EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — For local artist Yolanda Hoffmeister, painting is about much more than putting color on a canvas. Her artwork has become a way to honor people, bring hope to others and give back to the community.
On September 7, Hoffmeister was recognized with a proclamation honoring her contributions through art. She says receiving the recognition was an emotional and meaningful moment.
Yolanda Hoffmeister’s Proclamation
“And it was just an amazing experience to get in a proclamation for the art that I do here in El Paso to, give inspiration and hope and and honor to the community, to firefighters, first responders, police officers,” Hoffmeister said.
Among the organizations she has created artwork for is the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence. She is also working on a piece for “El Paso Project Period”, a local organization that helps women and girls access menstrual products and support.
For Hoffmeister, the purpose behind each painting is what matters most.
Hoffmeister says her relationship with art began when she was just five years old, being taught by her grandfather.
“Then I decided to do landscapes, and he showed me how to do landscapes in different abstract areas. I wasn’t really good at first, and then later on in life, I tried to establish myself with art schools or art galleries, and I was denied. I was told I had no art structure.” Hoffmeister said.
As she got older, Hoffmeister tried to pursue art more seriously, but she says she was rejected by art schools and art galleries and was told she did not have the proper artistic structure.
That criticism did not stop her. Instead, Hoffmeister eventually found her own purpose for creating art.
Yolanda Hoffmeister’s Paintings
“And later on in life, my cousin had passed, and then I donated my first pieces to Saint Mary’s Church in Queens. And from that point on, after that 9/11 hit and it was a huge impact on me because I was on the last Path train, going into new Jersey, and it was my first start day working, at Job Corps.” Hoffmeister said.
Hoffmeister was living in New York when the terrorist attacks happened.
That morning, she says she had an unusual feeling that she needed to leave earlier than normal.
As the train traveled toward New Jersey, Hoffmeister remembers passengers noticing the rails shaking and seeing smoke in the distance.
Eventually, passengers were told they had reached the last stop and did not know when they would be able to return to New York or their homes.
Hoffmeister says she was fortunate to have family in New Jersey.
She did not fully understand what had happened until she arrived at Job Corps, where her boss sat her down and showed her the attacks on television.
Seeing the destruction and loss changed the way she viewed her artwork.
In the year following 9/11, Hoffmeister says she painted more than 300 pieces. Instead of selling them, she donated the artwork to people and organizations she believed needed encouragement.
“I wanted to bless the people that sacrifice their selves and honor the people that they have lost. And in order to, give back. And that’s what made gave back throughout the five boroughs of New York within firefighters, police officers, EMTs, Veteran Affairs, anyone I can give my art to in order to inspire them to know that even though they don’t know me, they they still have a touch of color to honor who they lost and their loved ones.” Hoffmeister said.
She is scheduled to participate in National Good Neighbor Day at Sandstone Ranch Park on September 26.
El Paso artist Yolanda Hoffmeister honored for community impact through art
The event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where Hoffmeister will have a booth and share her work.
The event is being organized with the Northeast El Paso Association, which previously recognized Hoffmeister for her community artwork during Women’s Month.
For Hoffmeister, the recognition she has received is meaningful — but her mission remains the same.
She says she wants her paintings to remind people that they are seen, remembered and never alone.
After decades of creating art, Hoffmeister continues to paint for the same reason she started giving her work away: to bring a little more color, hope and humanity to the people around her.
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