Warring Factions Opens at Florence’s Gately Gallery
Right at the heart of Florence downtown, the Stephen F. Gately Gallery is brimming with new energy as it hosts an artist reception for Mar Martinez and also celebrates the winners of the Florence Regional Arts Alliance’s Small Works competition. Martinez’s enigmatic exhibit – “Warring Factions” – manages to share gallery space with the Small Works exhibit, making for an eclectic mix of artwork at this creative hub.
An Outlook into the “Warring Factions”
The exhibit showcases a variety of paintings on wood, intricately cut out by Martinez herself. Drawing inspiration from the notion of tension, Martinez has beautifully illustrated this through her unique pieces. “I view them as chapters of a part of a larger book, all tied together through a thread of tension”, she stated during the event. The dynamic interplay within her artworks, particularly between the entities depicted on each piece, reflect this sentiment. From conflict-engaged creatures to ambiguously depicted animals, it is this play of body language that lends a fascinating perspective to the viewers.
Among her exhibited works, some stand out for their unique renditions of ‘rugs’, painted and placed on the floor. Interestingly, Martinez describes these pieces as individual entities with their own body language, thereby adding an anthropomorphic touch to non-human objects. This sense of tension and conflict extends beyond the illustrative value of each piece, translating onto the physical experience of viewing these artworks.
A Mix of Tradition and Modern Artistry
Despite being a child of Syrian and Cuban heritage, Martinez’s keen interest in Syrian weaving transcends from being merely a domestic skill to a powerful artistic expression. This interest has led her to receive a Fulbright to research more about the weaving process in Istanbul. When asked about her interest in weaving and textile, she said, “I was thinking about how it’s so interesting how, like a singular thread can be wound endlessly upon itself to create something that’s withstanding.”
Martinez’s artistic journey expands beyond her works on display. Part of her contribution towards the event was her role as a judge for the 2024 Small Works Juried Exhibition.
The Florence Small Works Exhibition Winners
Adding to the excitement of the evening is the artists coming out on top in the 2024 Small Works Juried Exhibition. Florence artist Julie Mixon earned the first place for her captivating artwork, “Two Fold Flood”. Brittany Gilbert, also from Florence, secured the second place with her art piece “Lichen Day/Night I”. Florence’s Doug Gray won the third place for “An Echo Of Belonging” and Mauldin’s Aldo Muzzarelli received an honorable mention for “Prejudices”.
This gathering of some of the finest local talents in the art world is indeed a treat for the inhabitants of Florence, as both Mar Martinez’s “Warring Factions” and the Small Works Exhibition will continue to enthrall the visitors at Stephen F. Gately Gallery until October 3rd.
