ADVOCACY
Cristian Zaelzer
Cristian Zaelzer
Sciences & Arts' Advocate
Scientist
Artist
About Cristian
Cristian was born in Chile and pursued his graduate studies at the Universidad Austral of Valdivia, Chile. He obtained his Ph.D. with a thesis conducted at the University of Chicago in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology studying the structure and biophysics of ion channels under the guidance of Dr. Francisco Bezanilla and Dr. Ramon Latorre. In 2009, he moved to Canada to work with Dr. Charles Bourque in the field of brain circuitry and osmoregulation. His work and collaborations have been published in high impact journals including Cell Reports, PNAS, Science, and Nature. He has been the recipient of numerous recognitions including a graduate fellowship from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Research and a CIHR Brain Star Award given by the CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Addiction in Canada.
Parallel to his research, Cristian is also interested in science outreach and communication of the neurosciences with other areas of society. He is the Founder and Director of Convergence, Perceptions of Neuroscience. This initiative brings the complexity and beauty of the mind and brain to the public through artwork inspired by cutting-edge neuroscience research. His work has brought together the Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience (BRaIN) Program of the McGill University Research Centre (MUHC), the Integrated Program in Neuroscience (IPN) of McGill University, Concordia University Faculty of Fine Arts, the Canadian Association for Neuroscience (CAN/ACN), the Montreal General Hospital Foundation, and the Visual Voice Gallery.
Cristian is also a Graphic Designer, practicing since 1995 in difference advertising companies in Chile and as an independent since 2001. His passion for aesthetics transposes to his art practice where glass, ink, and graphite pencils work as his primary media. Cristian explores narratives extracted from his collections of stories back in his years as a storyteller in school, from his scientific practice, or from the art created by others in books and music. He lives with his spouse Serge and his hairy son Hugo (yes, he is a dog) in Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, and often dream of how to do things better.
SCIENCES & ARTS’ ADVOCATE
EDUCATION
Facebook & Twitter.
I learned that by just giving likes I will not change the world where I live.
A Single Mother and her departure.
I learned from her to face my fears. I learned to find good in the human heart, even in the most improbable situation someone will give you a hand.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE & EMPLOYMENT
Convergence, Perceptions of Neuroscience. www.convergenceinitiative.org
(Science outreach) June 2016 – Present. Montreal, Canada.
● Founder & Director (Volunteer work 2016, one day per week paid since October 2017).
● Conception and direction of a non-profit science outreach organization that establishes “two-way engagement” collaborations between neurosciences trainees and art students.
● Coordination and facilitation between the institutions recruited to the program. The Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience (BRaIN) Program of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), the McGill University Integrative Program in Neurosciences (IPN) Program, the Faculty of Fine Arts of Concordia University, the Canadian Association for Neuroscience, the Montreal General Hospital Foundation (MGH Foundation), and the Visual Voice Gallery.
● Coordination and direction of funding, timelines, committee’s management, speakers, and student’s collaborations.
● Contributor, mentoring, and adviser of the winter-spring 3-credit course dart461 created by Concordia University as a formal framework for fine-art students involved in Convergence.
● Coordination of the exhibitions Convergence, material, and Convergence, dynamic, at the Visual Voice Gallery, BAnQ, and the 11th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Neuroscience during April and May 2017.
● Developer and coordinator of the Convergence Sci-Art Art-Sci Conferences Series running from October of 2017.
● Currently, I work with McGill University IPN officials, to create a “Neuroscience Outreach” course as a formal framework for the neurosciences students involved in the Convergence Initiative.
● Currently, I coordinate the efforts of the Convergence initiative to improve the educational materials used by the Brain Reach North Program (a far North neuroscience educational program run by neuroscience graduate students at IPN). I facilitate the work and communication with students of the Department of Design and Computational Arts of Concordia University Faculty of Fine Arts, several Indigenous Communities and experts of the Montreal area, and the Canadian Association for Neuroscience.
● You can find a complete summary of the work I directed in Convergence in the following link: http://www.convergenceinitiative.org/convergence-cv
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Convergence Initiative 2016-2017.
(All the following courses, conferences, and teaching events were created as a formal framework for the Convergence Initiative).
Concordia University, 2016-2017.
