Patrick Martinez Show

Patrick Martinez Show

What are the materials being used in each of the 3 bodies of work described in the galleries press release?

-The artist uses neon signage, tile, paint, clay, stucco, and tarp in his Los Angeles landscape paintings. In the cake paintings he used heavy body acrylic, clay, airbrush, and paint. The neon sign is made with neon, paint, metal window security bars, stucco, and tile.

 

What do these processes and materials communicate about the work? Do they add or distract from his overall aim?

-I think that the materials and the way in which they are used create a very layered effect. The materials are all vastly different, but when combined they create very coherent pieces. Similarly, the messages behind Martinez’s work are all very layered; while viewing the works, I noticed that our class would mainly break it down by themes in order to detect the overarching message.

 

What are LA landscape pntgs?

How does he refer to them on this work?

-The LA landscape paintings are essentially what they say they are. They feature somewhat abstracted versions of LA scenes- all of which feature roses and some of which feature cakes. The two that stand out the most to me are neon sign roses enclosed in a metal window security bar with tile lining the bottom of the painting.He refers to them throughout his work by including roses in all the other pieces.

 

Compare his American flag painting to two other famous American flag art works of your choice. Research and compare how they differ in content and interrogate the symbol in different ways.

-Jasper John’s “Three Flags” comments on how the American flag is perceived- how it is “seen and not looked at, not examined.” Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima” is a photograph that shows six American marines raising a flag on Mount Suribachi during WWII. This photo became quite famous, presumably for its nationalistic message. As told in the press release, “America’s Pie” is “nearly half eaten and acts as…both a celebratory symbol and one used in times of mourning.”

 

do Martinez’s neon pieces do something new in art history that past neon works do not do? How do they add to this genre? Research Glen Ligon, Dan Flavin, and Paul Stephen Benjamin’s neon works for context.

-Neon signage is not often a medium used to make grand and powerful statements, so I think Matinez’s work does add something to the genre in this sense.

 

What’s your favorite work in the show and why?

My favorite work in the show is “Chocolate Cake for the Black Panther Party” because the imagery is so vibrant and striking, and it heavily relates to some of his cake portraits, like activists Angela Davis, James Baldwin, and Malcolm X. Also, I think the cake it somewhat humorous- as it is for a hypothetical “party” for the Black Panther group, which was an extremely serious matter.

-My least favorite work is “Purple Roses.” I might appreciate is more if I understood the message behind it better. But to me, it is the least visually appealing and does not present an especially strong meaning.

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