Contemporary Native American Neo-Folk Artist to Showcase Latest Paintings at Albany Area Art Shows

ALBANY, N.Y. - March 3, 2015 - PRLog -- The Capital Region will have two opportunities this month to experience the latest paintings from local contemporary Native American neo-folk artist Jason Blue Lake Hawk Martinez. Martinez’s paintings will be showcased at the Albany Barn (http://www.albanybarn.org/)’s Stage 1 Gallery on Friday, March 6 and at The Flying Chicken (https://www.facebook.com/TheFlyingChicken) on Friday, March 27.

A member of the Tiwa Taos Pueblo Nation, Martinez describes his paintings as a union between the sappy sweet and grotesque, drawing on his Native American roots and his upbringing in Christian schools to illustrate stories of his conflict with his heritage, mortality and personal relationships. Martinez, who is an art instructor at the Doane Stuart School in Rensselaer for children ages 3 to 18, holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University at Albany—SUNY and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Purchase College—SUNY. His works have been shown in numerous exhibitions throughout the country.

“I use prayer, love and music when creating my work, and I want to share that energy with others,” said Martinez. “The works on display at these two shows focus on those themes.”

Albany Barn’s Stage 1 event takes place during Albany’s 1^st Friday art walk (http://www.1stfridayalbany.org/) and features a new show every month with work from three to five local artists. This month’s show takes place on Friday, March 6 from 5-9 p.m. at 46 North Swan Street in Albany.

The Flying Chicken’s exhibit is being held during Troy Night Out (http://downtowntroy.org/special-events/troy-night-out.html), a monthly arts and cultural event that takes place the last Friday of every month in Downtown Troy, from 5-9 p.m. The event regularly draws thousands people onto the streets of Troy, and attendees are able to enjoy other art events, music venues, fine restaurants as well as unique boutiques of all varieties. The Flying Chicken is located at 122 Fourth Street in Troy. Admission for both events is free.

“Both the Albany Barn and The Flying Chicken are important galleries in the Capital District, providing great opportunities for artists to exhibit their latest work, and I am honored to have been asked to be a part of these important events,” added Martinez. “Attendees who view my work at these exhibits can expect to experience a visual world laced with mythological elements, abstracted pop symbolism and depictions of familial relationships, composing a beautifully twisted fairytale landscape of neo-mythology and spiritual reclamation.”