Painting created for the CMYIC

Titled: " BORN WITH IT " Created On Sunday July.19.09 for a documentary with my best bud Sylvia Ortiz. Awesome Artist ! I was honored by them to be apart of an independent film, collectively with other artist and with my friend Sylvia, for a film that I will show you within weeks from now. I do hope you like them. Below are information about the production and its crew.

The Organization is called: CMIYC Productions:
Catch Me If You Can Productions is an independent film company that focuses on the establishment of up and coming artists in the field of film. We were founded in September, 2008 and throughout the last few months have worked on making our dream of creating a New Housing Complex for artists a realization. We desire to create a space for talented artists struggling to express their art and survived within a city that makes it extremely difficult.CMIYC Website: www.catchmeifyoucanproductions.com Joshua Martinez Creative Director


The Struggle Of The New York Artist:
The Struggle of the New York Artist focuses on the documentation of the individual struggles and obstacles of New York artists as they strive to obtain their dreams and enrich their art. It illustrates the trials and tribulations of artists and their interconnected identities. The film is comprised of visual and digital artists, dancers, actors, actresses, singers, rappers, and other artists whose expression is enriched by their struggle. We do not intend to represent all the struggles of the artist community in New York but give a representation of what some of us must undergo in the hopes of enlightening the masses and forging a connection among each other.

Other Things about CMIYC:
CMIYC Productions is in the process of developing a street team for young talented youth interested in film or artistic expression as a whole, but are in need of funding to make it possible. CMIYC Street Team will focus on the promotion of the company as well as challenging youth to think "outside" of the box by providing them with innovative ways of expressing themselves by offering them courses on digital design, acting, film, and other forms of artistic expression. The Street Team will teach youth about the importance of public speaking and how to promote themselves as well as a project.

Also, we do head shots for up and coming artists needing to find affordable ways to promote themselves (head shots range from $70.00 - $150.00 a shoot). We also offer acting classes for youth interested in pursuing a career in acting.

CMIYC Website:
www.catchmeifyoucanproductions.com

--
Joshua Martinez
Creative Director
Catch Me If You Can Productions
233 Norman Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11222
www.catchmeifyoucanproductions.com
"Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising everytime we fall"

Painting Live of July 27th, July 28th ALSO August 6th & 7th.

I will soon post some fliers of these amazing show.
Then on August 6th and the 7th, I will be at SOUTH PAW, in Brooklyn NY. Here is the flier for that event and details.
Yes Yes Yall, We Don't Stop! Its going to be Historic @ Southpaw August 6th & 7th! Forever Fresh , Southern Thunder, Capital Concertz, & Briclyn Ent. Present: The Rock The Block Fest! August 6th (Day One) Starring Styles P! Featuring The Metermaids and NSR

August 7th (Day Two) Starring Freeway!! Featuring Hezekiah & Kimberly Nichole Opening Ceremonies Fetauring Soundwavve & Kee Both Nights Hosted by Jason Negron Music Both Nights Provided by Dj Esquire Live Painting Both Nights By Marthalicia Matarrita We'd Proudly like to thank our gracious Sponsors... The Fader Heineken The Brooklyn Bodega Staple Design Soulfyne Hustlemode End Of The Weak Ny Kings Cool Cruel World NeverLeavebrooklyn.com Camillecares.com Advance Tickets to both nights are only $30 and come with a fantastic goodie bag!! Individual Nights are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. AMAZING DRINK SPECIALS TO BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY! MANY FREE GIVEAWAYS AND MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY! See you there!

Art Battles : Part: 1 & 2.

Although I didnt win this extrodinary chance for a mural gig, I must say I had a great time. I learned so much about myself and about Art Battles, and my fellow amazing artist that are all so cool! Check out the NEW POP, documented by the illest TREVZ.

Part: 2



Part: 1

Update on my dog Isis: July 13 THE BRONX

What an ordeal, what a struggle not to have had Isis, my dog placed in animal control. My other dog Bruce was placed in animal control, and sadly was put down.

