Best known for his ‘frozen’ brushstrokes, Donald Martiny’s large scale abstractions manage to be both sculptural and painterly, while somehow effecting the action of performance art. It is no wonder then that Open, Martiny’s latest solo exhibition on view till January 2nd at the Dimmitt Contemporary Art in Houston, continues the artist’s exploration of the "gesture," which is made to exist forever in the present. Katarina Feder of Artists Rights Society sat down with the artist to talk contemporary culture, artistic influences, and the surprisingly delightful taste of a blue crayon.
KATARINA: Your newest show at the Dimmit Contemporary Art is called OPEN, which the curator writes is a reference to “the action of the viewer, rather than the object itself.” For all your viewers out there, what do you think we can all be a little more 'open' to and why?
DM: What a terrific question. Forgive me but my answer will not be specific to painting. We live in a time of branding, packaged information, and sound bites. Because we are all so very busy, we often gather information quickly from headlines or YouTube clips. But the world is a complex place and context is important. Modernist thinking held fast to universal and monotheistic ideals and manifestos, a sort of binary way of thinking. Post-modernism offered pluralism though often in an ironic, cynical, or critical way. We can all learn by listening better and being open to opposing views and new ideas.
KATARINA: We hear this series is inspired by Robert Motherwell. We represent him too! If you could speak to Robert and ask him one question, what would it be?
DM: If only I could. I would, without question want to hear about his time in Taxco, Mexico with Wolfgang Paalen. It was such a turning point in the history of art though not often talked about or written about. I believe their meeting played a profound role in the genesis of abstract expressionism and the New York School of painting.
KATARINA: Your works have been referred to as the “brushstroke” itself, and you paint in so many incredible and vibrant colors. If you were a color, what color would you be and why?
DM: Oh my, what a challenging question. That is like asking which note on the piano I like best. Perhaps this is the answer: I sincerely believe my fascination with art occurred at a very early age, not because of my passion for drawing, or my fascination with images, but because of a pure color experience I had when I was very young. Color has always had an intense and profound effect on me. When I was in kindergarten, I had such a powerfully visceral response to the colored crayons that I wanted to experience them by smelling, feeling, and tasting them. I remember trying to eat the phthalo blue. Perhaps that old familiar saying is right: “you are what you eat.”
KATARINA: You call your works “actual authentic gestures.” In the spirit of Thanksgiving, what was a recent authentic gesture made to you and why were you thankful for it?
DM: I feel very lucky as many people have been extraordinarily kind to me. I will never forget Douglas Durst for offering me the opportunity to create two monumental paintings to be permanently installed in the lobby of One World Trade Center. That took an exceptional amount of trust and vision on his part. It was tremendously meaningful to me personally and was a turning point in my career as an artist.
KATARINA: Your name is Martiny, so we have to ask: shaken or stirred?
DM: I am not often or quickly shaken or rattled, but I am easily stirred… emotionally. You might catch me shedding tears while reading a book or at the movie theatre. As for drinks I prefer a very dirty Martini with lots of olives.
This interview appeared in the Artist Right Society’s newsletter of November 2019.
Solo Exhibition: OPEN at Dimmitt Contemporary Art
Eddas, 2019, dispersed pigment and polymer on aluminum, 47 x 60 in.
Dimmitt Contemporary Art is pleased to announce OPEN, an exhibition of paintings by North Carolina artist Donald Martiny.
Martiny’s OPEN series continues the artist’s exploration into the presence and power of gestures made to exist forever in the present. Moving away from earlier forms that were closed, Martiny’s latest body of work incorporates a significant amount of negative space.
“Donald Martiny’s work forces us to question the established definitions which form the backbone of our understanding of painting as both a pursuit and a product, and of paint as a medium. In challenging the viewer in these ways, it is not only visually exciting but intellectually invigorating.” - Professor Deborah Swallow, Märit Rausing Director, The Courtauld Institute of Art
OPEN refers to the action of the viewer rather than the object itself. Martiny borrows this concept from a series of works by Robert Motherwell, depicting abstract windows in order to gaze into the infinite. Operating in the gap between painting and sculpture, Martiny defines his paintings as the brushstroke itself.
These sculptural brushstrokes are created by manipulating paint, pigments and polymers to create lyrical, abstract expressionist paintings. Martiny is interested in allowing gesture to escape from the traditional rectangular support and realize its potential in relation to architectural space. Each piece encourages a dialogue between the viewer, the work, and the space contained within.
Donald Martiny, OPEN
Solo Exhibition at Dimmitt Contemporary Art
Nov 7, 2019 - Jan 2, 2020
We Love This Installation Shot
Image: Valerie Le Gras/ Dimmitt Art.