Artist’s Statement

I am trying to create an approach to painting that mirrors the way that life is lived.  We experience life one day at a time and our lives exist as a succession of days. Likewise, my painting process involves a focus on each act in isolation, each painting exists as a sum of this succession of acts. I perform a repetition of simple actions or mark-making, each one intended to advance the picture not necessarily through improvement, but rather, simply through continuing the act of painting.  In this way, each painting is a representation of this idea as well as a manifestation of the psychoanalytic idea of the Drive, a record of being present in the act of painting. I question the necessity of meaning and purpose, simply being present is fulfillment enough. It is my hope that the sum of the succession of acts in my paintings adds up to something that is engaging and appealing, perhaps even beautiful, the same way that I hope that the sum of my days will add up to something that was worthwhile and valuable.

 

Artist’s Biography

 

C.J. martin's studio practice has been focused on multimedia paintings and collage for the last few years.  His work focuses on the fact that painting, whatever the subject, is always a record of itself and as such acts as an index of a type of performance. He sees painting as recording a presence, the action of the painter marking a being-with or a being in time.  In this way painting is for C.J. a representation of life and a truthful metaphor for being in the world.

C.J. received a Bachelors of Arts in Fine and Performing Arts from Christopher Newport University in Virginia and a Masters of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing from Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis.  He has taught Painting and Drawing at Herron and at Indiana University in Kokomo.

 

CV

 

C.J. Martin

317.703.0406

 

Education

 

2014    MFA    Painting & Drawing, Herron School of Art            & Design, Indianapolis, IN

2004   BA    Fine & Performing Art, Christopher  

           Newport University, Newport News, VA

 

Professional Experience

 

2015-17 Adjunct Professor of Painting and Drawing,

            Indiana University, Kokomo, IN

            (Painting I, II & III, Drawing 1, 3D Design)

2013-15 Studio Assistant/Inventory Manager, Studio of             Lois Main Templeton, Indianapolis, IN

            (Prepared surfaces, stretched finished work,                 created & maintained inventory documents)

2013-14 Graduate Teaching Fellow, Instructor of

            Record, Herron School of Art & Design,

            Indianapolis, IN  (Drawing I, Drawing II)

2013     Graduate Teaching Assistant, Anila Agha,

            Herron School of Art & Design, Indianapolis, IN

            (Drawing III)

2013     Gallery Marketing Fellow, Herron Gallery,

            Herron School of Art & Design, Indianapolis, IN

 

Exhibitions

 

2018       (upcoming) Inaugural exhibition, High Frequency

               arts, fishers, IN

2018       imoca benefit, esl-spectrum, Indianapolis, in

2018       solo exhibition, here, now, Saks, Indianapolis, in

2018       inferno, annex gallery, Indianapolis, in

2018       shop talk, underground gallery, Indianapolis, in

2017       Four new paintings, annex gallery, Indianapolis, in

2017       Storms, Jon Love Gallery, Lincoln, NE

2016     Indy Blue, Harrison Gallery, Indianapolis, IN

2016     Tiny V, Gallery 924, Indianapolis, IN

2016     Solo Exhibition, Circling Nothing, Speck

            Gallery, Indianapolis, IN

2016     Grand Opening Show, Union Street Gallery,

            Kokomo, IN

2015     Black Tie, Harrison Center for the Arts,

            Harrison Gallery, Indianapolis, IN

2015     Tiny IV, Gallery 924, Indianapolis, IN

2015     iTunes: Quakers Meeting, Listen Hear,

            Indianapolis, IN

2014     Magnificent Amber, Harrison Center for the

            Arts, Harrison Gallery, Indianapolis, IN

2014     Tiny III, Gallery 924, Indianapolis, IN

2014     Search Engine, Herron School of Art and

            Design, Indianapolis, IN

2014     Four Show, Cultural Arts Gallery, Indiana

            University Purdue University Indianapolis,

            Indianapolis, IN

2013     Solo Exhibition, C.J. Martin: Terms and

            Conditions, Gallery No. 2, Indianapolis, IN

2013     Tiny II, Gallery 924, Indianapolis, IN

2013     50th Anniversary Mosaic Project, Clowes

            Memorial Hall, Indianapolis, IN

2013     Hoosier Zeitgeist, The Thompson Collection,                   Indianapolis, IN

2013     5-7-5-7-7, Marsh Gallery, Herron School of

            Art and design, Indianapolis, IN

2012     Borshoff, Harrison Center Center for the Arts,             Gallery No. 2, Indianapolis, IN

2006    An Amalgamation, Volume, Chesapeake, VA

2003    Genesis, Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport

            News, VA

2002    Homecoming, Christopher Newport University,

            Newport News, VA

2001     30th Annual Student Art Show, Tidewater

            Community College, Portsmouth, VA

 

Grants, Awards and Fellowships

 

2014     Graduate Teaching Fellowship, Herron School               of Art & Design

2013     Graduate Teaching Assistant Fellowship,

            Herron School of Art & Design

            Gallery Marketing Fellowship, Herron School                 of Art & Design

2003    Mayor’s Award, Genesis Juried Exhibition,

            Peninsula Fine Arts Center

2002    Betty Anglin Alumni Scholarship, Christopher               Newport University

2001     Purchase Award, 30th Annual Student Art

            Show, Tidewater Community College

 

Collections

 

Tidewater Community College, Portsmouth, VA

 

Curatorial Projects

 

2014     Moment of Conception?, Herron School of Art &             Design, Indianapolis IN

2014     Search Engine, Herron School of Art and

            Design, Indianapolis, IN

2014     Four Show, Cultural Arts Gallery, Indiana

            University Purdue University Indianapolis,

            Indianapolis, IN

2013     C.J. Martin: Terms and Conditions, Gallery No. 2,             Indianapolis, IN