Today we’d like to introduce you to Genessis Martinez.
Genessis, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
As a kid, having your photo taken was not out of the norm during theme park visits, holidays and especially birthdays. Everyone in my family always took the cliché group photo surrounding the birthday cake. Growing up I was the awkward, antisocial tomboy following my adulthood life. Both parents are Mexican immigrant working-class, speaking and understanding little to no English with no art background. I am the oldest child out of three, born in San Diego and raised in Lynwood California.
The arts for my parents at least, was most supported during preschool to kindergarten. Anything after that period of time only meant you had a hobby and nothing more. I transferred school districts beginning the sixth grade and graduated high school in the Long Beach district area in 2008. In Junior year, I took a film photo class elective and this was initially my first pursuit involving photography. Of course, underestimating the challenging form of art, I failed with a D. The seed was later nurtured when I was gifted my very own Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T100 digital camera and it was magic! It was a pocket-sized point and shoot with 8 megapixels, 5x optical zoom and the camera body was sleek silver. I was seventeen and in love! I still have that camera today.
Summer of 2006, I understood what death was and what losing a friend felt like, forever. Following later again in 2016, after losing my Grandfather. The perspective of life and death came with the solid realization of the importance of photography, videography and how crucial it is to document people and the time.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
Aside from shooting photos, video editing became a strong self-taught visual expressive outlet before furthering my learning at Cerritos College. I have studied under professor Cameron Crone for both film and digital photography. Process and method: I prefer to lose myself in song to block out distraction. Having substantially loud music playing in the background or listening with headphones, aides focus with less interruptions. I am always exploring through dark peculiarity concepts that involve silhouetted subjects, heavy shadows in an ominous abstract realm. Black and white is most present in my work more so than color to achieve a perceptual informal dialogue. I like to scout locations that seem unusual, with menacing surroundings uncomfortable to be in. I feel there is always potential to shoot anywhere given purpose. It only takes trying and that opens a window to opportunity. It is a constant experimentation with failure of expectation to execute, but rewarding to see the different outcome of imagery. My methods and intention of filming and photographing continue to change. With a growing interest in documenting individuals from different backgrounds in art.
As of now, I am working on some film/photo projects with the collaboration of others that I will incorporate into my weird and strange ideas of environment. I legitimately work as the lab technician for the Printmaking Department at Cerritos College in the Fine Arts building. In the last two summers, I was asked to document 7 guest established Artists learning the printmaking processes facilitated in the new printmaking studio hosted and brought together by professor and LA Artist Sergio Teran.
The sterotype of a starving artist scares away many potentially talented artists from pursuing art – any advice or thoughts about how to deal with the financial concerns an aspiring artist might be concerned about?
In a world full of unknown factors and continual change, it becomes difficult to acquire a space to not only live in, but to work and develop as an independent Artist. Choosing a creative direction and following your heart can be unforgiving when found under these circumstances. Since the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act in 1995, it has been a struggle to sustain a living in California today as rent increases. With a defeat to repeal this rental housing act recently in the November 2018 ballot. Apart from this truth, Artists have united in building hope through the arts. Both within the public spaces and with one another.
It is rare to find yourself in a group of people who believe and pursue what they are passionate about. Despite the trials and tribulations of one’s own financial status and current events. Meeting strangers who you connect with quickly become family. Being a total introvert, reluctant to socialize has definitely made me feel like a misfit. Yet, stepping out of the shell and working through small talk helps and it is worth doing. Because you find an art community with people who are kind and make you feel welcomed. Even at a socially awkward pace. Building friendships that encourage a positive compass feels good during these times. Thriving in the wealth of support and love from others, creates relentless movement to keep you going.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
Time and Space: 122 hours of Ink, opened October 31st 2018 in the Cerritos College Art Gallery. Where I currently have photographs and video documentation from the last two summer printmaking residencies. It is my proudest body of work today. The artworks of Phung Huynh, Wayne Perry, Juan Manuel Valenzuela (and more) are being displayed. The curated exhibition runs until next month, December 7th.
I have all finished short film projects up on Vimeo. Please feel free to also browse my Instagram, I am always actively posting photo/video content and adding to my stories of my routines.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vimeo.com/genessismartinez
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gencifette/
Image Credit:
Kimo Bautista
Genessis Martinez
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