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Martha

Whittington

LoSII
2018

Definitions of LoS

1 : A line from an observer's eye to a distant point.

2 : The line between two points.

The modular systems of measurement for Line of Sight include boundaries of size and form for a place in the landscape (White Walls). Rules intentionally include traditional boundaries of the assigned gallery wall using designed LoS technical instruments constructed of materials including C360 H02 Brass, .025” CA260 Brass Sheeting, Vegetable Tanned Leather Belting and Natural Twisted Cotton Cording.

This work explores utilizing made-up systems of measurement. Rules for Crafting the instruments and their site installation are integral to the spanned boundaries of the white 1:3 gallery walls. The designed measuring tools are informed by instruments of surveyors from 1620 A.D. to Modern Day.

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With the Grain
2016

With the Grain is inspired by the sawn log. These paper works present an impression on the process that forms the craft of working with wood.

The methodology I used in creating With the Grain highlights my vocabulary and practice in working with wood. Paper acts as a surrogate to wood as it is burnished, cut, inlaid, pegged, joined and wedged. The paper's burnished surface acts as a record keeper and reveals the marks and labor of makers past. Compositions are drawn from traditional wood joining techniques using hand cut wood veneers and pegs depicting their structural qualities.

These investigations in making led me to examine paper at its root level; tree first, lumber to build second. I sought to reveal the virtue of the tree, to present its subtle variations in white.

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Contemplation Resolution Unity
2016

The collaborators Long and Whittington proposed to reanimate smokestacks in metro Atlanta in three locations through creating a 10.2 surround sound sculpture. Smokestacks were in their time considered innovative as their sky paintings signaled prosperity.

Three concepts are presented: Contemplation, Resolution, and Unity. Each smokestack will embody one of these three concepts. The experiment will invite visitors from all backgrounds to find meaning and clarity through the surrounding sounds and musical compositions as they are animated within the smokestack. This is intended to be a private experience or strangers can agree to share their experience together to start dialogue and/or can be a truly private and personal experience.

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Exchange
2015

In researching the forced relocation of Southeastern Native American tribes to the Southwest known as the Trail of Tears, I found that even Native Americans who had attempted to assimilate into the European culture, wore contemporary clothing, and lived in “colonial” homes, were dislodged and sent west. This exhibit is based on an expanded concept of such assimilation.

Assimilation and its accompanying erasure of culture leads another level of exploitation: that of the commodity exchange in which high value fur and skins, obtained with great effort, were traded for mass manufactured materials of low value such as Italian glass beads, English brass, woolen blankets. The fur was then manufactured into high value objects such as leather goods and beaver hats. It is estimated that before the relocation in 1838 as many as 60,000 deer hides a year were being exported through Charleston, disseminating the deer population in the Southeastern states.

Although this may seem a “far away” historical event, contemporary society parallels with a similar attempt at assimilation through consumer goods. As always, the fear of difference and diversity engenders the goal of creating a society where everyone has the same and therefore, is the same.

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I AM SILO
2015

I Am Silo is an installation by Martha Whittington and sound improvisation written and performed by Rae Long.

Rae and Martha reanimated Silo expressing passions, revealing the beauty and reverberations, harmonics and repetitive nature of the existence of life and aging, regret, reflection, harmony and the life cycle/non-cycle life. The realization sounds in a reflective emotional levitation of Silo telescoping the current world-universe relationship during the weeks of 25.08.2015-06.09.2015.

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Shift Split
2014

By recreating the history of significant objects and ideas such as manual tools, antique devices, and life experiences of laborers, I build an immersive environment. This new view of life and labor asks you to re-examine concepts, archetypal associations and connotations. The eye encounters the unexpected as mirrored surfaces merge the viewer into the surroundings.

In this work, there is the feeling of walking into a campsite. Trap-like devices, skins, saws and logs are propped or suspended. Perhaps it is the precursor to a homestead or some permanent structure. But there is a kind of unreality as well: chrome contrasts with wood, fiberglass rods are lashed with leather strips.

The materials—cowhide, leather lacing, felt, mirrored stainless--create snares, tools, shelter. Objects connect with the space, drawing the floor and the wall together. Steel wedge is set against wood wedge, slicing through the space, separating and cutting open the space. The reversal and interaction of natural and manufactured materials focuses on line, tension, surface texture, space: all reduced so that the original forms become essential and minimal.

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Out of gallery