Faculty of Fine Arts, Montreal, QC, Canada.
● Winter-Spring 2017 – Scientific liaison, advisor, mentor, and critique of the Fine Arts Independent Studies DART461/4 BB. 16 Neuroscience Students (1 Undergrad, 2 Master Students, 11 Ph.D. Students, 2 Postdoctoral Fellows), plus 20 Art Students. 3 Credits course.
● Fall 2016 – Organizer and coordinator of the Neurosciences Five Minute Talks presentations where 17 neuroscience students from the Integrative Program in Neurosciences of McGill University explained their research to an audience of 40 art students and academics at Concordia University.
Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 2016-2017.
Brain Repair and Integrative Neurosciences Program (BRaIN), Montreal, QC, Canada.
● Winter 2017 – Organizer and coordinator of the “Sensory” event, a neurosciences public event that include two conferences of 25 minutes, guided visits for art students to neurosciences labs, and a social event between neuroscientists and artists. 56 assistants.
● Fall 2016 – Organizer and coordinator of “The Black Box” event, a neurosciences public event that include two conferences of 25 minutes, guided visits for art students to neurosciences labs, and a social event between neuroscientists and artists. 120 assistants.
PUBLICATIONS
● Convergence, Perceptions of Neuroscience. Exhibition Catalogue. May 2017 (Paper and Digital).
● Convergence, Perceptions of Neuroscience. Poster. Zaelzer C., Glassman K., Lessard A., Henault V., Brassard A., Jung-Hoo Park K., Langshaw P., Duclos R., Murai K. 11th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Neuroscience. Montreal, QC., Canada. May 28th to May 31st, 2017.
● Engagement of neurosciences and the arts, the Convergence initiative. Poster. Zaelzer C.A., Henault V., Lessard A., Langshaw P., Glassman K., Swintak C., Khalili-Mahani N., Brassard A., Jung-Hoo Park K., Salmon C., Forget B., Toth K., Duclos R., Murai K. 47th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. Washington DC., USA. Nov 11th to Nov 15th, 2017.
INVITED PRESENTATIONS
● La grande bibliotéque et archives nationales du Quebec (BAnQ) (May 2017). Convergence, Perceptions of Neuroscience. Opening word of the Convergence Exhibition at the 11th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Neuroscience Outreach Day.
● McGill University (May 2017). The Engagement of Neurosciences and the Arts, The Convergence initiative. Talk part of the Gran Rounds talks, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Faculty of Medicine.
● Journées Internationales de la Culture Scientifique (May 2017). Scientific Literacy and Citizen Involvement: The Convergence of Science and Art. Symposium (organizer and participant).
● McGill University (March 2017). Convergence, Perceptions of Neuroscience. Mozilla Science Lab meets Open Research McGill.
● Queen’s University (February 2017). The Convergence between Arts and Neuroscience. Workshop at the NeuGeneration Conference.
● Brock University (February 2017). The Convergence Initiative. Hosted by the Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Humanities, Brock University.
● Concordia University (October 2016). Convergence, Perceptions of Neuroscience. Part of “Blood, Brains + Other Trains: Thoughts on Emerging Collaborations & Camaraderie in the Arts+Sciences” Colloqium.
THE SCIENTIST
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Molecular and Cell Biology.
Universidad Austral de Valdivia, Oct 2009. Valdivia, Chile.
B.Sc. Medical Technology, Health Sciences & Molecular Biology.
Universidad de la Frontera, Dec 2003. Temuco, Chile.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE & EMPLOYMENT
Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC).
Dec 2014 – Today. Montreal, QC, Canada.
● Research Associate.
● Study of the molecular phenotype of temperature and pressure sensitive neurons in the Organum Vasculosum Lamina Terminalis (OVLT).
● Study of the mechanisms and role of axonal and somatodendritic release of neuropeptides in brain slices and isolated tissue using GCaMP6-based sniffer cells.
● Study of the synaptic regulation of Supraoptic Nucleus neurons.
● Member of the BRaIN Program Trainees Committee and the MGH Animal User Committee (2015-2016).
McGill University & the RI-MUHC.
Oct 2009 – Dec 2014. Montreal, QC, Canada.
● Postdoctoral Fellow.
