Bio

In the early 60's he was starting to market woodcarvings under the name of GOEZ, at the Great
Western in the city of Commerce, and by 1969 Gonzalez decided to start an art studio and gallery in
the community, he contacted his brother Juan who was in Spain at the time to come and help him
develop the Goez Art Studio and Gallery in East Los Angeles; (1) which was the first art studio and
gallery in the country to dedicate its resources to Chicano art and artists, Juan invited David Botello
a friend from High School to participate in the creation of the art center, while Gonzalez invited
Robert Arenivar who was very talented as an artist, in the interpretation of a theme or idea into a
design which
Became an important contribution to the creation of many murals and designs.
One of Gonzalez' first projects in the community was the design and installation of a large mural
depicting the apparition of La Virgen de Guadalupe to the Indian Juan Diego completed in 1969
executed in mosaics, and graced with hand carved marble statues, this project was funded by Utter
Mckinley Mortuary.

Following the devastating Sylmar Earthquake of 1971, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles selected
Gonzalez to head the restoration efforts of the valuable collection of hand carved wooden statues
of the San Fernando Mission and the recreation of the art on the walls and beams in the interior of
the Mission that had been painted by the Indians in 1797. (1)

J.L. was commissioned to restore the marble sarcophagus that contained ashes of Mahatma Gandhi
for the Self Realization Fellowship.

Gonzalez' projects reflect his pioneering spirit, the Goez Art Studio and Gallery, which included the
Goez Institute of Murals and Fine Arts, has been responsible for countless murals gracing major
developments in the Los Angeles area.

One of the first Chicano murals created at GOEZ was the mural titled "The Birth of Our Art" which
also encouraged and taught other artists to participate in the event of painting murals as the
movement that would spread throughout our nation.