Twin artists on exhibit at Old Hotel
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 months AGO
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | July 17, 2024 1:40 AM
OTHELLO — The July Artist of the Month at the Old Hotel Art Gallery in Othello is actually two artists: twin brothers Aldemar and Valdemar Saavedra-Guerrero.
“Every year, the Old Hotel gives out a scholarship for $500,” said Old Hotel Director Samantha Copas. “The candidates don't have to be going into an art-related field, but part of the application process is they have to turn in a portfolio with some of their art or photography … Both of these twins turned in an application for the scholarship and they had just incredible artwork, so we decided this year to give out two so they could each have one.”
The Saavedra-Guerrero brothers graduated from Othello High School this year, Copas said. In their scholarship application, they said they had moved from Mexico to Othello in middle school. Both want to be animators, Copas said.
The brothers’ artwork isn’t titled, and no explanations were given for most of the pieces.
The Old Hotel doesn’t really have a system for selecting its Artist of the Month, Copas said.
“Sometimes I have it planned months in advance, and sometimes it just works out to where I barely find someone,” she said. “I’m always looking for new artists for Artist of the Month.”
Joel Martin may be reached via email at jmartin@columbiabasinherald.com.
THE OLD HOTEL
33 E. Larch St., Othello
509-488-5936
Open Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
This piece by Valdemar Saavedra-Guerrero combines bright, iridescent colors with Latin American background motifs.