Latest artsy activities from Estudio Martita / Martha Rodriguez

There has been a flurry of activity in Estudio Martita for the past month. As usual, artful activites seem to always happen around the same time.

My first event is happening this Tuesday at Puerto Alegre Restaurant on Valencia Street in San Francisco. The show is titled: Pasion de Frida. It is a celebration of Frida Kahlo's birthday on July 6th. There will be fabulous artwork exhibited, music, food, prizes and a Frida look alike contest!

https://www.facebook.com/events/250087725131441/?ref=ts&fref=ts

I will have two paintings exhibited:

Frida in Fuschia - mixed media

La Rosa Frida - mixed media

In addition, I will be selliing some of my Frida inspired folk art at the opening on Tuesday: upcycled Frida purses, jewelry, home accessories and small works of art.  Come on by!

what: Pasión de Frida

where: Puerto Alegre Restaurant

address: 546 Valencia St. San Francisco (between 16th and 17th)

when: Opening Tuesday July 2nd, 3 to 5pm; runs until August 27th

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another Frida Kahlo birthday celebration...

what: Fiestas Fridas Community Celebration

where: The Women's Building

address: 3543 18th St. San Francisco, CA 94110 

when: Sunday July 7th from 2 to 9pm in the Audre Lord room

I have one piece of artwork that I created for this event:

Bound by Love - mixed media on canvas - 24" x 30"

I'll also be selling my Frida inspired folk art in the Audre Lord room also. In the auditorium there will be music - world and salsa, music and dance performances face painting, craft making plus raffle give-aways! Fun for all!

Would love to see you at both events but would be so happy to see you at one.

Wishing you good health and sending big hugs!

Martha

Estudio Martita

The Bountiful Series

Angel  part of Bountiful Series - 12" X 12" - acrylic on canvas

In the first six months of 2013, I created a painting series called Bountiful. It is a series with images of large sized women enjoying life. My initial purpose in creating Bountiful was to portray large women as unabashedly proud, confident and unintimidated by their large sizes. I wanted to show them as capable of showing off their form to the masses without having to hide their perceived body image as shameful or defective. Bountiful is therefore a series of whimsical figures shown against a backdrop of of bright colors. Rather than offering the image of large woman as subdued, Bountiful blasts her image in your face with large buttocks, breasts, thighs shown as signs of beauty and adoration.

I also have a second reason for creating Bountiful. I am at a time in my life where the concerns of everyday life that previously held me back and prevented me from enjoying each day are less important. After surviving a diagnosis of Leukemia in 2010, I’m faced with living each day to the fullest. It’s a wonderful time. Bountiful has helped me face the demons that yes, I am imperfect whether in body type, age or personality. Bountiful’s answer to these perceived demons is, “So what? Join the masses in your imperfections. You are not alone.”

So, there you have it. The Bountiful Series. It is my answer to accepting who you are. It is my way of discarding the woes of imperfection and shaking off the pressures of achieving perfection in this imperfect world we live in.