食色视频

KENNESAW, Ga. | Dec 31, 2019

Contemporary artist is exhibiting across the country

Communication and creative expression are not cut and dry notions, but fluid ideas that we as humans can explore, create, and imitate. Artist uses these ideas to question the world around us through art. A 2012 BFA graduate in Drawing and Painting at 食色视频鈥檚 (食色视频) School of Art and Design (SOAAD), Marten is making waves in the art community with her work, including a recent exhibition in New York City.

Untitled (Frances Wasn鈥檛 a Saint) No. 2, 2019. Pigment print on panel. 24 x 24鈥�. Image courtesy of the artist. 

From 食色视频鈥檚 Zuckerman Museum of Art to Atlanta鈥檚 , NYC鈥檚 to Charlotte, N.C.鈥檚 , Marten鈥檚 work has been on display nationally. As artist-in-residence at the in North Carolina, she displayed a limited edition of her project Frances Wasn鈥檛 a Saint. This is where the cards fell into place for Marten: little did she know that well-known art dealer visited her exhibition at McColl. King purchased one of the prints from Marten鈥檚 exhibition for her private collection, then, according to Marten, 鈥渞eached out and began conceiving of an exhibition around this entire series of work.鈥� King then offered Marten a solo exhibition as the inaugural show for her in Tribeca, NY.

This kind of break does not come by often, especially with the continuous opportunities it provided to Marten. 鈥淎t first, it was intimidating,鈥� confesses Marten, [by] 鈥渢he thought of filling an entire NYC gallery with work that was so important to me personally and to incorporate live performance using my own body.鈥� She pushed passed the intimidation with King鈥檚 guidance and now she says, 鈥渢o show work on such a spectacular stage is one thing, but to be represented by a gallerist who is interested in nurturing an emerging artist鈥檚 career is like winning the golden ticket!鈥� Marten鈥檚 work kicked off the gallery on September 6, 2019, with a live performance by Marten on September 7, 2019, and her work was on display through October 12, 2019.

Blue and Broom, 2019. Mixed Media. Dimensions Variable. Image courtesy of the artist. 

Frances Wasn鈥檛 a Saint explores the female identity and the societal and power structures that we allow to shape it. Using multiple mediums, including still images, multimedia sculptural installations, video, and live performance, Marten creates a figure named Frances, a representation of women, 鈥渁n ambiguous female figure who lived, a grandmother I couldn鈥檛 really know, but who is talking to me and through me now,鈥� says Marten. Frances began as a personal inquiry through private performance, where Marten explored and confronted the 鈥渉istorically problematic male gaze via the lens of the camera,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 was thinking of the movement and the ever-increasing cry of women to confront gender-based violence and predatory behavior head-on.鈥�

Lullaby for a Harlot, 2019. Performance aftermath. Image courtesy of the artist. 

Born in 1969 in Miami, FL, Marten grew up in a family deeply tied to a fundamentalist Christian group. Artistic expression and critical thought were considered threats to this community鈥檚 foundations, and Marten鈥檚 early inclinations towards art and creativity were thoroughly suppressed. 鈥淚t took ten years of my adult life to make the break and finally pursue my intellectual curiosity,鈥� says Marten.

In this pursuit, she decided to move to Atlanta for a fresh start and sought an educational institution that allowed her to delve into multiple research topics. 鈥淚 was interested in art as a vehicle for social dialogue,鈥� says Marten. 鈥準成�视频鈥檚 interdisciplinary studies department seemed like a good fit as a place where I could combine my research interests.鈥� After a couple of years at 食色视频, with the assistance of academic advisors, Marten decided to focus her studies on art full-time. After graduating with her BFA, she began creating and researching and started her career through her exhibitions and residencies, mainly in North Carolina.

Given her interest in interdisciplinary creative research, Marten started seeking MFA programs in 2016 that offered funding and support for multidisciplinary practices. With recommendations from mentors, Marten ultimately landed on the (UTK) and their , focusing on a contemporary arts studio practice and the development of creative strategies that utilize interdisciplinary approaches. 鈥淚 was drawn to the work and practice of Time-Based Art faculty Emily Bivens,鈥� says Marten, 鈥渁nd felt I could thrive under her advisement. It turns out I was correct.鈥� Marten applied and was granted a pre-thesis research assistantship at UTK under Bivens鈥� invitation. The assistantship provides student and teacher the opportunity to work together exploring common research interests. Marten said, 鈥淭his opportunity is a highlight of my time at UTK.鈥�

Marten continues to research and delve into the human condition through art. She has explored areas such as religious histories, gender-based violence, ritual, excess, and consumption. 鈥淎ll of these come under the umbrella of questioning the function of ecstasy and whose happiness matters,鈥� says Marten. 鈥淭he subjects I explore, at times, feel dark and heavy, so I infuse the work with layers of humor and meditative relief, employing magical realism.鈥�

Her most recent, and current favorite, project is an installation entitled Dinner of White Desire (2019) recently exhibited at in Charlotte, NC. It is a unique piece, displaying an unusual dinner spread consisting of mismatched food such as cauliflower, white jelly beans, and uncooked lima beans. A recipe card and shopping list are included, giving not only instructions for preparing the food, but setting the entire room, including putting sugar on the floor. The intention of the piece is interactive, having gallery visitors sit at the table and experience 鈥渟ipping鈥� the duck egg tea from simple white teacups, all while leaving their mark via footprints in the sugar. A single sentence about the installation is given for description: 鈥淚 fear we are growing increasingly intolerant to what remains after ecstasy.鈥�

Blue Window, 2019. Sugar, Wood, Ceramic. 23鈥� x 25鈥� x 4.5鈥�. Image courtesy of the artist. 

To see a catalogue of Marten鈥檚 professional work, along with more information about what inspires her, please visit .

--Lauren Richmond