Ever since April of this year, I was place in a situation where my family and I had to relocate from Brooklyn to Manhattan; and our current place doesn't allow dogs or any another animals of any kind. I was so lucky to have had a friend that have held her from early April until late June. Although we don't have our place yet in the Bronx, but at least we have our Isis back. All I am singing today is : REUNITED and IT FEELS SO GOOD ... ~Peaches and Herb

WEZ, and who is he in my life?

A true story, one that has many meaning. Could be a fairy tale or one that is confusing; just wanted to share to the world the dude in my life. But before I begin, I wanted to tell you that he doesn't want anyone to know him, and thus his face and his identity will remain a mystery to many, especially to those that don't know me well. Lets call my dude " WEZ ".

It started off in junior high school, Roberto Clemente, which is located still on 135th street on Broadway. You can see a really tall project building that is called 3333, and under that housing project, a high school is laid. I used to go to that school way back, and so did my brothers Tomas and Jorge, not to mention my cousin Yadira the dancer and other close mutual friends of ours.
Every morning my dad drops us off to school, and every afternoon my mom picks us up. The usual routine for 4 years. During these junior high school years, and during my lunch period, I would often walk to my aunts house that wasn't far, and go there to eat my lunch, sometimes with my cousin or without. My aunt made the best Dominican dishes, mangu and charchichon con queso, or soups etc; The list is endless. Either way, on my way either to or from her apartment, I would often see some of class mates wondering the streets, looking to play hooky or scoop out where to eat. I also would see fights on the streets which were so common during the early 90's and often witness such activities.

During my Jr high school experience, I remember very clearly, one afternoon, where two classes were merged into one. I'm not sure why, but I do remember that happening from time to time. During these unique transaction, I met "WEZ". He was an average looking kid. I didn't really paid any mind to him, as I did with other guys. He told me that " I asked you to draw me a picture, and you did one very quickly, you created a face being punched by a glove, full impact, and you did it with a pink pen" He thought that was cool. He told me that he kept it for a long time, until it was lost within the passing of the years.

Dang I honesty didn't remember that at all. I do remember a lot of class mate asking me to make them something, I usually did, so did my brothers. It was fun, and why not? right?

The turning point: meant to be or not?
After junior high school, I then entered La Guardia High school of Performace and the Arts, in lower Manhattan. Four years of that, martial art, and after school art programs was my regiment. My days ran together and fast. Condensing the this story a bit: After High school, I then was lost as to either enrolling to a college ( which I didn't know how to) or just wonder the world working part time at some retail store as I did during the summer. Art, as I was told, wasn't a career choice that I should invest. That made my heart weak and sour, but my parents never gave up on me. A chance was given, a scholarship to enroll at S.U.N.Y. New Paltz was awarded to me by E.O.P and thrilled I was ! I choose my profession and art it was. Sadly I found out that the scholarship was for one year only. crushed and in dis pare, I didn't know what to do next? Give up college, but I'm right here? (condensing the story once again), I enlisted to the Army National Guard, and went through basic training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. And then one year and a half of dirt eating, running and sweating, I completed my task, but was still a soldier. How this connects to WEZ you say? Well here it goes;
After A.I.T ( Advance Initial Training : 91 Bravo Combat medic training at Fort Sam Houston Texas ), and my flight back to New York City, my dad picks me up. What an emotional roller coaster, seeing my dad and hearing of bad news as then entered the homeless shelter on 137th street between 6th and 7th ave. Telling me about mom, and how she was missing since the summer, and what not.

