Charcoal painting by R. Lo
R. Lo’s Tale of Two Cities
It is exactly 803 miles from Midtown to Madison, Wisc. One of Midtown’s favorite art sons returned home this week to the place that launched his career, Millworks studios.
The artist R. Lo (aka Richard L. Hernandez) in his lightning quick two years in the ‘Burg shot through the local art scene like a rocket—a meteor that still reverberates today. R. Lo’s orbit is akin to the planets revolving around the sun. In November of 2023, I boldly stated that here is an artist of “magnitude and meaning” and, through his art, he will shape that discipline wherever he goes. His charcoal works defy description and the depth of what he does with the stuff of magic on the surface is only the beginning of the alchemy that lies beneath.
Jana and I were fortunate to spend July 5 catching up with R. Lo 3.0, which reflects the latest version of an ever-evolving young man who with wisdom gained maturity and with maturity gained wisdom. Tara Chickey, art director at Millworks, recognized greatness when she met the then-under 30 years of age R. Lo, who hailed from Binghamton, N.Y. It was there he first picked up charcoal as a child because it was there in the house. From his “swirls of soot” came years of experimentation and growth and, most of all, a love for the medium. The rest is history that keeps getting honed to perfection. He is the first to credit his years at Millworks.
“Starting out, I was the new kid on the block and the education I received and the encouragement I got from other artists in residence there was invaluable,” he said. “The relationships I forged with other fellow creators still bear weight in the best sort of way. Studio mate, Pat Frese, was a mother-like figure to me. Knowing I could ask Pat about art and about life gave me a true sense of security and self. The artists like Ann Benton Yeager, Reina R76, The Huckle Buckle Boys, Paul Gallo, Yachiyo Beck, Marjorie Taylor, P.D. Murray, Eve Tiday, Paul Zemaitis, Tina Berrier, as well as Marina Radanovic, were all supporters and willing to help in any way possible. Just outside Millwork’s walls, I count Cory W. Pigeon and Stephen Michael Haas as colleagues and friends.”
Charcoal painting by R. Lo
But all good things come to an end, so Midtown’s loss became Madison’s gain. Using the impetus of such a positive reception from patrons and friends gained at Millworks lit a passion for a deeper involvement, making things happen in his new surroundings. It was the sense of community that filled R. Lo’s thoughts. What started as an idea in Harrisburg had grown into a plan of action by the time he arrived in Wisconsin.
R. Lo, with Bob and Jana MacGinnes, at Joan Maguire’s Hershey Art Gallery & Studio
Madison is a cultural hub with the University of Wisconsin playing a key role as its anchor. Upon arrival, R. Lo became an overnight conduit of connection in all directions. Fortunate to meet political figures and a group of people who made things happen in the city proved integral to his mission. There is such a diverse demographic in Madison that, at the very core, R. Lo has made certain that all artists are welcome, throwing a wide net to encompass the citizens across ethnicity, color and creed, gender identification and on and on. From pop up parties to salons of talking heads, the community at large has embraced art in Madison like never before under R. Lo’s direction. In touch with so many creatives, he has become the driving force bringing all the elements together—perhaps the most dramatic being the development of generational mentorship, pairing seasoned veterans guiding novices through the processes of developing marketing skills, grant writing and stretching artistically well beyond their comfort zone. He emphasized, “the importance of doing all of this as a collective body networking together for the good of the community makes all the difference.”
Marquee entities from the Kohler Arts Center to the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art have come on board, fomenting a cradle of creatives that finds artists from the university and well-established artists mounting innovative, unique art exhibits across the city. R. Lo has found a strength of far more than survival, a formula for success in helping others. He has found his purpose, the importance of community where all come away winners.
