2020 Vision: Previewing CONNECTING THE DOTS at JoAnne Artman Gallery

Jan 17, 2020 10:13AM

JoAnne Artman Gallery is pleased to present, Connecting the Dots, an exhibition featuring new works by America Martin. In anticipation of Martin’s upcoming exhibition at JoAnne Artman Gallery’s Laguna Beach location, we look back at excerpts from our conversation that highlight Martin’s studio practice, process, and the continuing inspiration for her most recent body of work.

Referencing Paul Klee’s statement that, “A line is a dot that went for a walk,” the title serves as a fitting descriptor of Martin’s adept and exuberant use of line. Employing smooth, bold curves as well as hard, geometric strokes, she adheres to the most fundamental aspect of drawing - the line - to tell a story, connecting compositional elements and personal narratives throughout her practice.

“To make art you must allow room for boldness to be expansive. I create my own world with the things I make. I paint, draw and sculpt the things that are pleasing to my own eye. Forms in joyful exuberance or calm strength and repose. I create a world where clothes are optional and nature is everywhere. Where birds and animals sing you songs under fruit trees in the light of the sun or shaded from heavy blossoming vines,” Martin explains.

Focused on the human figure and the tales that emerge through the framework of shape, contour, and formal approach, Martin choreographs her forms in relentless flux. Her technique of freehandedly capturing her subjects yields unapologetic marks and a spirited palette that hums with the vitality and vigor of the world she creates. In addition to the figure, many of Martin’s works are populated with anecdotal elements such as musical instruments, animals, and flowers.

For Martin, these elements provide both a contextual source of information, as well as symbolic significance, progressing the storyline as a representation of personality, mood, and character.

Experimenting with line weight and function as a tool for two dimensional representation of three dimensional forms, Martin takes on a new balance between solidity, weight and suggestion. Laden with nuance, the thick lines are filled with the bubbling energy of thin, long scrapes throughout their length - adding both intensity and dimension.

“The obstacle always found in the making of art is that the heart and eye are so much faster in the making of a painting or sculpture than the time it takes here on earth. To make a sculpture can take weeks while -I’ve already seen it done and complete before I’ve touched steel or paint.”

“But here is the other wondrous part in the inherent slowness of snail paced life. The process that happens when laboriously dragging bags of plaster from one side of your studio to the other- Is you say to yourself, Hot Dam! What if I made the next thing out of THIS or THAT - and because of how the slow things in general take it allows you to grow and evolve your notions and create new solutions to new problems and oh but gee wezz! That’s just the very best.”

Indulging her imagination, Martin allows lines to guide the visual properties and narrative of each of her compositions in the continued and playful fantasy of a dot going for a stroll.

“I am in love with so much of this wild wide world. To be lucky enough to make art, which is essentially making visual Valentines declaring my admiration for the things I find wonderful, is a joy, honor and blessing,” she concludes.

“CONNECTING THE DOTS” Featuring America Martin opens Thursday, March 5th, with an Artist’s Reception from 6-8pm. 

@ JoAnne Artman Gallery 326 N Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

For more information about the artist, or to read the full interview, please visit www.joanneartmangallery.com or contact JoAnne Artman at joanneartman@aol.com.

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