Thursday, January 24

Martha Rich's Freedomwig.

Martha Rich pretty much rocks my world. I mean, what's not to love about her amazing paintings?

Apparently, according to La Luz Jesus Gallery where Martha is currently on exhibit, when Martha Rich was very young, she was a model for television and print commercials. Rediscovering one of her old J.C. Penney shoots lead to her obsession with vintage department store catalogs from the 60's and 70's. Working with mixed media, acrylic, pencil, ink and collage, Rich's style, which she calls "imperfect", is heavily influenced by the stiff model poses, undergarments and beauty products found in the pages of these consumer-culture wishbooks.



However, at the age of 16, Rich's mother was diagnosed with cancer, forcing Rich to deal with issues much heavier than flirting, dating, using make-up, being stylish and girly. "After my mother died, I had to learn the girly stuff on my own. I did this by looking at magazines, TV and mimicking other girls. That is what this show is about; trying on and shedding identities until it feels right, trying to be normal and to fit in by buying the 'right' products or being the 'right' type of person and then finding out how unsatisfying and ridiculous it all is, " states Rich.

Freedomwig: One Painting A Day by Martha Rich, which would have ended on October 31, has been extended exclusively for the La Luz de Jesus exhibit. You can also view her One Painting A Day (below) on her Freedomwig site and read more about her on her blog. Go check it out. And maybe wear a wig, just for fun. Wigs are good. Wigs make me smile. So does Martha.

8 comments:

Joanna Goddard said...

i love these. what a great post. xo

Kathryn said...

Congrats on your mention in the Washington Post's Blogwatch! (I heard about it from girl meets glamour.)

Sara Christine said...

Her work looks a lot like the painted billboards and signs you see all over West Africa. I wonder if she's been. Very cool!

Anonymous said...

A strong artistic voice and sooo hip. Thank you also for the Luz de Jesus link, I didn't even know there was a website. When you come to L.A., visiting the shop is a must.

Aesthetic Outburst... said...

I love these! They're all so fabulous!

Shirley said...

love love love this blog! partially because i'm also from sf, currently studying at uc berkeley. and i loved the store you posted about in the previous post. i'll have to find myself on hayes street this spring break!

thanks for posting.
shirley

Pamphilia said...

I love these too, but who came first, Martha Rich or Maira Kalman? Kalman writes about wigs and hats and dogs and women too.

Pamphilia said...

Sorry, forgot to post Kalman's blog from last year, for those unfamiliar with her oeuvre:

http://kalman.blogs.nytimes.com/