Art in 3 Genes

Logan Martin discussing his familys art on display in the Long House with Michael Paul Miller after the Student Generale. Photo by Abby Latson

By Steve Berry

Bill Martin smiles as PC President Luke Robins looks on.
Bill Martin smiles as PC President Luke Robins looks on. Photo by Abby Latson

Three generations of art were on display at the Longhouse, Thursday, Feb 12.

Logan Martin and his father Bill Martin spoke in a Studium Generale before showing their traditional and contemporary Makah art. They also showed a carving from Logan’s great grandfather Frank Smith’s art.

Logan Martin discussing his familys art on display in the Long House with Michael Paul Miller after the Student Generale. Photo by Abby Latson
Logan Martin discussing his familys art on display in the Long House with Michael Paul Miller after the Student Generale. Photo by Abby Latson

Logan is currently a freshman student at Peninsula College from Neah Bay.

Admittedly nervous, Logan started out hesitantly gaining confidence as he went on.

“I have been doing this my whole life,” Logan said. At two years old his father caught him after he took his paints and was creating pictures on some blank canvases.

He later began helping his father do art restorations as a child and then began commissioning his art with his father for different Peninsula buildings.

He worked with his father creating art at the Hobuck Beach Gathering Place in Neah Bay. Bill said how much he learned as a child working with his grandfather Frank.

A portrait of Logan’s great grandfather Frank Smith with his wood carvings displayed in the Long House after the Student Generale. Photo by Abby Latson
A portrait of Logan’s great grandfather Frank Smith with his wood carvings displayed in the Long House after the Student Generale. Photo by Abby Latson

Among the pieces Logan designed are a: family crest, which has two sea serpents facing one another above a flying thunderbird with two sets of wings; several model prints and drawings.

Bill was surprised that everyone responded so positively to their work. “I did not think being an artist was anything important” he said.

Several people could be heard in the crowd replying “It is!”