Artist Talk with Firehouse Art Center Summer Artist in Residency, Saxon Martinez
Category: Event Calendar
Date and Time
- Sunday, Oct 5, 2025 3pm - 5pm
Location
Firehouse Art Center
667 4th Ave
Details
Join us for a special artist talk with Saxon Martinez as we talk about his new exhibit at the Firehouse.
Get ready to gain a deeper understanding of his creative process and to be immersed in his residency exhibition featuring an immersive pinata installation.
Saxon Martinez’s work is about the investigation and exploration of the brown body by way of the piñata motif. Martinex is a sculptor who makes objects that resemble American piñatas, however his work deviates from the conventional forms of these objects by creating anthropomorphic forms that embody 3-D self-portraits.
“I want to share my lived experiences through the forms I create. I want to share the importance of these objects and their history within my culture. Growing up, the piñata became a herald of celebration and as the years passed, it has now taken on a new meaning. It marks a moment of transition in my life which has shaped my identity. These sculptures embody ambiguous forms that are adorned with the piñata motif. The ambiguity of the form is an acknowledgment of my shared experience within the Latinx community.”
Martinez’s sculptures are created using cardboard, wood, tissue paper, and mulberry paper. Their creation is a convergence of years of construction experience, memories and conversation between Martinez and the materials. Each sculpture is created in the moment to express their ephemeral attributes, never to be created again. Martinez views his process similar to his lived experience, ones that he wishes to share with the viewer.
Learn more about Saxon here: https://www.instagram.com/martinez_s_f/
An artist walkthrough of the exhibit will occur after the talk.
Saxon Martinez was selected as the 2025 Summer Artist in Residence or the Firehouse Artist Occupied Series. This program invites emerging and established artists working in all media to explore their practice while engaging with the community.
Previous resident artists include Heather Kegel, Sean Faling, Jessica Forrestal, Chris Blume, Kaitlyn Tucek, Roberta Restaino, Chelsea Gilmore, Barbara Rudlaff, Amy Hoagland, Janelle Anderson, Jono Wright, Nancy Eastman, Makenzie Davis, Amy Lummus, Erica Podwoiski, and Kenzie Sitterud.
