■ Business hosts bimonthly exhibit of rotating artists, themes

By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

Erick Martinez is an artist who wants to support other artists.

Martinez, co-owner of downtown’s Shirocos, started his business in a 10-foot-by-10-foot store and now operates out of a 2,000-square-foot establishment. Even with a popular store, that’s plenty of space in which to feature some of Benicia’s many talented artists.

On Sept. 2, Martinez and Shirocos co-owner Allan Shore will continue their effort to do just that, hosting the second installment of their series, “4 Artists, 1 Place,” this time featuring four male Bay Area artists.

“When I first opened my store … I wanted to sell my art,” Martinez said, “but you know, you don’t sell art every day.”

He augmented his business by selling flowers; then came flower arrangements. Eventually he took those online, and soon Martinez and Shore opened a 500-square-foot store.

He began bringing in art from abroad, places like Mexico and South America. Eventually he and Shore moved their shop to its current location at 216 First St., a space they share with clothing store Piccolo.

Martinez wants to build a “sense of community” between artists and merchants, and wants Shirocos to be its starting point.

“I feel we are lacking a little bit of that. By doing this kind of stuff it helps them, it helps me, and hopefully it will help other businesses,” he said.

“4 Artists, 1 Place” will be an ongoing event, Martinez said, with a rotating cast of artists and themes. The first installment was in July; the next will be in November, featuring four Benicia teachers.

The four artists in the upcoming exhibit and open house are all members of the Benicia Plein Air Gallery. Two — Terry Hughes and Michael Dadasovich — are from Benicia.

Hughes is a colorist who does impressionistic portraits, including a well-known series of paintings of exotic animals.

Dadasovich, also a member of Arts Benicia, works in all mediums and enjoys urbanscape, landscape and expressionistic figure painting.

Doug Simon is a painter out of Lafayette who does plein air, custom murals (indoors and outdoors), commissioned portraits of people and pets and reproductions of scenic photographs.

Craig Britton is a Crockett artist with extensive experience in murals, decorative painting and faux-finish work. He’s a member of SF Moma and Arts Benicia.

The open house is Friday, Sept. 2 from 5-9 p.m. There will be live music, snacks, and wine by Hughes.

“This is good for tourists, too,” Martinez said. “If they come to town on a Friday night and if there’s nothing to do, and we are open and we have an event, it’s more likely they are going to come back.

“I think it’s part of what this town needs: more positive energy. It needs to be alive.”