The artwork of Danial Martin Diaz
On Tucson artist Daniel Martin Diaz's website, the Russian words for the elements—вода (water) земля, earth), воздух (air), огонь (fire)—appear, front and center. Yes, Diaz is of Mexican descent, not Russian, but, no, it isn't a pretension that drives his use of the Cyrillic alphabet. Symbology (oftentimes, Catholic) is prevalent throughout his work, and when Russian is placed into one of his timeless pieces, it fits, just another mystical (to many eyes) piece in a metaphorical whole.
Though the artist does not have exhibits scheduled in Tucson for any time soon, he certainly has been well represented here. "Elegy," shown, an oil-on-wood, 16-by-20-inch piece, was part of a 2008 exhibit at the Arizona State Museum. Diaz has also shown at Etherton and Davis-Dominguez galleries, among others. (In June, Diaz will have pieces in Montreal, and, in December, Rome.)
His paintings and drawings come into greater focus when considered alongside his music, which exists under the Blind Divine moniker. That band, a gothic, atmospheric duo with his wife Paula Catherine Valencia, releases it sixth CD Dec. 11 at Plush. Look at the Diaz images culled here, listen to the band, and all the elements will come together.