● Cloned and studied the mammalian osmosensitive and thermosensitive receptor ΔN−TRPV1.
University of Chicago / Universidad Austral de Chile.
Jul 2007 – Feb 2009. Chicago, IL, USA. Jun 2004 – Oct 2009. Valdivia, Chile.
● Ph.D. Student.
● Studied the structure-function relation in BK+ channels using LRET (Ph.D. thesis).
● Studied the role on thermosensitivity played by different domains on TRPV1 and TRPM8 using chimeras, punctual mutations, and FRET.
● Studied voltage dependency in TRPV1 and TRPM8 using cysteine-scanning approaches.
Centro de Estudios Científicos.
May 2003 – May 2004. Valdivia, Chile.
● Research Assistant.
● Molecular Biology, my work contributed to the following publications:
- Carvacho I, Gonzalez W, Torres YP, Brauchi S, Alvarez O, Gonzalez-Nilo FD, Latorre R. (2008) Intrinsic electrostatic potential in the BK channel pore: role in determining single channel conductance and block. J Gen Physiol. Feb;131(2):147-61.
- Brauchi S, Orta G, Salazar M, Rosenmann E, Latorre R. (2006) A hot-sensing cold receptor: C-terminal domain determines thermosensation in transient receptor potential channels. J Neurosci. May 3;26(18):4835-40.
- Gonzalez C, Morera FJ, Rosenmann E, Alvarez O, Latorre R. (2005) S3b amino acid residues do not shuttle across the bilayer in voltage-dependent Shaker K+ channels. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Apr 5;102(14):5020-5.
Universidad de la Frontera.
Jan 2002 – Dec 2002. Temuco, Chile.
● Research Assistant.
● Managed project FDI CORFO 01CR3FT-01 to increase the productivity of Eucaliptus globulus plantations through the production of transgenic trees tolerant to Mycosphaerella spp.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Brock University 2017.
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Mathermatics & Science, St. Catherines, ON, Canada.
● Winter 2017 – Invited professor to the course BIOL 4P35 – Biology of the senses, coordinated by Dr. Glenn Tattersall, professor at the department of Biological Sciences. 15 students, 3 hours.
McGill University 2012-2016.
Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
● Fall 2016 – Invited professor to the course PHGY311 – Ion Channels, coordinated by Dr. Reza Sharif, assistant professor at the Department of Physiology, McGill University. 6 students, 3 hours.
Centre for Research in Neuroscience (CRN).
Research Institute of MUHC, Montreal, QC, Canada.
● Summer 2014 - Intermediate between the CRN and the Montreal community on the Montreal General Hospital Heritage Day. Around 50 people, from 1 to 4 PM.
● 2012- 2017 - Laboratory Teaching and Mentorship. Guiding new students and internship students in the lab on Tissue Culture and Molecular Biology.
Universidad Austral de Chile 2004-2004.
Centro de Estudios Científicos, Valdivia, Chile.
● Community Teaching, Science week 2004, programa EXPLORA, National Council for Scientific and Technological Research (CONYCIT). 34 students grade 10, 2 hours.
Universidad de la Frontera, Chile 1999-1999.
● Second term 1999 - Teaching Assistant, Organic Chemistry, 30 students, 3 hours per week.
● First term 1999 - Teaching Assistant, Human Anatomy, 40 students, 2 hours per week.
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
● Zaelzer C., Gizowski C., Salmon C., Murai K., Bourque C.W. (In preparation). Direct detection of axonal and somatodendritic release of Arginine Vasopressin by sniffer cells.
● Gizowski C., Zaelzer C., Bourque C.W. (2016). Clock-driven vasopressin neurotransmission mediates anticipatory thirst prior to sleep. Nature. Sept 29th, 537: 685-688.
● Castillo J.P., Sánchez-Rodríguez J.E., Hyde H.C., Zaelzer C.A., Aguayo D., Sepúlveda R.V., Luk L.Y., Kent S.B., Gonzalez-Nilo F.D., Bezanilla F., Latorre R. (2016). B-1 subunit-induced structural rearrangements of the Ca2+- and voltage-activated K+ (BK) channel. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. Jun 7; 113(23): E3231-3239.
