My Nantucket Art Experience

Art residencies are a chance to be inspired, refreshed and to create.  After my extraordinary experience last summer in Italy, I decided to try another residency but closer to home.  

I applied and was accepted as a resident at the Nantucket School of Design and the Arts.   

Nantucket has a vibrant arts community.  I seemed to meet artists everywhere.. on the street painting, in the many galleries and through other artists.   There are organized art classes but there are also occasions when local artists get together for a regular "art crit".  I was invited to attend the art critique with highly regarded artist Ken Layman.  It was one of the most interesting experiences I've had as an artist.  

There were five professional artists who brought work, partially finished or completed, to get

reactions and direction if needed.  For an artist, getting feedback can be inspiring and pivotal. I met with Ken afterward and he shared his artistic experiences, thoughts, and techniques for moving forward. He also suggested a few art books, including The Art Spirit by Robert Henri.

My art has been exhibited in the Vanderbilt Gallery for several years and I ship new work every season.  I was interviewed about my art by the Inquirer & Mirror newspaper which was published prior to the opening reception at the gallery.    

My time on the island made a big impact on me. I am thankful for this experience that allowed me to grow my art, my friendships, and community in ways I couldn't imagine.... just what an art residency is supposed to do.

Art for Corporate Spaces

It started almost seven years ago when I got a call from a company asking if I would come to a new office dedication cocktail party, bring some paintings and maybe say a few words.  I was the entertainment!

Turns out I was one of three artists contacted by the company but the only person who returned their call.  I look back at the thought of not returning that call and all the "what ifs" flood in.

We did a walk through and I installed my fifteen paintings for the party and planned my short speech with a few humorous anecdotes to keep things light.  At the time, I barely left the studio so my public speaking skills were a little rusty and I certainly would not be going on the after-dinner speaking circuit since I relied heavily on my on-the-spot training and my middle school communications class.  Fortunately since then, I'd like to think I have improved my skills given I am in professional settings more often and teach painting classes regularly.

The evening proceeded and I mingled with the crowd explaining my process and inspirations for the pieces.  Before the end of the night, the managing director came over to discuss the paintings and their availability.  It was a new office and they needed artwork.  It was my extraordinary day because he bought all fifteen paintings that night!  I feel so lucky to have gotten their call, grateful I returned their call, and thankful my work appealed to them.  My lucky day!

I have since installed my art in many other corporate settings, each unique and always a new creative direction whether a traditional or contemporary environment.  Art completes the space~

Southern Home (Spring 2016) Article & Commissioned Paintings

Abstracts in Blues, 24" x 24"

Excited to share Southern Home magazine's (Spring 2016) issue which features my paintings in this a beautiful home.  It was a wonderful process working with the home owner to get input and direction for the commissioned art I created for the space.

The vibrant interior was inspiring and dramatic and made for an easy translation to the canvas.  Commissioned paintings are often requested by decorators or home owners because of a need for a specific canvas size, color coordination with fabrics, or a memorable place a patron would like commemorated in a painting. Creating a painting for anyone is always a treat for me.  Always rewarding for me to get to know the home owners and goals.

Seascape, 30" x 48"

The owner ..."commissioned a local painter, Martha Spak, to do a piece for them that was inspired by a scene they often view of the sun escaping into the clouds in Kinsale, Ireland.  Weller adds that the same greens and blues in this painting are now seen throughout her home."

So grateful to be included in the Southern Home magazine layout and pleased I was able to help complete these paintings for this project.

My Art Residency ~ An Italian Experience

Art Studio Ginestrelle

Assisi ~ View from my room

CIAO!
My Italian art residency began back in early March when I applied for this residency.  I received my acceptance to be a resident at the Arte Studio Ginestrelle and arrived in Assisi, Italy for my June art experience.  From the very beginning to the final farewell~ it was a fabulous!

I was one of six artists at the studio.  I met a Finish poet, an art professor, a political muralist, two Brazilian installation artists and a writer.  Each of us had our own dedicated space to stay and work independently.  It was quiet and beautiful. We had a daily breakfast together with great conversations about art, culture and the creative process and lingered over delicious Italian coffee.  My thought is artist's inspiration, comes from gathering ideas everywhere~visual, both real and imagined, meaningful exchanges and experiences, and creativity within.

Walking Sticks

After breakfast, our daily routine would take each of us to our own space to create..sometimes interrupted by the visit from the baker, a daily mountain hike (with a walking stick to ward off the vipers!) or visit to the market in town. We would meet again at dinner where we each made our own meals and dined with whom ever felt like a conversation after a long day of solitude.  It was easy going~      
     

Hike Path with Ginestrelle flowers

The Director, Dr. Marina Meril coordinates the program and works with the (Assisi) Cultural Board and UNESCO to keep things running smoothly.  Marina's thoughtful ways created a perfect environment for recharging creativity.  Each (2015) resident will participate in an international exhibition that will take place November 20-30 in the Art Gallery of Assisi.  The Art Catalog 2015 listing the resident artists and their projects will be available upon request.                                                             
In Assisi, I gathered inspiration from the sights and sounds of this historic art and religious town, said a prayer for mom and dad- both who passed away this year, and watched the visitors.  Each view was more magical than the last. Another artist and I traveled to nearby Arezzo for the outdoor flea market~found fabulous linens and even an antique painting I loved.  Also took a quick train to Perugia to visit the university's art store see more historic frescoes (Raphael's 1505). After two weeks, I met up with my family in Rome then traveled to the Italian coast to experience more great food, scenic beauty, and to create family memories~  A wonderful Italian experience!

