culture seen

LOCATION: Phoenix, Arizona

Studio Exterior

Studio Interior

Studio Interior

FAVORITE STUDIO TOOL:

“Egg yolk from a happy chicken and my dry pigments,” says Monica.

WEIRDEST ITEM IN THE STUDIO:

Monica said, “Right now I have some dry old egg yolk mixed with pigment, in a little tray… haven’t tossed it out.  And I really should, especially in this July warmth.”

BIO/RESUME:

Monica Aissa Martinez, born and raised in El Paso, TX, lives and works in Phoenix, AZ. She attended the University of Texas at El Paso where she studied Metals and Ceramics. She earned a master of fine arts from New Mexico State University, with emphasis in Drawing and Printmaking.
Her work has exhibited in the Phoenix Art Museum (Local’s Only), the Tucson Museum of Art (AZ biennial ’09), the ASU Art Museum (Here and Now), Tempe Center for the Arts, Mesa Arts Center, and the Scottsdale Center for the Arts (solo). Her work has been seen internationally, and is part of numerous private and public collections including: New Mexico State University, Mesa Arts Center, Phoenix Municipal Court House, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary of Art, Arizona State University, and Brigham Young University.
Martinez’s drawing, paintings and prints are featured in three publications through the Hispanic Research Center and Bilingual Press/Editorial Bilingue of Arizona State University. Both ASU and the University of Norte Dame have commissioned Martinez to create limited edition prints.

She will be included in a Fall exhibit at the Tempe Center for the Arts where these works and others, will be exhibited.

WEBSITE(s):

monicaaissamartinez.com
monicaaissamartinez.wordpress.com

ARTIST STATEMENT:

These mixed media collages on paper, are from a series titled A Constant Vital Commotion. The body is like a landscape of intricate structure, complex and full of variety. It’s a whole organization, made up of many systems. I find it exciting and beautiful. As I go from shape-to-shape, work-to-work, I find myself searching deep within its nooks and crannies. I never only want to understand each area of the body, so much as I am trying to understand, trying to locate what makes the body tick, what makes the mind tick. What makes me tick?

These particular works are influenced by Mexican Milagros (Spanish for miracles), small, religious, votive charms depicting arms, legs, eyes, hearts…etc. The colors are connected to Chakra (tantric and yogic) philosophy. The tie-in to the sacred is key. I am interested in both what is permanent and impermanent. These Milagros, little miracles, are the groundwork, for most of the art I have made in the last couple of years.

The series includes large paintings on canvas and small collages on paper. I use line, shape, and color to represent complex connections between body, mind and spirit. The materials for the entire series include black and white gesso, egg tempera, casein, crayon, graphite and pencil color.

 

 

Artwork and photo of Monica Aissa Martinez courtesy of the artist.