about immigration. He stated that if you come to this country, you do it legally and assimilate into this country. And, assimilation essentially means you lose the culture that you are and become white America,” says Marz.
“I feel like if people looked into their heritage, they would find so much culture. Why do we need to lose that? America is just so many cultures that came together. Maybe some people should look back at their family’s past so they can learn their own culture. We don’t have to lack that,” says Hazelton.
“That is part of the reason I felt the story needed to be told. Yes, it is a romance novel, but it talks about other issues going on today. And, so we still live in America, I hope. I’m worried that we are losing our human rights in this country. And, that people aren’t able to live free anymore. And so, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” says Marz.
Not only does Marz’ book talk on hot-button issues, but it also explores the arts and some of the great painters in history.
“Painting, as you probably know, can be a lonely existence,” Marz explains. “So, he paints out in the fields, and due to his own creativity. He starts writing to famous artists, and I include all the correspondence. Like, Picasso on what it is to be a man. Van Gogh and so on. He’s looking for a friend. He’s looking for inspiration, and he looks toward popular culture.”
Gender Identity
Marz also designed the cover of his book, and in its design, it expresses both femininity and masculinity.
“The back is the blue. It has this sort of duality going on. It’s about self-discovery and who to love,” Marz explains as he shows the book with the pink design on the front and blue design on the back. “It’s just one of these issues that are pretty popular right now.”
Marz has plans for other books in the future, so keep an eye out for new publications. Buy Life is Your Masterpiece at Barnes & Noble, on his website at www.authordavemarz.com/, or on Amazon at www.amazon.com/dp/B0FCRV2KZD.
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