ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Chris Martin: Paintings
September 17–October 24

Chris Martin’s exhibition at Sideshow Gallery presents not only the impressive accomplishments of thirty years of painting practice, but insight into the thought process that lies underneath as well. In the inner gallery is an explosive display of drawings, photographs, small paintings by Martin and others, and assorted artifacts of a li fe spent looking for, and finding  meaning and soul in the world. The relevance of these artifacts is suggested by the small paintings of mushrooms:  Martin exposes to our scrutiny the mycelia network of connections existing underground. This is the fertile, living soil out of which the artworks  bloom, blossoming outward to include children, art reviews, found objects, photographs, and the artwork of the artist’s fellows. Seen against this backdrop, the large paintings in Martin’s show reveal  themselves for what they are: the fruited bodies of a process of search and thought, compassion and connection, excitement and trembling before the energy of life on a scale that includes us, but is not ‘ours’. My suggestion is to look at every object in this show carefully. You will glimpse the large intelligence ‘out there’ that is looking at us ‘in here’. You will see the moon, not the finger pointing. You will feel the Other.

—Peter Acheson

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PRESS

The Village Voice
Odd Man Out, Jerry Saltz
http://www.villagevoice.com/art/0541,saltz,68702,13.html

Artnet magazine
Odd Artist Out, Jerry Saltz
http://www.artnet.com/magazineus/features/saltz/saltz10-10-05.asp

The Brooklyn Rail
Chris Martin at Sideshow Gallery, John Yau
http://www.thebrooklynrail.org/ART/ASchrismartin.html#top