event | Miguel Martinez Unveiling "Our Lady of Mercy"
Sep 23, 2016 - Sep 23, 2016
As one of the highlights of their 15th Anniversary, Goldenstein Gallery is honored to have their artists creating permanent art pieces for installation in Sedona’s historic Chapel of the Holy Cross. The acclaimed architectural landmark celebrates 60 years this year while also being honored and designated as one of the Holy Doors sites during the Jubilee Year of Mercy called by Pope Francis in November 2015. The public is invited to join them on Friday September 23rd from 5-7pm for a special reception at Goldenstein Gallery with artist Miguel Martinez to celebrate the unveiling his Madonna painting, "Our Lady of Mercy." This stunning piece will be formally installed in the Chapel on the following morning, September 24, with Mass at 8am.
From its earliest beginnings the Chapel of the Holy Cross has been recognized internationally. Within a year of it’s opening in 1956 it appeared in Life Magazine, The Washington Post and The New York Times as well as receiving the prestigious American Institute of Architects Awards for Religious Structures.
Conceived and designed by Marguerite Brunswig Staude, a pupil of Frank Lloyd Wright, the Chapel appears to rise out of the surrounding red rocks. Inspired by the Empire State Building, she searched internationally for many years before settling on the site in Sedona.
The three artists commissioned by the Diocese of Phoenix to create art pieces for the Chapel include Jacqueline Jordan Jackson, who is a direct descendant of one of Sedona’s pioneer families, Miguel Martinez and Sedona sculptor James Muir.
Jackson’s four hand-painted abstract silk hangings were installed in late May. Each piece measures 3' x 15': Creation, The Earth, Life and the Heavens. Using the French Serti technique, she used holy water in the creation of these pieces in keeping with the sacred nature of this commission. Visit the Chapel to see these majestic pieces; you can see more of her work from gorgeous hand painted scarves to vibrant ceramic vases at Goldenstein Gallery.
Early in his development Miguel Martinez spent five years working with several prominent New Mexico Artists including RC Gorman, Ray Vinella, and Frank Howell. He was inspired by Mexican artists Rivera and Zuniga for their portrayal of the dignity of common folk, and he admired Modigliani's works of powerful and poignant human emotions. He knew these were the kinds of messages stirring in his soul and waiting to be painted.
Still in his early twenties, Miguel found a style, which has become his acclaimed world wide signature: Moved by deep respect and admiration, he began a series of large faces of women, enlarging and stylizing the eyes, and endowed them with mystery of illusive and provocative expressions. He has created them in an ambience of everyday life, giving them a voice that has inordinately proved to speak to the hearts of a universal following.
After almost twenty years this series continues, though Martinez says, "The women have changed as time passed, and I have changed as well. In my travels around the world, the women I have encountered have all found their way into my paintings. Each face I paint, to me, has a different identity. But I feel from the beginning they have all shared a common bond-their values, their character-things almost forgotten in our everyday day routines. These women are upright, strong yet gentle, proud of who they are. They have nothing to hide."
The public is invited to meet Miguel Martinez at Goldenstein Gallery on Friday, September 23, from 5-7pm and join in the celebration of this special piece.
James Muir is completing a monumental bronze that will rest on the interior window cross that will be unveiled in the Spring of 2017. The maquette bronze sculpture of this poignant piece will be available in December 2016.