Neon Brothers: Chele and Gio Alvarez

In 1987, Gio Alvarez came to Los Angeles to escape war in his home country of El Salvador; his brother Chele joined five years later. Learning the craft of neon-bending once they arrived, the brothers have worked together, hand-making neon signs, for nearly forty years. As they put the finishing touches on one of Madre’s signs, we asked Chele a few questions about their journey. Film by Casa Ysasi.

Bueno trabajar con mi hermano es muy bonito una experiencia pues muy buena porque a pesar de qué es mi hermano él tiene que revisar todos los trabajos que yo hago pues porque él el negocio él lo corre y tiene que asegurarse que vaya bien hecho el neón.

Well, working with my brother is a very nice experience, a very good one, because even though he's my brother, he has to review all the work I do because he runs the business and has to make sure the neon is done well.

IS THERE A FAVORITE NEON YOU HAVE WORKED ON OVER YOUR CAREER?

Así hay un neón muy bueno se puede decir especial trabajaba yo en una compañía muy grandede sing en California y ahí nos daban un proyecto de comenzarlo y hasta terminarlo y me acuerdo que hice un neón que está en City Wall en los estudios universales que es un gorila muy grande que está colgado del techo le dicen Dunkin Kong. Lo hice en el 95 y todavía está ahí.

So, there's a very good neon sign, you could say special. I worked at a very large sing-along company in California, and there they gave us a project from start to finish. I remember I made a neon sign that's on City Wall at Universal Studios, which is a very large gorilla hanging from the ceiling. They call it Dunkin' Kong. I made it in 1995, and it's still there.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GLASS NEON AND LED NEON?

La diferencia entre el neón y el LED es bastante grande pues el neón es un arte es vidrio cuesta mucho mucho aprenderlo yo me recuerdo que practicaba ocho horas diarias por un año para aprender lo básico…Los neones de LED es luz con electricidad, él él le di dura meses. Ell neón lleva gas por eso el neón puede durar hasta 30 años.

The difference between neon and LED is quite significant, as neon is an art form, it's glass, and it's very difficult to learn. I remember practicing eight hours a day for a year to learn the basics. LED neons are lights powered by electricity; they last for months. Neon uses gas, which is why neon can last up to 30 years.

WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND YOU IF THEY’D LIKE TO COMMISSION A NEON?

Nos pueden encontrar en la dirección 19 00 Sur la ciénega… y también en el 51 08 West Adam Los Ángeles, California.

You can find us at 1900 La Cienega Boulevard….and also at 5108 West Adams Boulevard [in] Los Angeles, California.

Author's note: You can also find them on their website.

IF YOU COULD SHARE A MEZCAL WITH ANYONE, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

Sería con cumbias amigos mi familia con mi hermano así que bueno para tener alguna celebración o algo familiar.

It would be with cumbias, friends, my family, and my brother, it's good to have some celebration or something family-oriented.

You can find Chele, Gio, and their work on their website.

CAN YOU SHARE A BIT ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY FROM EL SALVADOR TO LOS ANGELES? WHAT BROUGHT YOU HERE?

En los años ochentas a los 90 había guerra en nuestro país y esa fue una de las cosas por las que salimos mi hermano Gio él se vino primero y un amigo que aquí conoció él le enseñó a hacer neón. Cuando yo vine en el 92 mi hermano me puso a aprender entonces se puede decir que fue lo primero que hice llegando a este país.

In the 80s and 90s, there was war in our country, which was one reason we left. My brother Gio came first and a friend he met here taught him how to make neon lights. When I came in '92 my brother made me learn, so, you could say that it was the first thing I did when I arrived in this country.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED MAKING NEONS?

Me acuerdo que cuando vine a este país mi hermano trabajaba de empleado con un en una compañía y el dueño me dio permiso de aprender ahí así que ahí pues mi hermano me enseñaba practicaba ocho horas al día.

I remember when I came to this country my brother worked as an employee in a company and the owner gave me permission to learn there, so my brother taught me and I practiced eight hours a day.

WHAT IS IT LIKE WORKING WITH YOUR BROTHER? DO YOU EACH HAVE DISTINCT ROLES WHEN WORKING ON A PROJECT?