Photograph by George Sakkestad

Among Daved Garza's many artistic endeavors are these original silk-screened pillows.

Jack of all trades is master of all

By Shari Kaplan

From his name to the cliché he disproves, Los Gatan Daved Garza does not follow the norm. Destined never to find his moniker on personalized items, Garza doesn't mind because it is distinctive like him. And unlike the "jack-of-all-trades, master of none," he is proficient at every trade he's tried--from singing and acting to painting and graphic design.

Born on a farm in Grand Rapids, Mich., this country boy moved to the city at age 9, when his father was hired by a commercial bakery in Los Angeles. By the time he was in high school, the creative bent that Garza had always felt became apparent to others, especially an art teacher who encouraged him to take courses at an art college--which he did--as well as apply for a university scholarship, which he got.

"Art was always my heart and soul, and was my escape whenever I needed an escape," he recalls.

Garza also served as an usher at the Los Angeles Music Center, atop a hill overlooking the city. His first taste of the center was when his high school glee club--in which he often sang--attended a performance of Show Boat. Enchanted by the theater, he ushered so he could see all the performances.

Eventually, Garza was hired as a graphic designer at the center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. He also found himself playing small parts in the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera and designing logos for the Music Center.

Thanks to various connections, Garza attended many gala events, including the Academy Awards, where he rubbed elbows with celebrities like Charlie Chaplin, Katharine Hepburn, Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra, Bette Midler and Lucille Ball.

Garza moved to Los Gatos 20 years ago, having fallen in love with the town after visiting friends. His first Bay Area job was dressing department store windows. He also served as advertising director for the former Pizza Time Theatre, did merchandising for magazines and catalogues and did design for the 1997 Canadian Expo in Montreal.

His latest projects involve creating graphics and logos for Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany, and silk-screening a rainbow array of original and reproduced designs on large canvas pillows with his friend and fellow artist Maggie Bonnett. Garza hopes to have the pillows appear soon in specialty and designer furnishings stores.

"Art is an escape. Not that I'm trying to escape from anything, but it's a way to relax and get completely immersed in what I'm doing. I don't know where it comes from; it just flows," he says.

Friend and neighbor Betty McClendon sums Garza up with confidence: "Too many people these days call themselves artists, but they're really just technicians," she asserts. "Not Daved. He's very creative and versatile. Garza can be contacted at davedgarza@aol.com or 395-7072.

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