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Humans of the Hilltop: ‘Art is a vehicle’ for local artist

Alexander Martin, an adjunct professor and artist, makes his art from a variety of media. Photo by Cenn Hall

The definition of art is considered by many to be a subjective thing. For one local artist, his definition came from looking inward.

“[Art is] everything that has culminated in [an artist’s] life to one point,” Alexander Martin, adjunct art professor and Bradley alumnus, said.

Martin used to make a lot of artwork about language and the way we communicate, but one day he had a realization.

“My art was a little bit self-reflective,” Martin said. “It was miscommunicating experiences that I’ve had and ways that I’ve misinterpreted things. I was always afraid to make my work a little bit more personal, so I started thinking about ideas of my own masculinity and my own femininity.”

According to Martin, he listened to his truth, changed his artistic approach and began researching gender, sexuality and African American identity in art. His introspection soon led him to reevaluate art as a whole.

“Art is a vehicle for learning, but also a vehicle for teaching empathy,” Martin said. “I’m trying to get people to see that there’s no such thing as the norm, that there are all kinds of people living all kinds of lives.”

Martin said in his self-reflection, he’s learned a lot about how gender roles have affected him and his life.

“I gained a nebulous understanding of gender roles,” Martin said, recalling his time growing up in a single parent household. “I fully came into myself in Peoria just because of the nurturing environment of the amazing people I’ve met here.”

In 2015, Martin said he helped his friend convert her detached garage into Project 1612, a gallery space in Peoria that hosts an artist each month. They’ve welcomed artists from all over the U.S., Chile and Austria and recently began taking in Bradley undergraduates as interns.

Part of their goal is to show that art is accessible to the community and also to bring Bradley students into the community.

“The Peoria area, [my friend and I] both fell in love with it, and that’s why we’re staying here a little longer,” Martin said.

One of Martin’s Bradley interns includes Dylan Pashke, a sophomore studio art major concentrating in graphic design.

“All of my previous experience with graphic design has been strictly for Bradley’s campus, and there is a whole different aspect to promoting something for our community rather than just Bradley … Alex has taught me how to get a community involved together,” Pashke said.

Associate art professor and Interim CTEL Executive Director Sarah Glover said Martin’s natural enthusiasm, “allows him to convey all sorts of ideas and energy in a way that you want to be a part of them, and that’s what makes him such a great bridge builder in the community … He is sort of a pseudo-mayor of Peoria, and in a good way.”

According to Martin, his inspiration for his work comes from everyday objects that others might not necessarily consider art.

Martin said he often collects random objects without knowing how he’ll use them. Consider makeup wipes, for example. While most people may throw these away, Martin saved used makeup wipes until he got the idea to make paintings with them. He has also used pieces of extra weave for contemporary sculptures and melted back denim pockets onto canvases to represent the “Gay Hanky Code.”

“Art is an excuse to research anything,” Martin said.

He encourages Bradley students to check out what’s happening in the art department and around the Peoria community.

“You have to leave the ‘Bradley bubble’ to find out about it,” Martin said. “I’m never bored in this city.”

Anyone interested in viewing more of Martin’s art can visit Alexanderandrewmartin.com.

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