Why I bring the shelter story: I was embarrassed to sleep there and yet alone take any type of shower there, I felt uncomfortable and I couldn't trust no one there. I often walked from the east side of Harlem to the west, to Broadway to see my aunt, so that I can take a shower. Ever so often I had that chance to be "normal", I did my military drill, took showers at base ( Yonkers) and returned home. One afternoon, after utilizing my aunts home, I proceeded to walk towards the east side, to the shelter. Walking up the hill towards City College, in the corner of my eye was WEZ standing right in front of this building. "DANGGGGG I remember you!" as he smiled and I did too. (the year was fall in 2000). He asked me were I was heading to, and I hesitated in telling him, because it was so embarrassing. Who would say, yeah I live in a shelter. I then said to myself, why lie; I got the guts in telling him my story as brief as I could. I thought he would laugh at me, but he didn't. He felt sad and surprised that anyone had to go through it all.
He gave me his pager number and the magic began. He even offered for me to take of my personal hygiene at his place, which I then did. The magic grew, and what a strong force. 2001 came rolling, and I had to return to upstate New York. He asked me out and our relationship is as it was then first time we met in Junior High School.

I wanted to share this, because he means a great deal to me. He believes in my art ever since , you know,. and now. Although there are many obstacles and hills, F - it even mountains that we all face, but we faced it with one thing in mind, how to grow better as a person and as a human being. In mind we share a beautiful spirit our son Wesly.

Thanks once again for reading. This blog is for educational awareness and to express to others my personal journey if anything.
"Love is Love"

~Marthalicia

Brooklyn Street Art : Interviews me. yay

Below is a link and also a copy of the interview that was done a not so long ago. Thank you Steve.



This is the page:

Brooklyn Street Art
…loves you more every day.Being “Street” and Supporting Independent Women
Posted on | July 10, 2009 |


The pressure of “live” performance sometimes can stress a girl out (Marthalicia and helper) (photo Anthony J. Causi)What makes you “street”? What makes you “hard”?
A lot of street art and graff culture glorifies a kind of toughness that is born of the streets; Yeah Brooklyn We Go Hard! That’s right, we’re down with that. From Rock to Rap to Tech to Funk to hoods to spikes to cans to fire-tags, the right to be rebellious and wreck sh*t feels like a birthright in Brooklyn.
We’re also down with giving back, giving support, sharing your talent. We met a cool street artist/artist named Marthalicia Matarrita recently and she reminded us that these gifts can be shared in a positive way too. She’s a street artist, a graff artist, a fine artist. From her blog you’ll find out she is also “mother, sister, daughter, entrepreneur, community advocate, and former National Guard”. She grew up in Harlem and went to La Guardia High School of Music and Arts in lower Manhattan.

She also spent time homeless and living in shelters. Okay, how “street” do you want it?

These days Marthalicia is doing a lot of live painting with Art Battles, a New York based creation of artist/event thrower/entrepreneur Sean Bono, who produces live art events and competitions to expose emerging artists to the masses. Marthalicia is also performing live art painting tonight in Brooklyn - at Cafe Europa as a celebration of independent women, something she teaches you about in the most gentle way.

Brooklyn Street Art: What kind of art you do?
Marthalicia Matarrita: I paint on canvas with acrylics. I unify the concept of traditional figurative subject matter and those of the comic book/urban graff illustrations (graffiti) to create a conversation about contemporary issues that affect all of us; environmentalism, homelessness, the military, etc.

Brooklyn Street Art: Have you done work on the street?
Marthalicia Matarrita: I used to create images on the street on the Upper West Side and I have a piece currently that I did this spring on the rooftop for a fundraiser at The New School of Design in the Lower East Side. It was such a thrill to know that I was part of something so cool and now I’m a “Rooftop Legend”. So many great artists had the opportunity to BLESS those walls with so much creativity and it humbled me to look at their art.


Marthalicia’s piece on the roof of The New School of Design at Parsons (photo courtesy the artist) Brooklyn Street Art: What has it been like working the Art Battles events and doing live painting with them?

Marthalicia Matarrita: I have been painting live since the spring of 2006. And since then my art has developed well into the theme of live audience and painting in an allotted time. I have been painting at different art functions, shows and events all over New York City and its’ 5 boroughs.

Since early 2008 I have been invited to participate with Art Battles at many art programs. It’s been an incredible experience working with Art Battles and its team. and what I have learned about painting “live” is that time and environment (the audience and music) has made me a more concentrated artist and more focused as an artist. Art Battles also recognizes the struggles of the artist and reimburses and also purchased materials.

