Artist-in-Residence Spotlight: Christina Green-Martinez
From early childhood, Christina remembers being complimented on her ability to capture the likeness of an image or person. She has a natural ability to create in a variety of genres such as plein-air, portraits, life drawing and abstracts in a variety of mediums. As an AmeriCorps artist-in-residence at Imagine Art in Austin, Texas, she is able to share her expertise with developing artists.
The Stag Black Rose
At age 17, Christina enlisted in the Royal Armed Forces. After two years in the British army, she moved to the U.S. in 1971, married and started a family. As she got older, she was motivated to rekindle her artistic skills and broaden her knowledge of art history. She enrolled in Austin Community College then transferred to UT’s School of Art Education, receiving her diploma in 1984. Using her degree, she taught elementary school and later opened an art gallery in New Mexico.
At The Old Bakery and Emporium Gallery The Dove
All is Connected
For Christina, art is a medium to express and share her personal perspective of life. She has long had a fascination with sacred geometry. In her more recent paintings, she combines geometric shapes with organic images.
Her great influence is philosopher, architect, inventor and philanthropist Buckminster Fuller. After attending one of his lectures at UT, her vision as an artist changed. A new awareness of the physical world, both seen and unseen, was revealed to her through Fuller’s ideas. From the microcosm to the macrocosm, energy flows throughout. Christina believes that All is connected and conveys this idea through her art.
Conch Egret Landing, Gardenia
After spending 9 years in Taos, NM–The Land of Enchantment–she developed an appreciation for the vastness of landscape. From the high desert plains to the piney mountains, life flows through it all. As a result, Chris cherishes the earth and its eco-systems. She still enjoys the simple presence of plein air painting and life drawing.
B-24 and UFO’s
Her art was on view in October during the Austin Veterans’ Art Heals Wounds Exhibition at The Old Bakery and Emporium, where Madison Bennett captured these photos.
