Martinez‘s first talk on Feb. 22

The series of lectures will focus on art and the future of Historic Yellow Springs

WEST PIKELAND >> Internationally known artist Adrian Martinez will speak about his experiences creating art at the White House, working with late President and Mrs. George W. Bush, and how this experience changed the art and ambitions he had growing up in Washington, D. C.

Martinez, who is also a teacher and lecturer, has also been asked to give his vision on the future of Historic Yellow Springs. Historic Yellow Springs is a living village steeped in a distinguished history, tradition, and folklore that stirs the imagination of those who visit. The village spans more than 275 years of American history.

Today, the village includes 11 buildings and 142 acres. Historic Yellow Springs continues to host a wide range of fine art, sculpture and ceramic classes for adults, teens and children, boasts of some of the best art shows in the area, contains a beautiful venue for weddings and events and hosts numerous trails for all who visit to enjoy, including passing the revolutionary war hospital commissioned by then General Washington.

Martinez’s first talk, From the White House to Historic Yellow Springs — An Artistic Journey, is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the second floor gallery of the Lincoln Building at 1685 Art School Road. The cost is $20 for members of Historic Yellow Springs and $25 for non-members. Tickets may be purchased in advance at http://yellowsprings.org/ event/adrian-martinez/ or on the day of the lecture.

Martinez’s future talks have not been scheduled.

Martinez’s presentation combines his knowledge of American art, history and culture in the last half of the 20th century and how his particular artistic evolution in the 21st century inevitably progressed from his youth growing up in Washington D.C., to the White House, to the Historic Yellow Springs of today.

Using his firsthand experience as stage actor/ dancer, set designer, art and history lecturer, curator, museum exhibits designer, painter, sculptor and printmaker Martinez makes a case for cultural survival in this new and challenging era of exploding information.

Martinez was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Washington. He received degrees from the Maryland Institute of Art in Baltimore, Maryland (BFA), St. Martins School of Art in London, England (CS) and Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana (MA). His work has been exhibited in New York, Pennsylvania, Ankara, Turkey, Texas, Washington D.C., Maryland, Delaware, Indiana, California and London, England.

A major retrospective of his work at the Chester County Art Association in 2002 was attended by First Lady Laura Bush and she and her husband collect his work. President George W. and Mrs. Laura Bush commissioned him to paint two large landscapes commemorating the National Parks theme for the White House holiday season in 2007 and these two works are now installed in the George W. Bush Presidential Library.

Martinez’s 12-painting exhibit Adrian Martinez Presents the Visionary World of Humphry Marshall, 1750-1800 was recently displayed at the Chester County Historical Society for a year.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Internationally known artist Adrian Martinez’s first talk, From the White House to Historic Yellow Springs — An Artistic Journey, is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 23 at the Lincoln Building.