Album Notes

Legends Of Time is a resent nominee for Native Spirit at the 2006 Indian Summer Music Festival.

David Martinka’s interest in Native Americans began while wandering through the fields of his Grandfather’s and Grandmother’s farm. Many artifacts were found and this sparked his interest at a very early age.
Upon graduation from college, David was asked what gift he would like for his graduation. His answer was a Native American Flute. Thus began his career as flute player and flute maker.
The beauty of David’s playing comes from the heart. He uses nature as a starting point for his songs. His music is relaxing and soothing. Take a little vacation from the hustle and bustle of our hectic society and go back in time through “The Legends of Time.”
David has performed at various locations in Michigan, Ohio, Georgia, Texas, and South Dakota. Some of his performances were at Borders, Legends of Time, Spa Prahna, and the Midland Mall. He has performed for weddings, school assemblies, and churches.

I thought maybe I should say a few words about my journey with the flute. I was searching for this bird that was making a call almost every time I was in the forest. On the first time I was playing the flute in the forest the bird landed on a branch in front of me. This flute was gifted to me by my mom and so I think my journey began. That bird is the Red-bellied Woodpecker.

The idea for Legends Of Time came from Dan Declark & Robert Wainio who have two stores in Michigan with that name. They try to give native artists from around the county a place to sell their crafts and it also came from my mom who keeps telling stories of relatives that have passed on.
David Martinka

Redbelly thanks- Elaine Zajdlik, Robert Wainio, Dan DeClark, Eileen Whitacre and special thanks to Dan Haviland of Sweetgrass Studios for recording and engineering Legends Of Time

All songs written and performed by David Martinka

CD Artwork By Eileen Whitacre

CD produced by Dan Haviland of Sweetgrass Studios and David Martinka of Redbelly Music
Engineered by Dan Haviland of Sweetgrass Studios

ARTIST STATEMENT: Legends Of Time Painting
Eileen Whitacre

When painting, Legends Of Time, I began with a specific theme of native history, desert mirages, and time in action. I imagine traveling through a world anticipating the journey, and wonder at the results that await me. Painting is a very personal mode of spirituality for me. I tend to draw images that relate to my interests in psychology, physical science, and a “fourth dimension“. Because of this my work relates to fantasy and mystical imagery.
Boundaries are marked by the edges of my drawing surface; which could be a canvas or wall installation. Starting with one line at any given point, the majority of the image is a premeditated reaction to the last moment of line in-action. Shadowing, mimicking, repeating, & mirroring are all a part of an organic structure that, in turn, becomes a type of puzzle to be decoded.
Mid-way, a theme begins to take form to reveal abstract sensual images that blend together. Contextually, the images are to be read as living things bound by the laws of nature: DNA, physical systems, etc. Symbols of nature beautifully defined by, the insides and the outsides. The image, therefore, has energy and can morph into elemental conditions found in our environment. The theme is then evoked from the linear image in surrealistic terms. I place key symbols based off of the image by illustrating the characters & the setting to the viewer. Because of this, my work is to be read as a moment in real time.
Symmetry & balance is the final result of my stylization, ending the line off the edge of the canvas. Symmetry, as well, is the foundation of the natural world. I find that my style derives much from an inner passion for science and how aesthetics can be derived from science. I see the canvas much like an experiment in freedom: with constants and variables, created by my own will.
Eileen Whitacre