See Marthalicia in this Art Battles video from this spring (click the little PLAY button in the lower left of navigation bar):





Brooklyn Street Art: “Do you think you have to be “hard” to be “street”? Marthalicia Matarrita: The street conditions you, even if you do have a soft heart or one hard like a stone.

Brooklyn Street Art: Some street artists feel like they have to destroy to get respect or credibility. Marthalicia Matarrita: Some people say that “most street artist have no siblings so they feel like they need to break stuff to get attention”. Others don’t have the means of an art education such as studio art. Street artists feel the need to express art just as strongly as a studio artist, but they do it without an easel and canvas. For them it’s much better to create images of thought or reflections of life in a cheaper way with cans and use THE WALLS as a canvas.


“I unify the concept of traditional figurative subject matter and those of the comic book/urban graff illustrations (graffiti) to create a conversation about contemporary issues that effect all of us; environmentalism, homelessness, the military, etc.” Atomic, by Marthalicia (image courtesy the artist) Brooklyn Street Art: Can you speak about the July 10th event and what it means to you.
Marthalicia Matarrita: The whole event is a fundraiser and the proceeds go to help a young child named Chanty, who lives in Cambodia. Felecia Cruz is the organizer of the program at her bar, Club Europa. I was called one day by Felecia to ask me to participate in her upcoming show July 10th as a live painter. She described this little girl Chanty, who she met in Cambodia during a recent trip, and she explained how she was determined to help her and her family to send Chanty to school to improve her future. That touched me to know that a stranger from another country was willing to invest her time and energy to genuinely help a young child in great need of education. It convinced me to join in her program and her mission because I wanted to be a part of something good, something that in the end would show a child hope and help her progress. I was given a similar opportunity when I was a young teenager, and I know how important it was to me.

Proceeds from tonight’s benefit will go to Chanty, who appears in the video below :


Brooklyn Street Art: This show is more than just about Chanty, it is about Women’s empowerment. Can you talk about the importance of having strong women today?
Marthalicia Matarrita: As you see, without strong women, you have disrespectful children, who walk around with their pants half off their ass and girls that think more about sex and sneakers then their future. In history woman struggled to have their voices heard.

It’s very important to have events like these to display not only that we are capable of making great achievements as our male counterparts, but also as individuals.


“Frida of Brooklyn” Marthalicia shot by Alex Bershaw (courtesy the artist)Brooklyn Street Art: The Mexican painter, Frida Kahlo, used her personal experiences, including some that were very painful, in her work. Has she affected you as an artist, and how?

Marthalicia Matarrita: Tremendously. I learned painting with oils and acrylic in high school. Most of my paintings were self-portraits. College was the time where I was exposed to her and her works and how amazed I was when I learned about her history. I felt somewhat connected to her because of her personal struggles; I too had some of my very own. The more I learned from her the more I saw my art footsteps evolving, not to copy her style or her intensions but her communication of her life with her art. I do the same with my art.

My life wasn’t a great one. I struggled here and there with poverty, being in the shelter, both parents were alcoholics, and my mom suffered a lot and she became schizophrenic.

My art saved me from dwelling on the negative activities in my environment.

Frida learned in her art to communicate her personal life story with Diego (Rivera) and about WAR. I painted with political themes when I was in the Army National Guard. I was called twice to Iraq and I painted how I felt about being toyed around with…fighting a cause that’s not our own.

Frida showed me that whatever kind of personality you have, art is a tool to show others how similar we all are and how we can help and teach one another.

That’s one of the things I wanted to do with my art in the long run.
*************************************************************************

“Independent Women”, Chanty’s Final Fundraiser, Friday July 10, 2009




An arsenal of female talent coming together to show Chanty and other young girls around the world that they can be whatever they want.

