By: Kylie Kinnett
Local artist, Sarah Martin, has never known how not to create. Whether it was painting,brdrawing, or taking photos, her creative juices have always flowed. Afterbrgraduating with degrees in both English Literature and Fine Arts, she worked asbra paintings conservator in Dallas. She made the move back to Corpus Christibrrecently and has been working on “Him Her You Me and The Imaginary Fire” since.
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At its root, Martin’s newest collection is inspired by thebrdelusion and obsession within human relationships. By using several storiesbrfrom her personal life, gathering various news articles, and pieces ofbrliterature that are all centered around the concept of relationships—both withbrothers and with the self—Martin has created an exhibition focused on thebrduality of how delusion and obsession can be both delightful, and not sobrdelightful when it comes to relationships.
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“Many of the paintings in this exhibit have textbrincorporated into them from these stories,” says Martin in regard to thebrinspiration behind the collection. “Some are completely illegible; they remindbrme of chalkboards after a problem was being resolved, or scenes from thebrsubconscious mind trying to make sense of a situation. They are colorful andbrplayful and also unsettling and meditative”
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Martin describes the works as both humiliatingly vulnerablebryet comical, playful yet ominous. Her hopes for the exhibition is to be able tobrcreate an environment for people to experience wholly. By creating an immersivebrlook into both the artist’s own life, as well as the exploration into how we,bras humans, view relationships. “I am interested in seeing how people respondbrand relate to the collection and the installation as a whole,” she says.
Poetry and prose can be seen worked into the show as well.brEach written word comes alive by recounting moments from differentbrrelationships in Martin’s life—all of which include various degrees of delusionbror obsession.
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brbrThe main medium you will find within “Him HerbrYou Me and The Imaginary Fire” is acrylic on canvas, although there are plentybrof other elements in which Martin has incorporated (metal swings being one ofbrthem). The solo exhibition’s opening isbrtoday, Friday, May 25th, on the second floor of the Mathieu ElectricbrWarehouse (1222 Laredo Street). The reception will begin at 6 PM and is open to the public. Martinbrhopes you’ll come have an experience, meet someone new, have a drink, andbrsimply just say hello.