We are lucky to have the beautiful and unique 3-dimensional works by Jerri Martin featured in this round of our Artist Spotlight. Stop in and see them in person!

ARTIST STATEMENT

On again. Off again. The story of my art life…  I started with pencil, moved to acrylics, vacationed with charcoal and visited glass. This was during high school, college, and less demanding jobs. During a period of home remodeling and having my glass studio packed with everything that needed to be out of the way I looked for something else to do. I found the Charlie Cummings Clay Studio and learned how to work with clay. Finally the jobs are gone and I’ve time to work in the medium I’ve gotten rather fond of. Although it is not the only medium I use, clay is the medium I’ve work with longest. Primarily I work with earthenware and raku sculpture clay. Throwing clay on a wheel is ok, but hand-build ing in clay is what I love. Because the clay is so earthy it lends itself well to expressing emotions, which is the basis of many of my pieces.

WHEN DID YOU BEGIN MAKING ART?

I began making art when I was 10 or 11.  I started with designing outfits for Betty and Veronica (Archie Comic Books).

WHAT DOES YOUR WORK AIM TO SAY?

With the sculptural pieces I want to convey an emotion; longing, hope, fun…

WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES?

Anna Kozlowska-Luc, Greet Kaetelaers, Tom Bartel

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

Facial expressions, bodies

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PIECE OF ARTWORK THAT YOU’VE CREATED?

A smallish ceramic wall piece call ‘Voices’.  It was a figure with no ears surrounded by mouths.


HOW DO YOU WORK? WHEN DO YOU FEEL MOST CREATIVE?

I am a hand-builder, standing at my studio table with a Spotify playlist of my musicians; Todd Snider, James McMurtry, Frazy Ford, Lori McKenna.  Afternoons are when I enjoy being in the studio, after I get all my daily chores accomplished.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST IMPORTANT ARTIST TOOL? IS THERE SOMETHING YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT IN YOUR STUDIO?

My slab roller

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN A WORK IS FINISHED?

Generally after it has been fired, although I have been know to paint and paper pieces after the firing.

WHAT’S YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT?

I was 18 and taking a class at the Fort Wayne Art School.  It as the first time I had ever drawn a nude model and everyone could tell by the size of the bubbles I was blowing with my bubble gum.  The second most embarrassing was the critique of the painting of the model, I was told it was obscene because it was too fleshy. 

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO AN ARTIST JUST STARTING OUT?

Get out of your comfort zone.

Thanks, Jerri! Come check out her art, currently on display.

We are open Friday 5PM – 8PM, Saturday 4PM – 7PM, and Sunday 1PM – 4PM.

Interested in being in our Artist Spotlight? Send us your work!
We are looking for 2D and 3D artists to feature a selection of their work on a 3-month rotation.

Check out previous Artists here!