Phoenix Artist Francisco Flores on How Negativity Inspires His Work

Every other year, New Times puts the spotlight on Phoenix's creative forces — painters, dancers, designers, and actors. Leading up to the release of Best of Phoenix, we're taking a closer look at 100 more. Welcome to the 2016 edition of 100 Creatives. Up today is 32. Francisco Flores.

Light and sound meet spirituality and aesthetics in the work of Francisco Flores. 

The 27-year-old Phoenix artist spends his days working as a post-production audio-visual designer and technician. But his off hours are dedicated to working with a variety of media to explore well-being and self-realization by crafting visual or sound compositions.

Typically, though, his works bring the two together — along with an interactive component. "I've been working with lasers for a couple of years now, doing laser shows, art installations, and architectural sculptures using lasers."

Flores says that he channels outside ignorance and negativity and uses it as inspiration to "be mindful, compassionate, and to continue my line of work." That inspiration combined with his motivation to create opportunities to engage with friends brought him to his latest exhibition.

In July, Flores presented "Crystals and Lasers" at Unexpected Art Gallery in downtown Phoenix. "The exhibition was a series of photographs and videos that documented a ceremony I organized using crystals and lasers," he says. "The ceremony was intended to amplify the moment of meditation, to create a somatic experience that deepened the moment of meditation."

He says he decided the best way for others to appreciate this concept fully was to offer 21 consecutive days of programming "inspired by meditation and well-being, so everyone could experience what well-being means to them, and to inspire a solid practice of meditation."

That success under his belt, Flores is now looking to present his art on a larger scale: Burning Man, the annual arts gathering in Black Rock, Nevada. "I am programming a midi controller," he says, "and performing almost every day with music and a laser to refine my performance and create visuals that harmonize with the music at the different shows in Burning Man."

I came to Phoenix with a red Grand Cherokee, a kitten, and the goal of accomplishing a career at Arizona State University.

I make art because it's magical. Art transforms ways of life, patterns of our minds, and culture. It develops and expands our communication as human beings.

Being productive is an interesting concept, I feel most productive when I feel like I am working less, when I am doing something I don’t consider work. I find that meditating consistently helps me get through difficult moments when I’m overbooked. Instead of constantly working, taking time to just be static and contemplative improves my results and I feel accomplished, which I love.

I don’t have an inspiration wall. I’ve done many with close friends and in groups, but it's not something I have. I feel like I have an inspiration feeling instead. I fill up this feeling with memories of clouds, blue skies, great guitar music, lots of heart-to-heart, present, mindful hugs, respect towards others, and I could go on. :)

I’ve learned the most from being alone. Also from finding myself with no place to go in the streets of a town or city I’ve never been to before. Not having the person you need when you need them has made me a better listener and appreciate the moments I have with others.

I love when people take seriously what they do and cherish the knowledge they produce and shared it. I think good work comes from that, and should always be accessible to others from around the world. In other words, good work should always be transparent in its processes and applications.

I am not sure if I am part of the Phoenix creative scene, maybe being in this article makes me a part of it so then I may say something about it. Many of us in Phoenix are longing for closeness in this urban sprawl. I think creative people in Phoenix can use more community spaces to gather, spaces such as Cut and Paste, or Puente, places that are open to everyone and their resourcefulness.  

The 2016 Creatives so far:

100. Nicole Olson
99. Andrew Pielage
98. Jessica Rowe
97. Danny Neumann
96. Beth Cato
95. Jessie Balli
94. Ron May
93. Leonor Aispuro
92. Sarah Waite
91. Christina "Xappa" Franco
90. Christian Adame
89. Tara Sharpe
88. Patricia Sannit
87. Brian Klein
86. Dennita Sewell
85. Garth Johnson
84. Charissa Lucille
83. Ryan Downey
82. Samantha Thompson
81. Cherie Buck-Hutchison
80. Freddie Paull
79. Jennifer Campbell
78. Dwayne Hartford
77. Shaliyah Ben
76. Kym Ventola
75. Matthew Watkins
74. Tom Budzak
73. Rachel Egboro
72. Rosemary Close
71. Ally Haynes-Hamblen
70. Alex Ozers
69. Fawn DeViney
68. Laura Dragon
67. Stephanie Neiheisel
66. Michael Lanier
65. Jessica Rajko
64. Velma Kee Craig
63. Oliver Hibert
62. Joya Scott
61. Raji Ganesan
60. Ashlee Molina
59. Myrlin Hepworth
58. Amy Ettinger
57. Sheila Grinell
56. Forrest Solis
55. Mary Meyer
54. Robert Hoekman Jr.
53. Joan Waters
52. Gabriela Muñoz
51. ColorOrgy
50. Liz Magura
49. Anita and Sam Means
48. Liz Ann Hewett
47. Tiffany Fairall
46. Vanessa Davidson
45. Michelle Dock
44. Nia Witherspoon
43. Monique Sandoval
42. Nayon Iovino
41. Daniel Davisson
40. Andrew King
39. Michelle Moyer
38. Jimmy Nguyen
37. Tiffany Lopez
36. Kristin Bauer
35. Donna Isaac
34. Douglas Miles
33. Sierra Joy