Ana Martinez Orizondo
Ana Martinez Orizondo, also known for her initials, AMO, meaning "I love" in her native Spanish, is a Cuban American pastel artist, writer, photographer, and community builder living in Shelter Island, N.Y.
Her curious and sensitive nature led her to diverse career paths, from an Emmy award television producer, to a cultural arts entrepreneur, an event professional, a philanthropy executive, a published creative writer and, pastel artist.
In 2021 she started a new journey as a PhD student in Philosophy and Religion with a concentration in Ecology, Spirituality and Religion, at the California Institute of Integral Studies.
About her works, Ana says, “My body of work is not culturally specific nor political in the traditional sense. Nevertheless, I am concerned with the spiritual exploration of ecology, or deep ecology, which in itself could be deemed political. My work explores themes of spirituality as well as identity and culture through landscape, nature and portraiture.”
“I am fascinated by mystical liminal states of in-betweenness, portals to otherness, and amorphous forms. My art practice is the center of my being in the world, it gives me a sense of oneness with the Universe, of belonging and expansion.
The textural play between soft and hard pastels on smooth or ragged, Indian paper adds to the push and pull of my creative process, and its alchemical power. I particularly enjoy working on Indian (shizen) paper because it is 100% made from post consumer waste and love its fibrous, threading quality. It reminds me of the earth.”
“My tree stories begin by being present during meditative walks in nature. Whether in an urban setting like Central Park, NYC or the Mashomack Preserve in Shelter Island, NY, my senses become hyper-aware around trees. My spirit attunes to specific trees, stumps, branches, trunks and the stories they have to tell. I take many photos and after much thought, I choose specific ones to turn into pastel paintings. By telling their story, I become part of it. I am the conduit by which the message is told.
These visual stories reference animism, deep ecology and the mystical power of trees and everything around them. I am most intrigued by severed trees and their broken-openness, for it is in that state that I can see into their soul. A soul in a continuum to its next form.”
Check more of her at http://www.anamartinezorizondo.com.