● Farmer W.T., Abrahamsson T., Chierzi S., Lui C., Zaelzer C., Jones E.V., Bally B.P., Chen G.G., Théroux J.F., Peng J., Bourque C.W., Charron F., Ernst C., Sjöström P.J., Murai K.K. (2016). Neurons diversify astrocytes in the adult brain through sonic hedgehog signaling. Science. Feb 19; 351(6275): 849-854.
● Zaelzer C., Hua P., Prager-Khoutorsky M., Ciura S., Voisin D., Liedtke W. & Bourque C.W. (2015). N-TRPV1: A Molecular Co-Detector of Body Temperature and Osmotic Stress. Cell Rep. Oct 6; 13(1): 23-30.
● Gagnon A., Walsh M., Okuda T., Choe K.Y., Zaelzer C., Bourque C.W. (2014) Modulation of spike clustering by NMDA receptors and neurotensin in rat supraoptic nucleus neurons. J Physiol. 2014 Jul 25.
● Latorre R., Morera F.J., Zaelzer C. (2010) Allosteric interactions and the modular nature of the voltaje- and Ca2+- activated (BK) cannel. J Physiol. Sept 1; 588(Pt 17): 3141-8.
● Latorre R., Zaelzer C., Brauchi S. (2009) Structure-functional intimacies of transient receptor potential channels. Q Rev Biophys. Aug 42(3): 201-46.
● Latorre R., Brauchi S., Orta G., Zaelzer C., Vargas G. (2007) ThermoTRP channels as modular proteins with allosteric gating. Cell Calcium. Volume 42, Issues 4-5, October-November, pages 427-438.
AWARDS
● Travel Award 11th International Conference in Cell Volume Regulation, Chicago, USA. (US$500), 2016.
● Institute Community Support (ICS) BRAIN Star Award, Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA) from the Canadian Institutes in Health Research (CIHR), Canada. (CAN$1,500), 2016.
● MECESUP Graduate fellowship. National Council for Scientific and Technological Research (CONYCIT), Chile. (CAN$42,873.60), 2004-2009.
● Journal of Cell Science Travelling Fellowship Fund Winner, “Structural Analysis of ThermoTRP Channels”. (US$3,900), 2007.
● DID UACh FUND for graduate student’s projects. “Conformational changes in the C-terminus on thermosensitive channels”. Universidad Austral de Valdivia, Chile. (US$2,000), 2006.
● Outstanding Student Award, National Medical Technologist School Board. For outstanding student record and qualifications during undergraduate education. Temuco, Chile, 2001.
INVITED PRESENTATIONS
● Brock University (February 2017). 1) Direct detection of axonal and somatodendritic release of Arginine Vasopressin by sniffer cells.
● Brock University (2015). ΔN-TRPV1: A Molecular Co-detector of Body Temperature and Osmotic Stress.
● Universidad de Valparaiso (2014). ΔN-TRPV1: A Molecular Co-detector of Body Temperature and Osmotic Stress.
● Universidad de La Frontera (2014). ΔN-TRPV1: A Molecular Co-detector of Body Temperature and Osmotic Stress.
● Universidad de Santo Tomás (2009). Ion Channels. Molecular Customs.
CONFERENCES
● Publication of 28 abstracts related to conferences (The Biophysical Society, The Society for Neuroscience, The American Physiology Society, and the Canadian Association for Neuroscience).
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
● Society for Neuroscience (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018).
● Biophysical Society (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015).
● American Physiology Society (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017).
● Canadian Association for Neuroscience (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018).
ADVANCED TRAINING
02-03/2015 University Teaching 101 – John Hopkins University - Coursera signature track, grade achieved 96.7%.
01-03/2014 Computational Molecular Evolution - Technical University of Denmark, Coursera signature track, grade achieved 98.2%.
01-03/2014 Introduction to Genetics and Evolution - Duke University, Coursera signature track, grade achieved 85.1%.
3/2012 EMBO Practical Course Single-Cell Gene Expression Analysis – European Molecular Biology Organization, Heidelberg, Germany.
11/2008 Structural Bioinformatics Workshop. Molecular Simulations of Transmembrane Proteins: VMD & NAMD. CBSM. Universidad de Talca, Chile.
03/2006 Bases and Applications of Confocal Microscopy. Universidad Austral de Chile in collaboration with Parc Recerca Biomèdica Barcelona, Spain. Universidad Austral de Chile. Chile.
