Painter Edmy Ortiz transports viewers to the Dominican Republic
In the living room of her parents’ home on Hawthorne Street, the paintings of Edmy Ortiz line the walls. The work represents 10 years of exploration and self-expression, and captures the luminous colors and vibrant culture of her native Dominican Republic.
Ortiz is in the process of organizing a retrospective of her work, which will be featured through Oct. 18 at ARTSWorcester’s gallery at Quinsigamond Community College. It is the young painter’s first solo exhibition.
At first viewing, it’s difficult to tell that all of the paintings were done by one person. A variety of styles are seen in her work — one still life is about realism. Another is abstract. One landscape shows pointillist techniques. Another is impressionist. 
“I am exploring different mediums, different styles,” Ortiz says. “Some people just want to do landscapes or portraits. Right now, I just want to explore.”
Painting is actually only one of her creative endeavors. Ortiz is also a talented flamenco dancer who teaches at Salsa Storm — and by day, Ortiz is an architect. In 2003 she received her BA in Architecture from the Universidad Aut¢noma de Santo Domingo.
Elements of both disciplines can be seen in her painting, from the staccato rhythms of flamenco in her brush strokes to perspective quality in her renderings.
Ortiz says she’s has been drawing and painting since she was a little girl, but did not receive formal training until she was a teenager. From 1995-1999, she studied with Thelma Tejada at Escuela de Arte, which is also in Santo Domingo.
Walking from painting to painting, describing the meaning and content of each, it’s clear that Ortiz is excited about the upcoming show, passionate about her art and her beloved homeland.
In her artist statement, she writes: “My goal with the exhibition, titled Latino Surrounding, is to take my audience on a journey in which they get to explore what my roots are about.
“In the last 10 years my work has been an exploration into the realism and figurative expressionism influenced by my passion for dance, my Latin American roots and knowledge of architecture. Although oil paint [on] canvas is my primary medium, I am always exploring others materials in order to enrich my artwork.” 
It’s all here in the retrospective collection. “Paraiso” depicts a small cottage on the Caribbean shore. “Palmas” is a rendering of a row of palm trees in the Parque Mirador del Sur, a verdant park overlooking the city. In another, we see people on their way to the “Fiesta en un Tablao.”
Of all the paintings Ortiz prepares for her retrospective, none is possibly more autobiographical than “Camino al Tablao,” which means “walking to the wood stage.” It is also one of the most compelling — especially in that it evokes the great Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.
The painting shows the dancer with her back turned to the viewer, preparing to walk onstage to face her audience. She is dressed in traditional costume, with a flower in her hair that is tied in a bun. At first she appears to be armless. Her hands are actually out in front of her, clasped together in the starting position getting ready to clap. The image and perspective projects a dynamic tension.
“When you are ready to dance, you have all this adrenalin — she just wants to get there and do everything the best way she can. I just wanted to reflect that emotion,” Ortiz says.
Evidently, talent runs in the family. Her father is Eduardo Ortiz, the bass player and musical director of NQ, a Latin jazz ensemble that performs Thursday nights at Bocado. The group will perform at the exhibit’s opening. o
