BIO, Artist's Statement and C.V.
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.
C.j. currently lives and works in the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina
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 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