10/2006 Kinetics: From Enzymes to Metabolic Pathways. Universidad Austral de Chile in collaboration with Le Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Marseille, France. Universidad Austral de Chile. Chile.
01/2004 Topics in Cellular and Molecular Biophysics. IV Intensive Course Theoretical Practical. Centro de Estudios Científicos, Valdivia, Chile.
08-12/2003 Ion Channels. Centro de Estudios Científicos, Valdivia, Chile.
01-05/2001 Topics in Physiology and Vegetal Molecular Biology . Vegetal Physiology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Agro Industry Institute, Universidad de la Frontera, (MECE-SUP 1998), Chile.
THE ARTIST
EDUCATION
Graphic Designer.
Self-Though, Dec 1994. Chile.
Minor in Computer Programing and Coding.
Liceo Politénico de Pueblo Nuevo, Dec 1994. Temuco, Chile.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE & EMPLOYMENT
Convergence, Perceptions of Neuroscience.
(Volunteer) June 2016 – Present. Montreal, Canada.
● Designer and administrator of the website www.convergenceinitiative.org
● Designer and producer of the graphic material for Convergence, Neuroscience and Arts Events: The Five Minute Talks (Neuroscience & Arts), The Black Box, The White Box, and Sensory, October 2016 to February 2017.
● Designer and producer of the graphic material for the Convergence Sci-Art Art-Sci Conference Series, October 2016 to April 2018.
● Designer and producer of the Convergence, Perceptions of Neuroscience, exhibition catalog 2017.
● Designer and Producer of the graphic material for the exhibitions Convergence, material, and Convergence, dynamic, at the Visual Voice Gallery, BAnQ, and the 11th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Neuroscience during April and May 2017.
ART PRACTICE
2000 – Present. Temuco, Valdivia (Chile), Chicago (USA), Montreal, Longueuil (Canada).
● New York Revival. Recycled bag and colored sharpies. Longueuil - October 2017. Commissioned, Chile.
60’s inspired flowers overdrawn over as stamped bag New York landmarks background.
● Fire Flower. Stained Glass (Tiffany’s techniques), copper, and lead. 41.5 x 35.5 cm. Longueuil – June 2017.
Based on one of the Philodendron flowers captured on thermal camera by Dr. Glenn Tattersall (https://tattersalllab.com/). This is the first work from a series of stained glass and mixed media in the story of temperature detection and the respond that trigger in living organisms. The works are based (at the moment) on Dr. Tattersall’s photographs and research, Dr. David Julius’ research, Dr. Charles Bourque’s research, and my own research.
● Roses in the Snow. Stained Glass (Tiffany’s techniques), copper, and lead. 51.5 x 31.5 cm. Longueuil –2013-2016.
The roses are designed under the influence of the Scottish artist Margareth Macdonald Mackintosh (1864-1933). They stand in the middle of a soft snowfall (the more opalescent white glass represents here the snow falling between the roses), with the sun in the sky represented by an oval yellow piece in the up left corner, and the blue in the upright corner. Down the water, represented by a deep blue piece in the low left corner, and the grown, represented by three brown pieces in the bottom. 9 Roses standing to the cold winter as a testament that even the coldest days will pass.
● Warm Firefox Canadian Forest Fall. Stained Glass (Tiffany’s techniques), copper, and lead. 15 x 20 cm (shorter panels), 15 x 30 cm (taller panels). Montreal – 2013. Commission, Montreal.
The candle screen "Warm firefox in autumn Canadian forest" is a four-panel stained glass. I was inspired both, by the beautiful work commissioned by the Royal Mint Canada to Crush design, and also by the paints of the Group of Seven (Canada 1920-1933). The panels show a fox in a palette of oranges and reds seat over a yellowish rock contemplating a peaceful Canadian north fall forest. Different shades of browns, terracotta and whites mix all together to bring this warm sensation that fall and the color of the leaves give me every year. The work took in total 5 months to be finished... remember I am writing a paper, I got married and we were on our honeymoon in all this time.
● Magnolias. Stained Glass (Tiffany’s techniques), copper, and lead. 19.5 x 35.5 cm. Montreal – 2013. Commission, Chile.
