Daniel Joseph Martinez

   I was not sure what to expect going to see Daniel Joseph Martinez speak.  I had heard from numerous people it was going to be a great experience.  Upon sitting there waiting for him to start speaking, I wondered if I was going to be able to stay awake.  Once Martinez started speaking, I immediately felt enlivened.  He touched on many topics that have been on my mind within the past couple of months.  I agreed with him when he was discussing the relationship between artists and museums/art dealers.  In the past, artists were put up on a pedestal.  The artists would create and then the museums would cherish what was created.  Now, it does seem that these roles are slightly reversed.  I feel that a lot of art is created for the consumer.  I’ve had many discussions with friends that are artists about the creation of art.  If we were all to create paintings of sunsets, forest scenes, and flowers – we would be able to sell the pieces and make money.  However, in my opinion, being true to our selves as an artist is more important.  I want to develop my work into something I love – not something I can make a few dollars on.

         

Martinez also touched upon what art is.  He stated that art is the last line of defense for our species.  That art creates a unique experience to help us remember who we are.  In my philosophy class, we had discussed what makes us human in comparison to animals.  I believe that it is our ability to create and think creatively.  So, as artists – ones that think creatively to create stuff – I can totally understand why art is our last line of defense for our species.  Creating is one of our most fundamental abilities and the more we step towards technology and away from nature, the more we need to be reconnected with our natural way of thinking.

I really enjoyed Martinez’s way of presenting his ideas.  By using numerous references from our culture to explain his thoughts helped me relate to a lot of what he was saying.  By going through numerous images and numerous topics, it stopped my mind from drifting away.  He did not stumble around on what he was trying to say.  He stated his ideas very sharply.  Sure, there were some things he said that I disliked or did not necessarily agree upon, but overall, his thoughts and ideas were very captivating.  The few pieces of his own work that he presented seemed very interesting.  The use of robotics is something very foreign to me but also very appealing.