Painting Puerto Rico (Spanish Version)
By Laura Davis
Reflejos Correspondent

A raging blizzard did not keep patrons from the opening night of "Journey, A Solo Exhibition of Paintings" by award-winning artist Oscar Martinez at the Aurora Public Art Commission.
Watching the snow fall, Martinez worried that no one would show up because of the bad weather.

"Be prepared, honey," he told his wife of 15 years, Michele Tuohey, also an artist. "I think it's only going to be you and I."

But more than 120 guests came out to view Martinez's work, Gallery Director Rena Church said.

Patrons were transported from their snow-covered suburbs to the lush, tropical homeland of Martinez: Ponce, Puerto Rico, the inspiration for his vibrant oil paintings.

"Considering the fact that you couldn't even see a few feet in front of you from the snow, we were very happy," said Church, who planned the exhibit three years in advance.

Martinez uses symbols, images and linear figures to create visual memories that reflect his interpretation of the metaphysical aspects of life and his childhood recollections.

"I enjoy the spirituality of my artwork and continuously question the meaning of time, life and death, what we are doing here and where we are going." Martinez said.

Although his art is personal in nature, seeing others react to his work is equally as powerful.
A few years ago, he witnessed a woman view his painting titled, "Vienen Por Mi Y Todos Mis Recuerdos" (They are coming for me and all of my memories). The painting, of an older woman in a rocking chair with pain and yearning on her face, amid a background of faces, leaves the viewer to wonder what angst this woman is experiencing.

Martinez approached the viewer but soon noticed her crying.
"It's incredible to create an image that can cause such an emotional response," he said. "To see someone react to your work that way, it's wonderful."

Martinez left the woman alone, never uncovering why the painting evoked such feelings.
Martinez recently completed a mural at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, where he studied medical illustration 30 years ago, earning a bachelor of science degree in medical art and communications.

"I went there every weekend this past summer to complete the mural," Martinez said. "I was so happy to finish this project, 30 years later."

The mural is a tribute to the Latino experience in the United States, and was completed by Martinez and his art students.

Martinez, founder of the Latin American Museum of Art in Chicago, hopes he has paved the way and opened doors for Hispanic artists. Given his grand achievements, he describes some of the struggles of the art world.

"I constantly work on gaining representation from commercial galleries, recognition with the art media and continuously developing my relationships with curators, museums and galleries," he said. "Being an artist is a slow, difficult profession."

He recalls earlier days when every evening, weekend and holiday was devoted to painting, and at times, very lonely. Now, the 52-year-old Oak Park artist says life is more settled and focused on family.

"For fun, we spend time together, each of us working on our art and listening to Latin jazz and Cuban music for inspiration."

His voice echoes with pride when he talks about his wife, Michele, 38, an artist who just finished law school, and their two children Izer, 10, and Zulian, 12, both rapidly following in their parents footsteps.

"My daughter sold her artwork at a local art show in Chicago last year and was so proud, she took us all out to dinner," Martinez proudly recalls.

"Journey, A Solo Exhibition of Paintings" by Oscar Martinez is on display until March 20 at the Aurora Public Art Commission, 20 East Downer Place, in Aurora. For more information call (630) 906-0654 or visit www.oscarmartinez.com.

Spanish Version