Meet McKenzie Angelo Martinez | queer archivist, historian, astrologer, herbalist, and artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with McKenzie Angelo Martinez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi McKenzie Angelo, what inspires you?
As a queer archivist and historian, I am inspired by the stories of those who have come before us. Seeing different versions of myself and other queer and trans people in different time periods, especially in time periods where it has not been heavily documented, helps remind me that we have always existed and that we exist everywhere. That message has been crucial for my sense of belonging and purpose.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a digital and multimedia installation artist. All of my work is vibrant, interactive and meant to educate, spark curiosity, and encourage conversation about different social justice related issues. I am currently working on a project called 360 Degrees of Queer Life: An Astrological Archive of QTBIPOC Ancestors that will exhibit in June and July at the Linksoul Gallery, a local black owned gallery in Oceanside run by the Hill Street Country Club. This exhibit will showcase 360 astroportraits of different QTBIPOC ancestors according to their zodiac sign. It will also include multimedia archival footage. I also make different herbal and aromatherapy products based on astrology that feature the different ancestors who will be in the exhibit. Getting to this point has been an interesting journey, to say the least. I moved to San Diego in 2020 after closing down my other business, metaDEN: a healing incubator, due to the pandemic in NYC. While in NYC, with metaDEN, we organized a hosted several different healing centered events for BIPOC communities that centered queer and trans folx. It was heartbreaking to have to stop that work during the pandemic. However, it gave me time to think about other ways to impact my community and share our stories as a means of honoring our collective past via our ancestors. Outside of this work, I’ve done other large scale installations that touch on the themes of gentrification, home, and pride. My last exhibits were at Loisaida in the Lower East Side of Manhattan and Five Myles in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take my best friend to all the QTBIPOC centered spaces in San Diego and different BIPOC run spaces. This would include: – Libélula Books & Co in Barrio Logan
– Sunset Kava in City Heights
– Trans and Non-Binary Tuesday at the Dojo Cafe in City Heights
– Caféina in City Heights
– The World Beat Center and El Centro de la Raza in Balboa Park
– Quartyard in Downtown
– Cafe X: By Any Means Necessary at 1835 Studios
– The Brown Building in City Heights
– Imani Yoga Studio in City Heights

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Libélula Books & Co definitely deserves a shoutout. They are a queer, BIPOC, and Felonista owned bookstore in Barrio Logan that hosts my monthly Cosmic Connections events.

Website: www.therootedzodiac.com

Instagram: @therootedzodiac

Other: Patreon : patreon.com/TheRootedZodiac