Performances by:
Eyeris with Radio Rose
Bless Roxwell
Jeanette Berry
Linda Laporte
Dama Nilz
Jasmine Solano
Her Virgins
Diva from CYM

Special Guest:Miz Metro
Music By: DJ ILL P


A short film:”Married Girl” by Alexandra Lopez

Live Art and Displays by Marthalicia

Make-up and Design by Lauren Weakly

Club Europa
98 Meserole Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11222

Marthalicia’s Blog

Category: Artists
Tags: Alex Bershaw > > Club Europa > Independent Women > Marthalicia > Marthalicia Matarrita
Comments

Painting Live July 10th. Club Europa im Brooklyn

An arsenal of female talent coming together to show Chanty and other underprivileged young girls around the world that they can be whatever they want.

Our set line-up is fierce, not to mention I hear we may even have some special guests showing up!
Club Europa98 Meserole Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222 $8 1/2 to Chanty +5% of register Special Guest:Miz Metro Music By: DJ ILL P
A short film:"Married Girl" by Alexandra Lopez

Performances by:
Eyeris with Radio Rose
Bless Roxwell
Jeanette Berry
Linda Laporte
Dama Nilz
Jasmine Solano

JUST ADDED: HER VIRGINS & DIVA from CYM

LIVE ART AND DISPLAYS BY MARTHALICIA.
MAKE-UP AND DESIGN BY LAUREN WEAKLEY

This program is being held in Club Europa, in Brooklyn. This programs is also a charity and a fund raiser to raise money for a little girl that lives in Cambodia. The following are information that I took from the organizer and the heart filled with love; Felecia Cruz.

The video that helps show Chanty and Felecia.

Art Battles: 10 artist for Mural competion June 9th 2009

Artist were competing for the Mural contest. Check out the video from The New Pop ( Thenewpop.com )

1.Ben Angotti
2.* Marthalicia Matarrita
3.Sean Bono
4.Max Brode
5.Lexi Bella
6.Zito
7.Andre
8.Leif
9.Pesu
10.See One

contribution

I am at a point in my life where situations can go either way. Meaning, I Can choose to continue making art for the people, or work part time of 9-5 work hours as a security guard some where in NYC and not do art anymore.

I am currently not working, but I am a stay at home mom. I am at a point where I noticed that going to shows / art shows is expensive. Transportation, food money and art supplies with canvas leads me to have wholes in my pockets. Its not cheep. I cant split food money for my child to those of my art needs. My son will always come first. Because money in my house hold is limited, and I don't spend money on myself, I would rather utilize your contributions for my art.

I love painting, its what I came to terms with, after it saved me from dwelling on personal life crisis. Art saved me from deviating to the life waves of crime and hooked addictions of drugs or other negative activities in New York City. I believed that art was given to me from DIVINE source, and I don't know why I have it, but I sure do know I must share it. It is also why I am asking for your help. If you like to make a positive contribution to an inspiring artist, please donate what you wish.

If you have any opinion please share, I do want to create a friendship and also an understanding of art in life and how its linked, then feel free to contact me.

Thank you so much for you ongoing support and understanding
~Marthalicia Matarrita

Recap: Of the BOWERY POETRY CLUB

Tuesday, hot and rainy June 30th, 2009

One night at the monthly BONDFIRE that is showcased at the Bowery Poetry Club in Lower Manhattan, a show was held. Such an amazing how, I must say: this night and performance held many gifted and super talented woman, those included were; Trezure the Empress, Charloette Mishell, Keren Cardosn, Hosted by Tasty Kesish, DJ Rikrok, and photos by Elizabeth Allen, myself and Demostina were the Live art performers. I also met so many cool NEW friends such as: Ana Pichardo who was also taking some real amazing photos.

There will be more pics coming soon, but I wanted to share how cool the event was. I had some real cool friends that showed up, big shout out to BEN ROJAS (*Borish), that sneaked in and left, thought you weren't gonna be mentioned, but what can I say, I did it. Big warm thank you so Phil, Anthony and Minx for being so cool and real down to earth, by showing your faces at the show. Especially to Phil and Anthony who DETEST RATS, while we all walked home after the show! BIG LOVE BROS!