proudly presents
“Homage”
An Exhibition Of Works By
André Martinez Reed
Homage The Paintings and Photographs of André Martinez-Reed January 29, 2009-March 15, 2009
André Martinez-Reed is a native New Yorker. He was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, “I believe, to
understand the workings of the Spirits roaming the Universe, one must first become aware of its existence. Once
you do, it is only a matter of stepping through the door. It is impossible to look back as you explore your subtle
surroundings and realize the wonder of all the infinite possibilities that exist around us. As an artist, you need
not labor to capture the unexplained in a photograph or in a painting. With openness, it’s presence makes itself
known. Be open and keen, then your work will become a living entity”
His philosophy and ideas coalesce in the exhibition, “Homage, A Tribute To The Spirits,” which will be presented
at Henry Gregg Gallery, 111 Front Street, Suite 226 in Brooklyn’s DUMBO section. It will showcase twelve
oil paintings and six fine art photographs.
Look Again An exhibition of paintings and photographs by Andre Martinez-Reed
What makes you stop unexpectedly before a face painted on canvas, reflected in a photograph? You’ve seen
countless faces in every day life, countless, the images forwarded as art, news and history. Yet, there are times
when an image seemingly similar to others, beckons one to stop and look again.
It’s a magnetism drawing one into a scene. One transcends rational observation for more penetrating, revealing
characteristics that trigger recognition of a profound state of being exuded from the depths of the third and
forth dimensions. A face and its surroundings move, taking shapes, released from fixed patterns by no external
manipulation. One comes face to face, in communion with mysterious forces inhabiting the subject. Forces we
know to exist in ourselves in dream states, in wakened naked embrace of the spiritual, within the soul of our
existence, named and no named. Language recedes giving way to feelings. A face emits an aura embracing our
very own inner sanctums of self consciousness. Standing before the image one realizes sensations embedded in
the psychic fabric of the mind; elements haunting and liberating, painful and ecstatic.
Andre Martinez employs the mediums of paint and photography to journey the viewer into the realm of the paranormal.
I prefer to call his work - transport to the spirit world.
The exhibition, his fifth, is a culmination of three years work. A master jazz musician and gifted artisan, Martinez
transposes his base mastery onto the visual plain via multiplicity of layered oils, inks, varnish, chalks, lead
and Venetian plasters. Bold and free, after utilizing brushes he shapes his subjects, tableau, by hand, fusing the
material to the visceral. In this fashion the painter surrenders to the hypnotic. The results are captivating, enabling
the viewer a portal into the micro cosmos of life forms, entry into the known, inexplicable caverns of that
which is so often over looked in ones self, in the surrounding universe.
Martinez is a contemporary spiritual iconographer representing religious figures to convey mysteries both enchanting
and sorrowful. Drawing inspiration for this show from Leonardo da Vinci, Degas, Rembrandt, Monet,
Renoir, Picasso, Courbet and Bacon, Martinez sees himself as a vessel carrying on from the masters, neither
imitator nor self conscious stylist. Continuing lessons learned from decades of jazz drumming and percussion
Martinez strives to “free my hands, my mind and my soul,” confident in the end result. The foundation of his
approach learned from a decade long membership in the orchestra of legendary avant-garde jazz leader, Cecil
Taylor: to be “ free, fearless and precise.”
Complimenting the dozen paintings on exhibit are a small number of photos. Using the camera to illustrate the
presence of the para normal, the spiritual, Martinez shot seemingly mundane, unremarkable scenes of house
furnishings stirring in normal light using no more than a simple lens and film. The images caught are surreal,
suggesting, isolating, a spirit presence.
This exhibition is designed to create an atmosphere of spiritual dialog between painter, subject and visitor. It can
easily extend as a long journey, a metaphysical voyage. All one need do, as I have done, is look, look again.
Moe Seager
