Origins
In the 80s, William Schinsky, an art administrator for a funding source, began exhibiting his own Art. Schinsky’s work was dark, cryptic and challenging. Responses to his emerging work were positive and encouraging. Realizing that his professional position was clouding honest feedback, he wanted to take a deeper dive. To identify his artistic persona, Schinsky introduced the alter-ego, wm marquez. The Marquez’ were his maternal ancestors. A Mexican land-grant family,they settled in what was then Mexico, establishing Rancho Boca de Santa Monica, now Santa Monica, California.
wm marquez creates with the energy he derives from his heritage.
Education & Career
After returning from a tour in VietNam in 1968-69, wm marquez returned to school and eventually graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a B.A. in Art, and an M.A. in Museum Studies and Installation Design. His professional career has included positions as: Gallery Director, Ruth S. Schaffner Gallery, Los Angeles; Visual Arts Program Director for the Southern Arts Federation, Atlanta, Georgia; Curator, Atlanta International Museum of Art and Design; Visual Arts Director, Arts Festival of Atlanta; co-founder/Executive Director, Visual Arts Center, Charlotte, North Carolina and continues as an independent curator. He has been a consultant for the Temecula Valley Historical Museum. wm marquez is an adjunct instructor, College of the Desert, teaching Art101, Introduction to Art.
wm marquez is the current Founder and current Executive Director of the Coachella Valley Arts Center. A regional cultural center in downtown Indio offering artists workspace, exhibit spaces, exhibition programs and classroom/workshop space. As well as conducted art classes at two Riverside County Juvenile Detention Centers in Indio and Murrieta.
In 2009, the More Than Artprogram was contracted by the Los Angeles County Department of Education todesign and conduct the 11-week Visual Art/Creative Writing/Performance programfor the minors at the Los Angeles Central Juvenile Detention Facility. In 2010, The More Than Art program received an Individual Achievement/AppreciationAward from the Riverside County Probation Department.
wm marquez has presented art-related lectures and programs at local, state, and national gatherings. He has participated as a member of Grants Review panels for the National Endowment for the Arts.
He also acts as Consultant for the city of Rancho Mirage’s Art Affaire, and has judged for the La Quinta Arts Festival and the Southwest Arts Festival, Indio.
