“Vitruvius Man” by Carlos Andres Gomez (a five starred review)

When it’s good, art will beckon your mind, intensify your thoughts, enlighten and/or perhaps add weight to your consciousness, and inspire you to ponder, wonder, and consider.

When it is extraordinary it does even more.

Carlos Andres Gomez

The first time I saw Carlos Andrés Gómez perform live was some years ago at the famed Nuyorican Poets Café in New York City. Words that grabbed hold of my soul and—I promise you—everyone else’s in attendance.

Words of supreme power spoken from a humble man. Imagine that.

To know Carlos is to realize that he has but only a slight idea of his artistic muscle, one that grabs hold of your heart and steals it.

A heart that, ironically, already surrendered to listening to him, to hearing him, to feeling through his art.

Gómez has acted alongside Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, and Jodi Foster, was featured (and voted by viewers as a favorite) on Russell Simmon’s Def Poetry Jam, and is a two-time International Poetry Slam Champion.

Carlos Andres Gomez

If you have not yet also had an opportunity to experience this gifted man’s artistry in person (during his appearances in North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and Africa) you now have the opportunity to do so.

From one of my generation’s most incredible word artists, the CD “Vitruvius”—recordings of Carlos’ actual live sessions—is now available. Thank God.

Read on for the reasons why this CD is an essential have…

Man Beautiful, a chat with Carlos Andrés Gómez

Watch this first.

Carlos and Savion Glover’s performance  inspires me to the core of my soul. Now, it is my privilege to present more on the artistic genius that is…CARLOS ANDRÉS GÓMEZ…

A Russell Simmons HBO Def Poet and International Poetry Slam Champion, Carlos Andrés Gómez is an actor, playwright and poet from New York City who co-starred in Spike Lee’s Inside Man alongside Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster and Clive Owen.

Formerly a social worker and a public school teacher, he has performed at over 100 colleges and universities and toured across North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and Africa. He has shared the stage with Wyclef Jean, Amiri Baraka, MC Lyte, Yosef Komunyakaa, Rosie Pérez, Ishmael Reed, Ntozake Shange, Quincy Troupe, David Banner, Pete Rock, Suzanne Vega, Saul Williams, Mos Def and the impressive list goes on…

The first time I met Carlos and experienced his artistry was in 2005 at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe (of which he is a member of the Slam Team). I am still moved by the piece he performed that night, “Colombian/Amerikan”, and what he did with a four letter word poem. Oh man, you had to be there… LOL

Anyhow, I am so honored that today he is kind enough to grace The Love Spot with his presence.

Recently, I attended a New York City performance of Man Up, Carlos’ critically acclaimed one-man show that previously ran at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (the largest arts festival in the world) in Scotland, receiving five out of five stars from Hairline Magazine which called Man Up “the hidden jewel of the Fringe.”

More on Man Up in a bit. For now, I want you to get to know Carlos a little more…

Carlos Andrés Gómez

Born in Manhattan (NY Presbyterian),Carlos Andrés Gómez was raised by a father who worked for United Nations (often involved in human rights agendas) and a mother who is a linguist dedicated to agricultural work and indigenous rights.

His family moved around a lot when he was growing up (Brazil, Israel, Switzerland, Connecticut, Providence Rhode Island to name a few places) and he eventually attended The University of Pennsylvania majoring in Sociology and Africana Studies.

Now, Carlos calls both Brooklyn and Los Angeles home and travels the world gifting us with his art. Here is our interview: