Montes and Carmen Guerrero, President of the De Colores and Chamber of Commerce boards of directors, believe that the new magazine will benefit many. “Local businesses, such as restaurants and other businesses, events relating to cultural arts, successful Ventura County professionals that our youth can look up to as role models will all be featured” in Latino Life Style, which has a circulation of 10,000, said Montes.Copies of the premier issue of Latino Life Style magazine are available in Santa Paula at Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, Santa Paula California Oil Museum and John Nichols Gallery.For more information about Latino Life Style, call 822-9050 or visit latinolifestylemag@yahoo.com.
‘Big X’ Montes featured in premier issue of Latino Life Style
June 07, 2006
Santa Paula News
A new magazine has premiered in Ventura County, and the front cover of Latino Life Style features a well-known Santa Paulan: Xavier “Big X” Montes, artist, musician and founder of the De Colores Art Show & Festival.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesA new magazine has premiered in Ventura County, and the front cover of Latino Life Style features a well-known Santa Paulan: Xavier “Big X” Montes, artist, musician and founder of the De Colores Art Show & Festival. Montes not only graces the cover of the magazine, but also is the subject of a feature story detailing his contributions to the cultural arts.According to Latino Life Style Editor/Publisher Jess Gutierrez, the bi-monthly magazine will be “inspirational and showcase the life and style of living that reflects the richness of Latino culture, values, feelings, beliefs, passions, dreams, aspirations, concerns, hopes, desires and traditions of a people.” Gutierrez said he is “driven by a strong conviction that the magazine should reflect the cultural diversity and Latino influences that shape Ventura County today.”Santa Paula native Montes was already a notable artist and musician when he founded the De Colores Art Show a dozen years ago. Initially a one-day event - when a small display of paintings was shown at the Depot - devoted to the memory of late farm labor leader and activist Cesar Chavez and Delores Huerta, De Colores now draws hundreds of visitors to the month-long exhibit at the Santa Paula California Oil Museum. Thousands attended the one-day De Colores cultural celebration that now features acclaimed musicians and dancers, held at Veterans Memorial Park in April.
