Artist Statement — Mary Martin
Inspired by the beauty of seasonal changes in the landscape, and the moment-to-moment variations in the sea and sky, I am compelled to covey the emotions they evoke in me as an expression of praise and gratitude to the Creator of All. Choosing a scripture that illustrates nature praising God is often the starting point of a painting or collage.
The chosen scripture is handwritten on small strips of paper and placed in water. Using a layering process that begins by saturating a sheet of watercolor paper with the blessed water, light washes of fluid acrylic paint are brushed across the paper. Strips of plastic wrap, torn pieces of wax paper and rice paper, and cuttings of cotton gauze are laid on the paper. Each of these elements is painted in turn with deeper washes of color. Just before they dry, the pieces are removed, revealing layers of texture beneath.
Searching through the layers, I see objects that tell the story of the scripture take form. I work to highlight the objects by painting around them or by adding collage elements, enticing the viewer to peer into the layers, looking for a glimpse of the scripture and emotion that inspired the art work.
MARY MARTIN
96 Bal Harbour Dr. m St. Louis, MO 63146 m 314.249.6178
www.marymartinartstudio.com m mary@marymartinartstudio.com
Exhibitions
2019 A Tryst on Cherokee, Ruby Francis, St. Louis, MO
150: A Visual Meditation on the Psalms, Good Shepherd Arts Center, Ferguson, MO
2018 Solo Exhibition:Art of Mary Martin, St. Peters United Church of Christ, Ferguson, MO
Children of Abraham for Peace and Justice,Good Shepherd Arts Center, Ferguson, MO
Going Coastal, St. Peters Cultural Arts Centre, St. Peters, MO
Solo Exhibition-Gardens of Grace, Gretchen Brigham Gallery at Union Ave Christian Church, St. Louis, MO
Piece of Paper, St. Louis Artist Guild, St. Louis, MO
CelestialUniverse, St. Peters Cultural Arts Centre, St. Peters, MO
2017 Who Is God? International Exhibit #5, Museum Contempo, Shelton, WA
Many Mini – OA Gallery, Kirkwood, MO
Solo Exhibition– How Can I Keep from Singing? Good Shepherd Gallery, Ferguson, MO
Confluence of Expression: Floral & Botanical Exhibit, ConfluenceArtGallery.com and Green Door art gallery,
Webster Groves, MO
Art Exhibit at City Hall/ Chesterfield, Chesterfield City Hall, Chesterfield, MO
MySLArt 33February,Old Orchard Gallery, Webster Groves, MO
2016 Art at Des Peres Hospital, Des Peres Hospital with Art Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO
Who Is God? International Exhibit #4, Museum Contempo, Shelton, WA
Music to My Eyes, Green Door Art Gallery, Webster Groves, M
Born in Prayer: Art Created in the Place of Prayer, Gateway House of Prayer Art Gallery,
St. Louis, MO
Dual Exhibition– Heaven and Nature Sing, with photographer Dave Adams, Stevens: The Institute of Business & Arts,
St. Louis MO
Asian Fusion, Museum Contempo, Shelton, WA
Driven to Abstraction, Soulard Art Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2015
Who Is God? International Exhibit #3, Museum Contempo, Shelton, WA
The Word Made Flesh: Reflections on the Human Form, Gateway House of Prayer Art Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2014
Who Is God? International Exhibit #2, Museum Contempo, Shelton, WA
Solo Exhibition– Pathways of Peace: A Visual Journey through Scriptures of Peace
Gateway House of Prayer Art Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2013 Who is God? International Exhibit #1, Museum Contempo, Shelton, WA
2012 What Makes Your Soul Sing? Union Avenue Christian Church, St. Louis, MO
Awards/Honors
2018 3rd Place Mixed Media Category, Going Coastal, St. Peters Cultural Arts Center, St. Peters, MO
1st Place Mixed Media Category, Celestial Universe, St. Peters Cultural Arts Center, St. Peters, MO
3rd Place Mixed Media Category, Celestial Universe, St. Peters Cultural Arts Center, St. Peters, MO
2017 Honorable Mention, Confluence of Expression: Floral & Botanical Exhibit, ConfluenceArtGallery.com
