Leveraging the popularity of Instagram, downtown Bakersfield Metro Gallery owner Don Martin has put together one of the more unique art shows in recent years with a pairing of his work on the social media network with that of the oil painting efforts of Bakersfield artist David Gordon.

The show, which premiered at the May 5 First Friday event in downtown, is another collaboration between Martin, who has championed the local art scene for years, and Gordon, who serves as the executive director of the Kern Arts Council.

Dubbed “D and D, Side By Side,” the works showcase Martin’s long-held love affair with Instagram, the Facebook-owned photo sharing site, with the emergent work of Gordon’s oil paintings, which capture life in Kern County and the Central Coast.

Martin said the collaboration began a year ago when Gordon first painted one of Martin’s pictures he takes during runs along the Kern River.

“I just went on (Martin’s) Instagram site,” Gordon said. “(Martin) takes phenomenal photographs. I just grabbed ones that pulled at my heartstrings.”

Many of those detail Martin and Gordon’s shared passion for Kern County and the Central Coast.

“All of these Avila Beach ones started popping up, and you know I needed to try to paint an oak tree, and I needed to see how the blue sky here is different from the blue sky with the ocean there,” Gordon said. “You know, I really liked the exercise.”

For more information on the Metro Galleries and the exhibit visit: https://www.facebook.com/MetroGalleries/