From Rebel to Rest: Artist David Gatt

By Brian Nixon
Special to ASSIST News Service

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO (ANS) -- David Gatt packed his mother's 1984 maroon Chevy Citation with his turntables, his art, and his clothes. He had to leave San Jose, California, the city of his upbringing. For some reason, trouble kept coming his way.

Artist, David Gatt

His destination? New Mexico. According to Gatt, New Mexico was the only destination available. His mother grew up in Georgia O'Keefe country (northern New Mexico), but the family moved to California before David was born.

It was in New Mexico that David had family. So when David fled California, he called his aunt and uncle (both artists) in Albuquerque, asking to stay with them to try to get his life in order - perhaps learn some more about art along the way.

While growing up in California, David associated with three things that, for some reason or another, tended to lead to difficulty: music, art, and drugs.

Music consisted of his turntables. He was a local disc jockey, frequently performing at various events throughout the Bay Area.

"I was in to music, all kinds of music," David told me. "But unlike other musicians, my instrument was the turntable."

"A lot of my friends such as Chris Manak (a.k.a. Peanut Butter Wolf) were DJ's as well. We would spend a lot of time buying and spinning records."

"But, along with the clubs and music came trouble," admitted Gatt.

"I remember after one show in San Jose at Club X - which met at a local fencing center - police officers came to break up the event. The band Mourning Becomes Electra, soon to be renamed The Electra, were playing. A riot broke out."

"The only thing I remember is being punched in the stomach by the police, forced to line up by the law enforcement, and then running away - only to get into more trouble. I was as insane as the whole situation was."

Along with the music came David's love for art.

"I came from a fairly artistic family. On my mother's side we had several artistic relatives. Art was something I enjoyed and was fairly good at."

"My mother was from Spanish decent in New Mexico, and my father's family was from Malta. I guess, together, they created a very romantic nature in me - a yearning for creativity."

Yet even with his art, trouble found David.

"One morning I showed up to high school drunk. I was in my art class when my teacher handed out our grades. I realized that I wasn't doing that great. When I asked him why, he told me I was missing assignments, etc. I, being drunk, didn't like his answer. So I screamed at him, and ran out of the class."

"When the teacher found me in the hallway, I shoved him against the lockers, ready to hit him. Luckily for both of us, other teachers tackled me. To say the least, I was kicked out of school. I never did graduate with my class."

"All of this crazy behavior came down to two things: drugs and abuse as a child. I was rebelling against everything: parents - I was in and out of my house - teachers, friends, and life. I was a mess."

"So that's when I decided I needed to get things together. I packed up my mom's car and drove to New Mexico.

"Initially, I enrolled in beauty school since I had always cut hair in high school, but that only lasted a few months before I headed back to California. Sadly, while in California, I got involved in crime: drugs and guns and such."

"One day, after drinking a gallon of beer for breakfast, I headed up a wild police chase on a borrowed motorcycle. I was caught and in put in deep trouble. After the whole ordeal, I knew I needed out, so I headed back to New Mexico again."

It was during Dave's second stint in New Mexico that three wonderful events occurred in his life. First, he began to paint seriously. Then, he finished school. And arguably the most important, he became a Christian.

"Around 1989, I went back to school, finishing up fairly quickly. I got a job right out of school. I was working at a salon, and one of the ladies- an ex-heroin addict with a star inlayed on her tooth- kept singing songs to God. I was mystified," David said.

"She was an African-American lady, a beautiful soul," David continued. "She would always ask me if I were a Christian. I, being raised Catholic, said, 'sure.' But the reality was I was far from it."

"She was so persistent, that one day I gave in, and turned my life over to God (via a client of my co-worker) - right there at the salon."

Seed of Life, Oil on Canvas

During his whole adventure at the salon, David also picked up painting. His work was very symbolic, representing what was going on with his life.

"I began to realize that the art I was painting was a clear message about my life: abuse, alcohol, drugs, and rebellion. Art accentuated my frustration with life, but helped me see my life for what it was: out of control. In a way, art was the mirror that helped show me that I needed God's love."

Santa Cruz, Oil on Canvas

Gatt continued, "Before New Mexico, I loved to draw and create, but ended up tossing out much of my artwork, usually out of frustration. Then, around age 23, I began to keep my art, seeing it almost as a journal of my transformation from rebel to rest in God."

Now Gatt sees painting as a way to infuse his life with his faith.

"My painting will usually tell a story of moral principles, of frustrations, of temptations, and ultimately of relief."

"It was through my faith in Christ that generated my new-found desire to

create, both through painting and at my job as a stylist. Incidentally, it was through my job- and the pursuit of creativity- that I met my wife, Rita. We now have three wonderful children. I guess that was the ultimate act of creativity," David said with a smile.

"So though art- via drugs- got me in to trouble in high school, art has been a source of release for me as an adult. In God's timing, I have been led to a place of peace: with Him, myself, and my family."

Brian Nixon is a pastor, writer, musician, and family man. He currently lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.