Maxine Martell: Pulling on a Thread

Artist Statement

A friend of mine who is an archivist made a copy of an anonymous photograph and gave it to me. In it three figures are standing on the prairie facing the camera, an American Indian flanked by a girl in coveralls and a woman in the period clothes of a flapper. The image haunted me and eventually triggered paintings in an attempt to unravel the mystery. Sometimes it takes time to discover the correlation between myself and a picture. When I do I wonder at how deeply we bury the obvious.

My father was a quarter Ojibwe or Anishinaabe of the Turtle Mountain tribe in North Dakota. My mother was from New Orleans of Irish and French descent. I have spent a large part of my life in coveralls loving paint and what I can do with my hands.

Exhibit Artwork

All work included in the exhibits is available for sale unless otherwise noted. Purchasing a piece of original artwork directly supports local artists and helps to sustain the Jansen Art Center. If you’re interested in a piece, please email [email protected] or visit our Gallery Shop. 

Maxine Martell: Pulling on a Thread