Menu
The New Contemporary Art Magazine

Opening Night: Olek and Jet Martinez at White Walls Gallery

White Walls Gallery in San Francisco recently opened side-by-side solo shows by two artists who reference crafting techniques in their fine art practices: Olek and Jet Martinez. Titled after a line from The Little Prince, Olek's "I Haven't a Single Explorer on My Planet" is an immersive installation in the gallery's project space. Visitors were invited to remove their shoes and enter the floor-to-ceiling crocheted room, which contained a crocheted boat complete with a sail made out of multi-colored doilies. Olek explained that the boat was an intended symbol for freedom and the ability of the individual to create his or her own happiness. When times get tough, you can either sink or sail triumphantly forward. Read more after the jump.

White Walls Gallery in San Francisco recently opened side-by-side solo shows by two artists who reference crafting techniques in their fine art practices: Olek and Jet Martinez. Titled after a line from The Little Prince, Olek’s “I Haven’t a Single Explorer on My Planet” is an immersive installation in the gallery’s project space. Visitors were invited to remove their shoes and enter the floor-to-ceiling crocheted room, which contained a crocheted boat complete with a sail made out of multi-colored doilies. Olek explained that the boat was an intended symbol for freedom and the ability of the individual to create his or her own happiness. When times get tough, you can either sink or sail triumphantly forward.

Jet Martinez’s “City of Eternal Springtime” is a series of paintings that reference the embroidery and textile patterns from the artist’s hometown of Cuernavaca, Mexico. Painted with delicate, tear-drop shaped lines, the works focus on floral patterns reminiscent of folk art. In some of the pieces, Martinez ventures into more abstract territory as the organic shapes evolve into geometric arrangements of color.

Both shows will be on view at White Walls gallery through March 8. Take a look at some of our exclusive opening night photos below.

Olek and Jet Martinez

Meta
Topics
Share
Facebook
Reddit
Pinterest
Email
Related Articles
We live in strange times and artists Michael Kerbow and Mike Davis both have something in common: they use surrealism and time travel to address modern and existential issues. Click above to read the Hi-Fructose exclusive interviews with painters Mike Davis and Michael Kerbow about their respective solo showings.
Artist and animation director Joe Vaux paints what he likes. His personal work is teeming with impish demons. His cheerful hellscapes are populated with lost souls, sharp toothed monstrosities, and swarms of wrong-doers. And yet, there’s an innocence to all of this. Click to read the Hi-Fructose exclusive interview with Joe Vaux.
Vibrant and bold, Oscar Joyo’s latest body of work which was exhibited at Thinkspace Projects in Los Angeles, vibrates the retina; while delving into his childhood memories childhood in Malawi and themes of Afrofuturism.
Something interesting happens when when artists like Alan and Carolynda Macdonald, who have the painting fundamentals mastered, decide to subvert expectations and perplex a viewers expectations conceptually. Click to read the Hi-Fructose exclusive interview.

Subscribe to the Hi-Fructose Mailing List