MOFSA is pleased to announce that the recipient of our second Spiritual Art Grant in the amount of $10,000 is Martin Dunn (www.martydunnartist.com) of Sarasota, Florida. Martin learned art from his father, who had been taught by his mother. His father was an artist, who worked as a commercial illustrator in the days before clip art. He was also a war hero, who suffered from PTSD for the rest of his life. His few oil paintings are dark, monochromatic renderings of fighter planes in tight formation. He was trying to say something that the society of that era wouldn’t let him put into words. Wise people say that the greatest tragedy of trauma is the loss of vulnerability. Martin’s father could never let his guard down.
Martin’s own journey has taken him to nursing homes, operating rooms, county jails, homeless camps, Hispaniola, Africa, churches, temples, mosques, and synagogues. It has led him in a spiritual direction and to create painting that are not dark but offer hope. In his own words,
I am also a mystic, which I use interchangeably with the word spiritual, as well as non-dual. As a mystic I am attempting to fully experience the ordinary while peeking through to glimpse the infinite. I also would describe myself as a Christian, since I see Jesus as the truest and most profound manifestation of the infinite. And I want so badly for everything I paint to reflect those glimpses.
We are happy that our second spiritual art grant goes to an artist whose life and work embody so beautifully what we see as the core mission of MOFSA, for art to help heal the world. Martin paints representational art, and his chosen medium is oil. His work will be on display at MOFSA’s second exhibit, which has the theme “Towards the Spiritual.” The exhibit will be held in 2021, with details to be announced.
MOFSA was invited by the Carolina Raptor Center to participate in “Connect with Culture Day”, co-sponsored by the Arts and Sciences Council, on February 8, 2020. The theme of the event was “Raptors Inspire Art”. We had a table at which we could share information about MOFSA with the community. Also, Bob was invited to a special speaking presentation, “Birds, Spirit and Art.” To a small but appreciative audience, Bob told the story of how Marianne volunteered at the Raptor Center and he followed in her footsteps. He spoke about MOFSA and read two poems, which were composed during and after volunteer shifts. We are grateful to the Raptor Center for this opportunity and hopeful that the event can mark the beginning of greater MOFSA involvement with the local community. We handed out a little