Assisi View

Assisi Carousel

Assisi Street Scene

Arezzo Street Scene

Italian Gelato

Perugia Street Scene

Sorrento Beach Style

Positano Beauty

Drama of Dubai

Dubai

Curved visual design

 I love to travel and discover new destinations and cultures! On my recent adventure to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, I anticipated the wonders of graceful minarets and bustling bazaars, majestic waterways and vivacious cafes but that is just a very tiny part of this global city.

Dune Bashing

The city has become symbolic for its skyscrapers and high-rise buildings, in particular the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.  The striking modern architecture is so unique and captivating, it is as if you can dream-they can build it.  How do (you) make a one-hundred story building look curvy?

Ultramarine in the Sea

Relief wall sculpture

To get out of the city and traffic, we went to the desert for sunset dune-bashing. The stunning scene of the sunset, dramatic colors and expansive desert was exciting and unforgettable.

Unfortunately, I just missed Abu Dhabi Art 2014, a three-day festival bringing together leading international art galleries for talks and exhibitions.  I did get to see some beautiful paintings and sculpture by local artists as I traveled around the two cities.

There are so many reasons to travel: to have an adventure, to learn about another culture, to be exotic.  Sometimes getting out of your surroundings can help you find out about yourself.

In Motion

New Studio/Gallery and Classes

Gallery view

Art books, antiques and accessories.

I am very excited about my newly completed studio and gallery space.  It is light filled and airy~great for inspiring creative work.

This transformation took about one month and now gives me dedicated space to create and show my work and other artists' creations.  I will also be teaching in this space as well.

My Master Still Life Class will be in my new studio beginning September 15, 2014.  To sign up contact me through my website at www.MarthaSpak.com.  My Basic Landscape class will be held at the Yellow Barn/Glen Echo Park www.GlenEchoPark.org, Wedensday(s) 1:30-3:30 starting September 17, 2014.

Join me and let's paint together!

Gallery view

The Arts amd Exhibitions of Berlin

Berlin Bear

Berlin ~ a city of reinvention!  I traveled to Berlin last week and hoped to get a sense of history and culture.  What I experienced was even more-a dynamic, friendly city in the midst of creative growth.

It has been almost twenty years since the fall of the wall but in touring I became familiar with the effects the Cold War.  I saw the classic historic must-sees like the Brandenburg Gate which they say everyone has to walk through for "good luck", the wall which still stands in two sections with one known as the East Side Gallery painted by artists and the other surrounded by a fence to protect it from scavengers, and the famous bunkers and more.  All extraordinary and told by my guide who lived through much of Berlin's troublesome past.

Artist, K.O.Gotz

 Photo by Artist Cindy Sherman
(Note the viewer in the foreground)

Once I got my barrings and a latte (it was freezing!), I needed some uplifting inspiration~ off to museums and the gallery district!  First stop, the New National Gallery built at the edge of West Berlin in the 50's after most of the once-unified city's cultural assets had been lost behind the Berlin wall.  The innovative modernist building reminded me of the East Wing of our National Gallery.

The current exhibition is by K.O. Gotz who is known as the master of abstract gestural paintings.  His 1950's energetic works are a riot of colors, fluid and huge.  He perfected and refined his "squeegie" technique over many years.  There were also recognizable works by Kandinsky, Barnett Newman and contemporary artist Cindy Sherman among so many others.
 

By Artist, Donald Kuspit

One work of art that still captivates me is by artist Donald Kuspit called Rebecca Horn.  It consists of two glass funnels, ink, wine and motors that spray the liquids on the wall in random fashion.  The design is purely machine driven with sporadic and intermittent motion.  Once the liquids are gone, the museum repaints the wall, refills the vials and it begins again.  It has been there since 1991.

From here I went to the central district of Mitte.  This section is known for the multitude of upscale and funky galleries, restaurants and coffee houses.  The galleries included everything from old masters to young talents in a variety of mediums with much of it photography.  Of all my stops, certain artists stood out for technique or arresting imagery.  Edgy digital paintings and cut outs by Karl-Heinrich Frauns and a paintings series called "Reconstructing Histories" by Melora Kuhn.

Christian Tagliavini

For me, the stand out exhibition had to be "Carte" by Christian Tagliavini.  The artist created eleven cards with influences of visual patterns from cubism, art nouveau, Italian folk art or mythology. His technique, detail and execution is superb and precise in creating 3-D like portraits using photography, handmade costumes of paper and cardboard.  All in this exhibition had sold -$30k each.  On his website you can see greater detail of his striking art and he has an open casting call for faces for future art projects...who knows, you have just the right look!  

Frau Tonis Parfum Boutique

All this inspiration and energy made me want to create something.  Lucky for me I came upon a beautiful little shop  where I could create my very own original perfume! The aroma expert guided me through the selection process by introducing forty-six different scents.  I then had to eliminate and narrow my favorites to three.  Through her magic came my unique formula and distinct scent!  To reorder, I just give my recipe.

Fabulous trip, now back to the studio!