Artist Kate Martens on her participation in the Community Supported Art program:
I have really enjoyed the process of making fifty small pieces for shareholders in the Cambridge and Somerville communities. I really love the rhythm of repetition, and I think this is apparent not only in my involvement in the project as a whole but also in the individual pieces. Each piece I make is unique; each is formed and painted by hand. By participating in a project of this size, my process of making these small objects has evolved over time. In this way, my participation in CSArt has helped move along the manner in which I make my work.
The CSArt program appeals to me because I am relatively new to the concept of selling my work, and the sales I have made have been a bit random. I have occasionally sold pieces in stores, in auctions or through shows but have rarely had the chance to meet buyers. I have also been commissioned by far-flung friends of friends and acquaintances, which has been wonderful but inconsistent.
CSArt not only guarantees that the pieces I make will find homes but also connects me to the community I live in (I have lived in Cambridge and Somerville for nearly seven years). So often, artists are rewarded and admired for showing and selling internationally. While there is certainly virtue in these things, I think it is also really wonderful to be involved and productive locally. I feel extremely fortunate to have been chosen for this program.
– Kate Martens
Images: courtesy of the artist, Kate Martens: HENNY PENNIES (2010-2011), Terra cotta and slips, 5x3x3 in (each); BIRD GIRLS (2010), Terra cotta and underglaze, 10x6x4 in (each); BUSINESS CARDS (2010), Terra cotta and slips, 2x3x2 in (each); CLAY PIGEONS (2008), Terra cotta and underglaze, 8x4x3 in (each).