Private Commissions
2018 Donna Griffin, St. Louis MO
Katrina Bellem, Prairie Village, KS
Michelle Roberts, St. Louis, MO
Patricia Dawson, St. Louis, MO
2017 Sandy Sublett, Cedar Rapids, IA
2016 Sandy Parres, St. Louis, MO
2015 Kathleen Reznikov, St. Louis, MO
2014 David and Christine Hester, St. Louis, MO
Ronald and Catherine Reuther, St. Louis, MO
Collections
Museum Contempo, Shelton, WA
Bibliography
2016 Who Is God? Creations, Editor B. J. Clausen
2015 Who Is God? The Collection, Editor Robert Ellison
2014 Who is God? Volume IV, GDP Studios
2013 Who is God? Volume III, GDP Studios
Workshops
2019 Monoprinting with Gel Printing Plate, Green Door art gallery
St. Louis MO February 23
Monoprinting with Gel Printing Plate, Manchester Parks, Recreation & Arts,
Manchester MO, February 9
2018 Monoprinting with Gel Printing Plate, Green Door art gallery
St. Louis, MO, April 28
Monoprinting with Gel Printing Plate, Green Door art gallery,
St. Louis, MO, March 17
Monoprinting with Gel Printing Plate, Green Door art gallery
St. Louis, MO, February 3
Hand Painted Papers using Monoprinting Techniques, St. Louis Art Museum
2015
For St. Louis Public School Visual Arts Teachers Professional Development Day
St. Louis, MO, August 11
Hand Painted Papers using Monoprinting Techniques, Gateway House of Prayer Arts Program
St. Louis, MO, April 11 and 18
Hand Painted Papers Using Monoprinting Techniques, Mary Martin Art Studio
St. Louis, MO, April 19
Hand Painted Papers Using Monoprinting Techniques, Mary Martin Art Studio
St. Louis, MO, March 14
2014 Marbling Technique, Gateway House of Prayer Arts Program
St. Louis, MO, June 14
Creating Visual Texture, Gateway House of Prayer Arts Program
St. Louis, MO, March 15
2013 Creating With Collage, Gateway House of Prayer Arts Program
St. Louis, MO, June 14
Education
2019 Repurposed Paper and Board Handmade Book, Instructor: Luke Firle
St. Louis, MO February 19
2018 Play Book Journal Making, Instructor: Amy Smith
Black Mountain, NC, October 12
Letters to My Soul: Intuitive Painting: Cheyenne Trunell and Molly Courcele
Black Mountain, NC, October 11
Wildland Creatures, Exploring Stenciling, Instructor: Roxanne Evans Stout,
Chesterfield, MO, May 6
Cupcake Casting of Handmade Papers Workshop, Instructor: Lois Jacobs
Chesterfield, MO, January 27
2017 Connections in Cloth Workshop, Instructor: Lorie Hancock McCown
Black Mountain, NC, September 14-16
2016 Chinese Brush Painting Workshop, Instructor: Ping Yan, St. Louis, MO June 18
2015 Mixed Media Cold Wax Painting Workshop, Instructor: Mayra Pankow
Black Mountain, NC September 10
Mark Making and the Painted Collage Workshop, Instructor: Crystal Neubauer
Kansas City, MO June 6-7
2014 Acrylic Painting Workshop: Abstract Painting, Instructor: Pattie Ann Hale
Black Mountain, NC, September 25
Acrylic Painting Workshop: Acquiring Skill for Expression, Instructor: Pattie Ann Hale
Gatlinburg, TN, April 24
2013 Paper Paintings Collage Workshop, Instructor: Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson
Springfield, MO, October 4-6
2012 Collage III Workshop, Instructor: Shirley Nachtrieb
St. Peters, MO, Weekly October 15-November 26
Collage II Workshop, Instructor: Shirley Nachtrieb
St. Peters, MO, Weekly May 7-June 18
Collage I Workshop, Instructor: Shirley Nachtrieb
St. Peters, MO, Weekly March 12-April 16
2011 Discover Your Creative Roots Workshop, Instructor: Mary Todd Beam
Gatlinburg, TN, September 25-October 1
2005-2011
Private Instruction, Instructor: Shirley Nachtrieb
Fenton, MO, bimonthly
Gallery Affiliations
Green Door Art Gallery, Webster Groves, MO
Affiliations
2019 Art Saint Louis
Best of Missouri Hands
St. Louis Artists Guild
Society of Layerists in Multimedia
2018 Art Saint Louis
Best of Missouri Hands
St. Louis Artists Guild
Society of Layerists in Multimedia
2017 Art Saint Louis
Best of Missouri Hands
2016 Art Saint Louis
2015 Art Saint Louis
2014 Greater St. Louis Art Association