Inspired by the Tifanny's Magnolias, my own version of the Magnolias took almost a year in been completed, in part because the lack of inspiration in our old place and in part for the complexity of the work. This particular piece, used texturized glass to give the illusion of living petals. The cuts were hard and since it was not a big piece the smallest pieces where very challenging. Even though, I loved the result.
● If the stars were mine. Sketch for a stained glass. Graphite pencils and permanent markers. 88.7 x 58.5 cm. Longueuil – 2013.
“If the stars were mine” is the tittle of a beautiful song from the American Singer Melody Gardot. The song talks about a person in love wishing to reach the stars, paint the sky, and teach bird to sing songs for the one she loves. I used the lyrics as inspiration to create this draw that one day will become a stained-glass piece and also a gift for my own beloved one.
● Under the night, under the sun. Stained Glass (Tiffany’s techniques), copper, and lead. 72 x 49.5 cm. Montreal – 2011.
The stained glass shows a tree under a sky dominated by the sun in the middle, and the moon in the left side of the piece. The day, in red and yellowish colors is fused to the night in different tonalities of blue and purples. The colors mix under spirals. I did try to give movement to the sky and the impression of a dynamic interaction between both and at the same time try to make look like just one thing. In the center, the tree was made it in three layers of glass to create the illusion of perspective and deepness. The tree's silhouette is drawn as the wind would move it. The wind has a big implication for me, is one of my own symbols. I feel compelled by it to move, to create and to express. I feel it as it were my father.
● The light in the Swan’s garden. Box. Stained Glass (Tiffany’s techniques), copper, and lead. 12 to 15 cm high x 35 cm long x 15 cm deep. Montreal – 2010.
This was my first candle box. I took inspiration from the ballet “Swan Lake” from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The piece displays a white swan in one cover and a black swan in the other. Between both panels a garden of exotic flowers and wheat grown as a unified land where the story happens.
 The Neuroscience Five Minute TalksPoster |  The Black BoxPoster |
|---|---|
 The White BoxPoster |  The Arts Five Minute TalksPoster |
 SensoryPoster |  Convergence, materialPoster of Convergence exhibition |
 Convergence, dynamicPoster of Convergence exhibition |  Convergence final exhibition 2017Poster for the Convergence final exhibition at the 11th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Neuroscience. |
 Trevor ButterworthConvergence Sci-Art Art-Sci Conference Series |  Chloe SoutarConvergence Sci-Art Art-Sci Conference |
 New York RevivalRecycled bag and coloured sharpies. Longueuil - October 2017. Commissioned, Chile. 60’s inspired flowers overdrawn over as stamped bag New York landmarks background. |  Fire FlowerStained Glass (Tiffany’s techniques), copper, and lead. 41.5 x 35.5 cm. Longueuil – June 2017. Based on one of the Philodendron flowers captured on thermal camera by Dr. Glenn Tattersall (https://tattersalllab.com/). This is the first work from a series of stained glass and mixed media in the story of temperature detection and the respond that trigger in living organisms. |
|---|---|
 Roses in the Snow. |  Roses in the Snow (detail) |
 Warm Firefox in Canadian Forest Fall |  Warm Firefox in Canadian Forest Fall |
 Warm Firefox in Canadian Forest Fall |  Warm Firefox in Canadian Forest Fall |
 Magnolias |  Magnolias (detail) |
 If the stars where mine |  Under the night, under the sun |
 Under the night, under the sun |  Under the night, under the sun |
 The light in the Swan's garden |  The light in the Swan's garden |
Check out the pieces in
the Honeycomb
Check out the pieces in
the Honeycomb
● El Gran Wyrm permanence despierto en el Ether. Paint. Mix Technique. Watercolor and Ink. 76.7 x 55 cm. Temuco – 2001.
This was the final chapter from my time playing Dungeons & Dragons in my beloved city of Temuco. Depict and scene from the last war. The war that decided all the others, the one where the dark and the light forces fought to dead. The Wyrm, an ancient evil shaped as a dragon, and the Archana Lords, masters of the elemental armors, fought for last time. The paint show Merak, the Lady of the Ether Armor with eyes open while her battle companions meditate. Merak was possessed by the Great Wyrm, at the end of the battle she died under the spear of Althea, the red hair dwarf in the left. They were like sisters. In real life, the players’ owners of these character are sisters.
