by Stew Mosberg


The Durango Arts Center’s Friends of the Art Library (F.O.A.L.) has built an outstanding reputation by bringing unusual work and top-notch artists into the tiny space. The diminutive shows require taking a flight of stairs up and then another down in order to view extraordinary art.

On numerous occasions, the F.O.A.L. has invited artists from other parts of the country to display their unique styles and techniques, and also to share their knowledge through workshops.

This time around however, F.O.A.L. has invited local artist Heather Martinez to create her own brand of art show. And it turns out the exhibit isn’t an art show at all, at least not in the traditional sense.

The former publisher of Arts Perspective magazine, Martinez has become well-known as an alternative process photographer. Those who know her artwork will come to the library expecting Holgar camera photos and cyanotypes, but then, this is not a typical art show. According to Martinez, “This exhibit is not about process, the exhibit is the process.”

Just the Facts What: "Recently Domesticated" by Heather Leavitt-Martinez Where: Durango Arts Center Art Library (updtrairs) When: Through August

Her concept engages the viewer and makes them part of the exhibit. Those in attendance “who get it,” she says, will hopefully participate and help the work evolve as long as the show is on view, which is until the end of August.

The collection’s title, “Recently Domesticated,” seems at first blush, to reference the artist’s shift into the alternative universe of married life, but according to Martinez that is not necessarily the case. Visitors to the gallery who think the display is about her spousal duties, “Will only restrict (their) perspective of these works,” she warns. “There is simply more to the creation of the concepts behind them.”

The presentation is about thoughts, about icons, about metaphors, and it’s about words as much as imagery. There are reflections on household items such as an egg beater and a sink, memories of one’s first haircut; a treatise on altruism in the form of a long, accordion-folded 4 drawing of bats and ants to illustrate the sharing and selflessness of the insect way of life.

There are hints to married life in the “non” show and also challenges to accepted social paradigms, sexism and feminism. There is even a straightforward inquiry about how we view our jobs as in, “Are you married to it?”

The show does however, have its roots in Martinez’ very personal journey over the past few years and she says, “It is a reflection of the process of physically constructing my inner landscape. The biggest lesson I have learned from becoming domesticated was that by doing so, I have in turn earned the luxury of taking even more creative risks.”

At the entrance to the library, Martinez cautions the viewer that the images and material they are about to see are not intended to be aesthetically pleasing and points out that they are meant to connect with the viewer on an intellectual level. Intriguingly, each visual representation has an accompanying notebook or a clip board allowing visitors to add their own perspective and emotional responses to what they see. Inside the pages there are some prompts or thought-provoking comments to trigger a reader’s imagination and shake up their psyche.

It is the artist’s intention that as the books become filled with musings they will expand the reach of the exhibit and turn it into a shared experience, an awakening; reflections on each person’s view of their own role in society or how we often conform to someone else’s idea of “domestication.”

As compared to her other photography-based endeavors – “Toyed with” is currently at the Open Shutter Gallery – this “non-show” demonstrates Martinez’ more analytical side. The thought process of the artist, melded with that of the viewer, creates a synergy that then sparks introspection for both.

At first viewing, visitors to the DAC library might well ponder this event and then leave without participating. Yet, Martinez’ thought provoking and suggestive presentation will likely draw them back again to write in the journals and add to the evolution of the work; by doing so, they will have fulfilled the artist’s objective to become a physical part of the art.

Domestication may not come easy to Martinez, but that has little to do with her being a relative newlywed. It has more to do with her as a person; she cannot be pigeon holed. After giving up the reins at Arts Perspective along with her supportive role within the local art community, the wizened artist took a position at Korn/Ferry as a graphic specialist and has honed her skill at graphic recording, which is a fascinating method of creating a visual map during the course of a lecture or meeting. She continues to experiment with alternative process photography but has been forced to change methods because of an adverse reaction to the chemicals.

Constantly inquisitive and introspective, she applied to and was accepted into grad school in Boston, only to turn it down. Now, in addition to her already full schedule, Martinez has added a career consulting segment to her busy schedule; she is developing a visually facilitated model for artists who wish to explore and ultimately further their careers. The course is called ACT, an acronym for Art Career Theorem, and will soon be available online.

As with most careers, life has its twists and turns, detours, and revisions. For Martinez staying one step ahead is the challenge, not anticipating what is coming next, but rather how to maximize the journey. “Recently Domesticated” brings the viewer along for the ride.