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my Grandparents are without doubt the best memories of my
So my brother and I had the opportunity to experience not only the childhood. The annual visit to the Basque Country has converted
Basque Community in Liverpool, but we also spent every summer into a family tradition for me. Before with my parents and now with
in the Basque country to visit our family, to be with our cousins, to my wife and children and now my grandchildren. It was important
learn the Spanish language and experience the unforgettable fiestas, for my Father to impregnate the Basque pride and teach us the
the quadrillas –it was part of our life. He never got over leaving the importance of his pueblo Gorliz, and now I consider it my duty to
Basque country, only 18 years of age, severed from his country and pass on this pride and enduring resilience to the next generation.
family; it was a time of suffering for many. Possibly due to these My Basque roots and my love for this country are stronger than
circumstances, his pride and perseverance to preserve his Basque ever and this is the reason why I return every year.
heritage was foremost. His dream was to retire to the Basque
Country, but unfortunately he passed away when he was 64. I GUESS IT WAS QUITE IMPORTANT FOR YOU, SINCE YOU KEEP
COMING BACK EVERY SUMMER WITH YOUR WIFE AND YOUR
YOUR MOTHER WAS A PAINTER AS WELL, WAS SHE A BIG INFLUENCE? CHILDREN. WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR CHILDREN TO LEARN FROM
My Mother gave me the opportunity to paint and draw when I was THIS EXPERIENCE?
very young; I painted alongside her from the age of six during our The Basques fought so hard to preserve their race and culture that
summer holidays in the Basque Country. She was the only reason one cannot go to the Basque Country without feeling this pride
why I got to art school, she insisted that I go; she knew that was and admiration of their resilience and determination. My children,
my direction. She created the possibility for me to start painting. I I want them to learn that there is a place in everybody’s heart that
did go to art school, but my Father insisted that I take an industrial they have to return to and I want them to have that same sensation
design course rather than fine arts as he felt that one must have of belonging, a connection to our ancestors.
a profession that would guarantee employment. You don’t realize
when you are young that your parents do have an influence on your CAN’T HELP TO MENTION THE BEATLES, SINCE I LEARNED YOU WENT
future, but often this is the case. TO THE LIVERPOOL ART COLLEGE WITH JOHN LENNON. HOW DID
IT FEEL TO BE PART OF THAT CREATIVITY, OF A GENERATION THAT
WHEN AND WHERE DID YOU BEGIN TO FEEL THAT, YES, YOU MIGHT WAS MAKING SOMETHING COMPLETELY NEW? DID IT INFLUENCE
ALSO HAVE THAT TALENT AND THAT PASSION? YOUR ART?
My big inspiration has been my wife, Joanne and my Father-in-law. In the 60’s Liverpool was the melting pot for talent, everybody was
They recognized the talent that I had, they challenged me, they close to somebody that ended up famous, but by the mid-60’s
believed in me. You don’t just become an artist; it took me thirty people were leaving and Liverpool started to lose its popularity.
years to break through the barriers, painting every day.
THE BEATLES
WHAT ARE YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF THAT FIRST SUMMER IN GORLIZ? They proved that one can become famous, even if they came from
HOW OLD WERE YOU? Liverpool, made you believe everything is possible. Liverpool was
I had my own donkey at four and half years of age in the Basque like Nashville in the sixties, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Cabaret Club,
Country, he was the same age as me and he was born on the private live-music parties and wild weekends. The road manager for
family farm – they said it was mine and his name was Mayo. The the Road Runners was a good friend and through him I met a lot of
traditions, the family farmhouse, Amezaga, my Aunts and Uncles, the up and coming pop groups. I knew the Beatles before Epstein,
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