Stephen Martin, retired Lt. Col., USAF and master Navigator (of very big planes), world traveler, designer, antiques dealer, artist and raconteur, has switched gears into found objects artist. CAA had the chance to ask Stephen a few questions about his creative spirit and artwork.
“I am most intrigued by the response of art students to my work, and I guess a close second, other artists. That really is flattering because as an outsider (remember, I didn’t go to art school), it imparts street cred.
I do what I do, I’m just lucky that people like what I do, but their opinion doesn’t impact my process.
I was asked to teach a mixed media class and I thought, ‘Wow, that would be really hard because the students would have to stand around a pile of junk thinking and listening to hours of very loud opera (at least its Puccini) in the studio, to get an idea which may, or may not become a piece – and for that I would charge money? Obviously, I didn’t work and I turned down the gig. I still work the same way. If I had gone to art school with some time constraints and lots of people in class and no opera, well I wouldn’t be where I am today.
What was your first medium you fell in love with? Has this influenced your techniques?
“Well I was between jobs and somewhat low on disposable income and kept finding all this stuff on the street – old paint, broken picture frames, rags, gloves, car parts, well you get the idea, people throw out a lot of good stuff. Okay, it’s not ‘good’ or they wouldn’t throw it away but certainly, useful stuff. And there it was ready to become something else, and the best part is that great old Yankee word – FREE
Glue, lots of glue, (better living through chemistry); probably invented by young chemistry major at MIT who are much smarter and make a ton more money than me. And of course, a screw gun. Anything out of rusted junk that presents itself on the street as a detrius.
I do have a fetish for scoping out stuff along the road, which is very dangerous when I’m riding my bike in traffic.
You know that I didn’t go to art school as my somewhat infamous artist statement points out, but I have always had a big shop with a full complement of tools where I build, fix and often destroy perfectly good stuff so I guess it was natural for me to build some stuff and call it art, there’s that artist statement again.”
What work do you most identify with?
Can I just say Lorraine Sullivan or would that be patronizing? If you mean “world famous”-sorry Lorraine, then The Master of course, and may he rest in peace-Robert Rauschenberg.
What work do you find the most enjoyable to create?
“My American Flag, is my favorite piece, which is in ‘The Artists Private Collection.” I made from old rags, etc and the white stripes were pictures from seventh grade yearbook. I used my photo along with dozens of my classmates and it was in RED last year, cool huh? And yes, my process did change, Since I only had one copy of the book, I cant’ put my pictures in anything else, what a shame.
The work I relate most to is very easy, being unemployed and having way too much time on my hands between cold, hard, warehouse jobs and of course having a box set of Puccini, that’s all the inspiration anyone needs. Art is involved in some form in every aspect of our lives, in all its dimensions. And is fundamental to any society.”
What three artists you’d like to be compared to?
Radcliff Bailey, and can I name The Master twice?
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Well I sold 5 pieces at my first show and a good friend, and very well known CAA artist said to me “its beginners luck” Really? Yea, it was!