Cal State professor receives national award

By: NOELLE IBRAHIM - Staff Writer | Thursday, March 8, 2007 11:08 PM PST ∞

SAN MARCOS ---- A Cal State San Marcos theater professor has received national recognition for his contributions to understanding the Latino community and culture through the performing arts.

Marcos Martinez, chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Program at Cal State San Marcos, will be honored by the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education at their national conference in Costa Mesa Saturday, with the Outstanding Latino Cultural Award in performing arts.

"I'm honored and flattered really," said Martinez, who has written, produced, directed and performed a number of bilingual, Spanish and international theater productions. "It's always nice to be recognized for the work one is doing. It tells me people recognize the value of working cross-culturally and that it has meaning for the community here."

Vicki Golich, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said Martinez' honor speaks to the quality of faculty and education Cal State San Marcos has to offer its students.

"To me, this is an acknowledgement that we have done a very good job of hiring outstanding faculty who are extraordinary not only in terms of teaching, but also in terms of their service to the community," said Golich, who nominated Martinez for the award. "This is a national recognition and it's something to be proud of."

An advocate of thinking globally, Golich said Martinez strives to raise awareness about not just Latino culture, but world cultures in general by bringing internationally focused works to the community.

For example, his autobiographical solo performance, "Holy Dirt," follows the journey of a small-town Chicano actor's struggle to make positive decisions that keep the integrity of his dreams alive within the American experience. Written by Martinez, "Holy Dirt" comments on the relationship between land and culture.

"The play talks about the situation of Latinos in the United States," he explained. "We have stereotypes of other people and they have stereotypes of us. When there's someone who mixes up the categories, it contributes to greater understanding for everyone."

Understanding the world from a cross-cultural point of view is an important step in reducing friction and conflict between people, Martinez said.

"Investing in conflict moves society backward," he said. "I think theater is invested in constructing a positive understanding of our community. When you do that across cultures and across countries, it just multiplies."

A graduate of the Juilliard School's professional actor training program, Martinez has also directed and acted in plays overseas and taught a number of theater workshops in Denmark, Bosnia, Croatia, Greece and Ghana. Since his start with Cal State in 1992, Martinez has brought guest artists from around the world to North County to teach technique workshops and expose students to a broad range of experiences.

"He's very much an international traveler, spreading the word about a particular form of American art ---- Chicano theatre ---- and finding not only how it differs from theatrical expression around the globe, but also how it is a way of connecting us in our community to the humanity of the globe," said David Avalos, Martinez' colleague. "The department is very proud of him."

-- Contact staff writer Noelle Ibrahim at (760) 761-4404 or nibrahim@nctimes.com.