Blog #24...finally

Ann Marie Martens
Ann Marie Martens is a Ceramics MFA candidate at MSU. Recently, she had an installation exhibited in the Kresge MFA show. Her installation consisted of a countless number of wires (ethernet cords) draped over from the ceiling to the floor. Inside these cords were amorphous forms made from Earthenware clay that were suspended on the wall. There was just enough room in between the ceramic pieces and the wires to be able to walk into the installation. While walking in there, the viewer is asked to wear a set of headphones that broadcasts a white noise sound. This is part of the experience of the installation.
My first reaction of this installation was that I didn't understand it at all. I felt that there was supposed to be some sort of disconnection for the viewer, but I just quite didn't get it. I then spoke with Ann Marie about her work. She explained to me that her art deals with the ever-growing disconnection of the human with the natural world. With the ever-increasing demand for cell phones, computers, etc., we are becoming more and more disconnecting with the people around us and we are becoming more addicted to technology. In order to speak to our families (hers lives in South Dakota), we must communicate on cell phones, meaning that our true communication with these people is intangible and isn't really as real as it could be if say, for instance, we were physically around them and communicating with them. We rely so much on technology today that it has built a wall around us. For example, people who text message others for hours on end may seem inapproachable to the other people that are physically around them. I can relate to this...I have sat at dinner tables with friends who text throughout the entire meal, and it makes me feel as though I cannot speak to them at that moment because they are distracted with an intangible conversation. This is incredibly rude and annoying, however our increasing demand for technology has made it almost impossible to escape this situation. We have become addicted to technology because of the times, and this isn't something that is going to slow down.
I am glad that I got to sit down with Ann Marie and talk with her about her installation. It sends out a very important message to us...especially to me. I know I can get caught up with my computer or my cell phone at times. It makes life easier sometimes, because it lets me speak with the people that I don't get to see every day. But isn't that the purpose of moving away and experiencing new things...so that you don't talk to those people every day? That's something to think about...

Blog #27, Artist Statement

Redefinition
Recently, I have been interested in creating intricately patterned images from one single image. In order to do this, I have been redefining the subject matter of the image by reflecting it over itself in four ways. The result of these images shows that the subject can translate into different behaviors while still maintaining its original qualities. This process conveys the idea that there are different aspects to every one thing.