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Artist's Statement
Bio
Resume

Artist's Statement

     

My spin art is an ongoing experiment which involves paint application with the use of centrifugal force. The images I produce are influenced by the process of the application, the viscosity of the paint, the speed of the spinning and the placement and character of the painting surface. The images may appear to be created by random acts of tossing paint. In fact, the process is about carefully controlling a seemingly unpredictable method of paint application, which in reality is no more unpredictable than any other artistic exploration. As the artist becomes more familiar with the medium and the method, controlling paint on a rapidly spinning surface becomes no less predictable than brushing paint onto a canvas. The same challenges of composition, color and layering changes exist in both methods.

This work developed from my exploration of a spin art toy, attempting to produce with the toy complicated images with interesting layers. I have since then developed new machinery for the work. My goal is to see how far I can push the limits of this technique, through images, size, surface, and the adding and removing of paint and texture

The first spin art series started as the exploration of the viscosity of the paint and the control of the line in the purest sense, using only black paint on a white surface. To me, these first images represent the calm simple use of the paint that came from an active spinning process. My images appear calm and static from a process of activity and fast moving paint. As I became more familiar with the process, I found that I could control the paint to produce the images that I envisioned, with the occasional element of surprise 

The second series was about the exploration of texture, color and layers. I incorporated either the static or active method in the images, depending on my outlook for that day…or for that moment. At this point, I made a larger machine to accommodate the larger pieces I was developing. I also experimented with surface and developed a preference for 300 lb. cold press paper. 

The third series developed from the use of the heavy-weight paper, layering and pulling out images I see in these layers. This series is a mixed media process using pen and ink and watercolor. I have always loved seeing images in abstract forms. (I often find myself mentally pulling images from stone, marble, wood or shadows and clouds).

My latest series has come from a desire to create larger pieces on canvas. This had to start with a much larger machine. After a great deal of thinking and many drawings I came up with a spinner that could accommodate a 4’ x 4’ canvas. My next task was to become familiar with the new canvas surface, size and the effects of this canvas with the process techniques I had developed with the smaller pieces of paper. This series is an ongoing project. Since the start of this project I have produced over 200 pieces. I will continue to push my work to the next level, always exploring and experimenting, always trusting my instincts—and always excited about what I am doing. 


 

Bio

    

Meridith Martens spent most of her childhood traveling with her nomadic military family, eventually ending up in Annapolis, Maryland. Her love of horses and her ability to capture both likeness and spirit led to a successful early career painting equine portraits from Saratoga to Hialeah. She attended Corcoran School of Art, The San Francisco Art Institute, Maryland Institute of Art, and spent a year painting in Paris before moving to New York City for several years.

After settling in North Carolina to raise her daughter, Ms. Martens discovered a lively arts community where she found success painting commissioned portraits and corporate projects, while investigating new forms in her studio. Always equally drawn to the realistic and the abstract, Martens was inspired by a workshop given by Wolf Kahn in Mississippi. Kahn later sponsored Ms. Martens for a month-long residency fellowship at the Vermont Studio Center where she began in earnest to experiment with abstract forms.

Her painting of the World Trade Center, created just days after September 11, traveled the world for four years with Meridian International True Colors exhibit, a powerful group show of artistic responses to the tragic events of that day.

Ms. Martens lives with her husband Howard Schubert in North Carolina. Her daughter, Ryan Robbins, is married and lives in New York City. Martens continues to create, experiment, and explore boundaries between the realistic and the abstract in a variety of media and genre. 

 

 

 

Resume

EDUCATION

1965 THE CORCORAN SCHOOL OF ART
WASHINGTON, D.C.

1966 SAN FRANCISCO ART INSTITUTE
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

1968 MARYLAND ART INSTITUTE
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

1980 THE NEW SCHOOL
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK

EMPLOYMENT

1966 FILMEDIA STUDIO -ILLUSTRATOR
WASHINGTON, D.C.

1969-Present SELF-EMPLOYED ARTIST

AWARDS

1975 HONORABLE MENTION -LA PREMIER
SALON DU CHEVAL, MARSEILLE, FRANCE

1990 BEST IN SHOW -ARTS COUNCIL OF MOORE
COUNTY, SOUTHERN PINES, N C.

1991 FIRST PLACE, FINE ARTS FESTIVAL
SOUTHERN PINES, NC

1991 BEST IN SHOW -THE ART GUILD OF
SCOTLAND COUNTY, N .C.

1993 PURCHASE AWARD , FINE ARTS
SOUTHERN PINES, NC.

1994 JURORS' CHOICE AWARD
THE UNIVERSITY OF NC. CHAPEL HILL

1996 THE ARTIST'S MAGAZINE HONORS AWARD

1996 FIRST PLACE, OIL CATEGORY AND PEOPLES CHOICE
FINE ARTS FESTIVAL, SOUTHERN PINES, NC.

1999 THE ARTIST'S MAGAZINE ART COMPETITION FINALIST

2002 FIRST PLACE, THE MARSHALL GALLERY, GREENSBORO, NC

2002 FIRST PLACE, OIL CATEGORY AND BEST IN SHOW, FINE ARTS, SOUTHERN PINES, NC.

2003  PURCHASE AWARD, DIMENSIONS 2003, WINSTON-SALEM, NC.

2005 JUROR'S CHOICE AWARD, UNC CHAPEL HILL, NC

 

GRANTS

1996 REGIONAL ARTIST PROJECT GRANT
NORTH CAROLINA ARTS COUNCIL

1999 VERMONT STUDIO CENTER RESIDENCY
FELLOWSHIP SPONSORED BY WOLF KAHN

1999-2000 REGIONAL ARTIST PROJECT GRANT, NC ARTS COUNCIL

2000-2005 MR & MRS WARNER L ATKINS, THE GREATER CINCINNATI FOUNDATION GRANT TO THE VERMONT STUDIO CENTER


SHOWS

Maryland Federation of Art
Annapolis, Md.

Washington Gallery of Art 
Washington, D.C.

The Jockey Club 
Miami, Fl.

Dominique Vaucher Saint-M'Leux Le Cheval dans L'Art 
Paris, France

La Premier Salon du Cheval 
Marseille, France

Kent Gallery 
Kent, Ct.

Saratoga Gallery 
Saratoga Springs, NY.

The Weymouth Center 
Southern Pines, NC.

Scotland County Artsperience 
Lumberton, NC.

Tattersall Gallery Aiken, SC.

Greensboro Artist League
Greensboro, NC.

Ward-Nasse Gallery 
New York, NY.

Windy Morehead Gallery 
New Orleans, La.

The Center Street Gallery 
Winter Park, Fl.

Wilmington Art Association 
Wilmington, NC.

Henley Southeastern Spectrum 
Winston-Salem,NC.

The Women's Center 
UNC Chapel Hill, NC.

Fayetteville Arts Council 
Fayetteville, NC.

MERIDIAN INTERNATIONAL CENTER
wASHINGTON, DC.

MARSHALL GALLERY
GREENSBORO, NC

DIMENSIONS 2002
WINSTON-SALEM, NC

DIMENSIONS 2003
WINSTON-SALEM, NC

FAYETTEVILLE MUSEUM OF ART
FAYETTEVILLE, NC