Site 1: Saxon Martinez
Detail of “Site 1”, lithography by Saxon Martinez
“Homes are places for new beginnings, a place where family history is taught, and where some of the strongest bonds are formed. Just as the home is in a state of flux, so are the individuals that live within them.”
Carbondale Arts presented "Site 1", an installation by Saxon Martinez, with an opening reception on First Friday, March 1, from 6-8pm at The Launchpad.
This installation was an exploration into the artist's past as well as his future. When thinking about his heritage Saxon began to ask himself about where his ancestors came from and how did their history affect him now? He began to explore these questions and concluded that he wanted to depict his own ancient cultures with modern materials and modern techniques. Saxon explores these questions to understand who he is as well as to gain a greater understanding of other Latin cultures.
This installation was an investigation into people that lived thousands of years ago and how we live today. Saxon began this exploration with one of the most intimate places that he interacts with on a daily basis, a home. Homes are places for new beginnings, a place where family history is taught, and where some of the strongest bonds are formed. Just as the home is in a state of flux, so are the individuals that live within them. Despite the importance that homes have, they are all built with common materials. Saxon fused common materials, deep-rooted cultural images, and a new age figure. This figure was meant to bridge the gap between modern-day cultures by stripping away appropriated and commercialized imagery and replacing it with an unpretentious figure that can create conversations across various cultures in America.
"Site 1" opened the same evening as Jeff Steven's solo exhibition "It Was Dark Inside The Wolf". Both shows ran through March 29.
Saxon Martinez
Mixed media artist, Wellington, CO
Saxon Martinez is a mixed media artist that currently resides in Colorado. He was born in Dallas, TX, and spent nine years in the military traveling to various parts of the world before returning to academia. He currently attends and works at Colorado State University, pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in sculpture. During his time traveling abroad, and in the United States, he has witnessed the discourse, violence, and racism amongst various groups of the world. He uses varied mediums to combat these issues by creating work that envelopes the viewers. His art creates positive communication between diverse groups of people in order to bridge gaps between cultures.