● Nightmares, Desesperacion en las paredes. Draw. Paper, graphite pencils, pastel oils, watercolor, blood. 76.7 x 55 cm. Temuco – 2001.
This piece belongs to a time where I struggled to find peace with myself after a series of dramatic events happened to me between the end of the last millennia and the beginning of the new one. Is full of the darkness that I used to feel in my own existence. The loneliness, the powerless sensation of being just a puppet, and the cold left behind when your mind make you think that is nothing left. Is one of my favorite pieces due to the honesty behind, and because even from the darkest place can be a path to exit and start again.
● Umbraproteo. Draw. Ink and permanent markers. 76.7 x 55 cm. Temuco – 2000.
● Algunos que caminan en Sion nunca fueron humanos. The Matrix. Draw. Ink and Graphite pencils. 76.7 x 55 cm. Temuco – 2000.
One of my favorite movies in the early 2000s was The Matrix. This draw is based on a story that we played with my friend in 4 sessions of role playing. The story is centered in Alana, the Asian woman at the left of the drawn. She was rescued from the Matrix when she was just a little girl. In the story, the machines finally find Sion using her as a signal relay destroying everyone in the last battle. In the final cut of the story Alana discover that she was never a human but a new type of cyborg made using synthetic biology. Her cells were since always the signal that the machines look upon to destroy their enemies.
● Brainstorm. NeoGens. Draw. Permanent markers. 76.7 x 55 cm. Temuco – 2000.
Brainstorm is a series of draws based on a story I used to play in role game sessions with my friends back early 2000s. The story is a thriller based on the life of a group of people who discover themselves as part as a complicated genetic experiment that has gave them strange powers for what they are now persecuted. The characters soon discover that this is not just a simple science rupture but the beginning of a whole new era for the human race.
● Brainstorm. Los Guardianes. Draw. Permanent markers. 76.7 x 55 cm. Temuco – 2000.
● Brainstorm. Batalla. Draw. Permanent markers. 76.7 x 55 cm. Temuco – 2000.
● Brainstorm. El mal posee extranas formas. Draw. Ink and Permanent markers. 76.7 x 55 cm. Temuco – 2000.
● Dremany. Mythos de Zharrabaktazhan. Graphite pencils. 76.7 x 55 cm. Temuco – 1998.
Dremany is the giantress who walk in the south kingdom of Skagerrak, her power was cold. She was a character of one of the longest games of Dungeons & Dragons I ever mastered, Zharrabaktazkan.
 El Gran Wyrm permanece despierto en el Ether |  Nightmares, Desesperación en... |
|---|---|
 Umbraproteo |  Algunos que caminan en Sion nunca fueron humanos The Matrix |
 Brainstorm. NeoGens. |  Brainstorm. Los Guardianes. |
 Brainstorm. Batalla. |  Brainstorm. El mal posee extrañas formas. |
 Dremany. Mythos de Zharrabaktazhan. |  Dr Homer Mr Hyde |
 Sonidos en la Bruma |
Check out the pieces in
the Honeycomb
Dreams & Nightmares Advertising Agency.
2003. Valdivia, Chile.
● Founder & Director.
● Organized, managed and executed the Celtic Music Festival “Sonidos en la Bruma” that placed in scene more than seventy artists, performers and musicians
Punto UNO Advertising.
1995 – 1999. Temuco, Chile.
● Art Director & Graphic Designer.
● Developed advertising campaigns for products and services over radio, national and local newspapers.
● Managed the art direction for several brands and artistic events (Ballet Giselle by the Chilean National Ballet Company, Niri-Vilcun Zoo Temuco, Socovesa construction company).
● Designed the logotypes and corporative images for different companies.
● Accomplished the successful graphic design of several paper pieces.
PUBLICATIONS
● Convergence, Perceptions of Neuroscience, exhibition catalogue 2017 (Paper and Digital).
OTHER ARTISTIC SKILLS
● Photography (2006 – Today).
● Galician Bagpiper and Bodhran Percussionist (2000 – Today).
● Storyteller.
-
Roleplay Games Narrator and Dungeon Master (1997 – 2009)