ARCATA -- Crush is featuring original, mixed-media paintings by Sierra Martin this month, with a reception for Arts! Arcata tonight from 6 to 9 p.m.
The show, titled "The Bower Bird and Art," explores what Martin describes in an artist's statement as "an aesthetic free from representational weight. By shunning representation, I have been trying to discover what makes an image compelling once the sentimental and emotional have been removed. I'm not trying to paint things or feelings, but instead am trying to uncover a raw beauty independent of real world objects."
Martin doesn't title his paintings, he says, "because I want each painting to stand on its own aesthetic merit without the vulgar sentimentality of language."
Having been scientifically minded since he was young, Martin thinks it has influenced his work.
"I am fascinated by biology, astronomy and the light that science can shine on art," he said. "I have been obsessed with the concept of the extended phenotype, the idea that the products of genes are not limited to the biological processes, but include all effects the gene has on its environment and body of the organism. Examples of this concept might include bird songs, beaver dams, termite hives, ant colonies and all of human culture."
As one "excellent example," he cites New Guinea's bower birds:
"The male bower bird is known for constructing complex and beautiful nests in an attempt to attract mates. The bower bird will collect a wide variety of colorful objects and arrange them with obsessive care. These birds have been known to employ forced perspective and manmade objects in the creation of their nests. The female bower bird will determine whether she will mate with the male bower bird based on her inspection of the nest. Based on the male bower's building ability, the female will make her selection, dictating whether or not the male bower bird is able to pass on his genes, setting the stage for runaway sexual selection.
"As the preferences of the peahen have shaped the tail of the peacock, so too have the preferences of the female bower bird shaped the behavior of the male bower bird. In this light, art can be seen as a natural phenomenon that emerges out of the complex web of biology, environment and the individual. The fact that a person can look at the works of the bower bird and find beauty is a testament to a natural aesthetic that exists independent of human culture and can be recognized across species."
Martin's artistic background runs the gamut from filmmaking to bronze casting and pottery to programming, comics, music and painting. He says his years of experimentation with various media have led to the techniques he uses in creating his work. Most of his paintings use dozens of layers of paint along with glue, ink and paper.
"Each painting can take several months to finish," said Martin. "The work here is part of a style I have been articulating in the last two years. I was born and raised in Arcata and have been an artist all my life."
Martin's work will be on display at Crush through March 9. Because Arts! Arcata falls on Feb. 14 this year, Crush is serving a special Valentine's Day "prix fixe" menu and will feature music by Chris Parreira and Anwyn Halliday, the duo known as Lemon Lemon Cherry. More information about this event can be found at facebook.com/crusharcata. Crush is located at 1101 H St. in Arcata.
For more information, call 824-0390 or visit www.crusharcata.com.