The Art Box - Episode 18 - Meet Rayette Martin

I found art when I was uprooted from my home in Alaska and transplanted in Sacramento during my Junior year in High school. My classes didn’t line up between the schools and I was able to take multiple art classes each semester to make up for it. Visual arts became my passion and a great way to express my feelings about leaving my friends and dealing with the culture shock of being in a big city.

My formal training ended when I graduated high school but the use of art as self-expression has continued for the last 28 years. I became a stepmother in 2014 and have focused on creating fun colorful animals ever since. Each animal is quirky with imperfections. As an artist, this alleviates the anxiety I feel when trying to replicate nature while illustrating that we do not live in a perfect world, we are not perfect, and that is what makes life interesting.

 

I have also been able to use my artistic skills in my work as a public archaeologist and graffiti removal specialist. I am constantly thinking of how to present archaeological information visually to a diverse array of audiences. The goal of most of my education is to promote the preservation of Nevada’s cultural heritage sites. Since 2013, I have been assisting with large graffiti removal projects at petroglyph and pictograph sites. Carefully removing paint and camouflaging the damage from scratching into the rock surface has become a passion of mine. It is a tedious but rewarding activity that makes me feel like I am bringing healing to an important cultural area for local Tribes.