Profile

Martha Colburn is a filmmaker, artist and animator who originally hailed from Pennsylvania. Nowadays, she jets between Amsterdam, New York and Los Angeles to exhibit her work and actually get work done. Her academic training includes a B.A. from Maryland Institute College of Art and an upper level degree from the Royal Academy of Art in Holland.

She created the animation for the documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston and has exhibited her films and art in New Zealand's Art Space and Film Archive. She is a self-taught filmmaker who began in 1994 with found footage and Super 8 cameras. She has since completed over 40 films. Her process includes creating environments using slide projections and murals.

She also did a terrific video for California avant-band, Deerhoof. Visit her at www.marthacolburn.com



(pic by Gregory Holm)

Blank Screen: So, can you tell me a little about yourself? Full name, age, some background info, etc?

Martha Anne Colburn. 35 . born in the Pennsylvania . Appalachian mountains. Between Gettysburg and Harrisburg roughly. I grew up cutting wood and bailing hay and skinning animals and all that woodsy stuff. I lived in Baltimore 10 years with no heat, made 40 or so films, then moved to Amsterdam for 5 years. now NY, actually Long Island City.


Blank Screen: How did you get started making art?

Pre-kindergarten. art making and sculpture and writing and eventually music , have always all been important for me.

Blank Screen: How would you describe your art?

Animated films made by combining collage and paint on glass technique. also some hand coloring of frames. i also do murals, paintings, ect.. installations. what do i deal with? (read this slick artist statement someone came up with, or maybe I did? Can’t remember) In my work I utilize the language and materials of filmmaking to comment on popular culture, consumerism, politics and sexuality. Through a collage of live action (paint-on-glass) animations, found footage and documentary filmmaking techniques, my films are a disturbing, and at times humorous take on pop culture.- but now my work is evolving more into playing with history and painting.

So everything changes quickly.

Blank Screen: Where do you get the inspiration for your art?

In high school it was politics and history and then in my twenties i made tons of music films (many sexually oriented) and now i am back to the politics and history.

Blank Screen: What are you working on now?

I have made 2 new films. Here’s descriptions of them: A paint-on-glass and collage animation, 'Destiny Manifesto' fuses paintings of the American western frontier and contemporary images of the conflict in the Middle East into a work that explores the visual and psychological parallels between the representation of these two periods. And another called 'Meet Me In Wichita' which one reviewer said of....An indictment of America's dangerous foreign-policy naivety, this film is a play between fact, fiction, politics, fantasy, terror and morality. Using colorful cutout animation this film features Osama Bin Laden (as several characters from the Wizard of Oz) and Dorothy in a battle of dark forces and faces of Evil. WELL, yes they are finished, but not. It takes so long to finish a film and care for it properly after it is made. From archiving the original material, the negatives, a sound master, organizing the press about the films, archiving that, selecting distributors, dealing with DVD editions in the ‘art context’, the list goes on.

Blank Screen: How do you approach the creation of a new piece... how does everything come together?

(this is a continuation of the last answer). MEANWHILE, what I would dream of doing is to actually make a film. or art for that matter. Yet they are the same. Art! I want time to make art. So on subways (which I have only used the last year of my life, so it’s still unique), I have created a world for myself when I ride to do all this business in the city, a world where I can dream about my next film, and read books for it and take notes and visualize. BUT in reality if I have any time ,I have to spend it writing a grant to make the film I am dreaming of next. It involves puritans and meth addiction. I think of it a lot. I have actually visualized it so much that it is a three-dimensional world with people inhabiting it. Strange to imagine it as this and then create it in flat animation ‘world’. So idea, an odd job ( I do gold leaf numbers in the old technique above people’s doors) or get an odd grant, copy the pictures I need, paint, camera, action. That’s silly.

The Whitney is having a show soon called ‘Art Camera Action’. I thought that title was kind of sad when I heard it.




Blank Screen: What's your favorite medium to work in, and why?

I guess filmmaking

Blank Screen: Do you collect anything?

um, old music films, pre music video film clips.. Also um, lately lots of thrift store picture books.

Blank Screen: What are your artistic influences?

Too tired to answer? Yes. But , I just look at a lot of things. I feel a kinship with many filmmakers and artists and musicians. Most of them are my friends. I think they are the biggest influence on my work, because they are direct collaborators. I am looking at paintings more.

Blank Screen: How are the reactions on your work in general?

I show in a wide variety of venues. but it's positive. and people are curious about the meaning and process.

Blank Screen: What are you doing when you are not creating art?

Creating is such a small percentage of my time. most of it is tending to business unfortunetly. i do most of the work behind my work getting out into the world. Travel, oh yeah, I travel at least every other week, somewhere to meet people I’m gonna tours with, or go to shows, or give talks at art schools, or go to festivals.

Blank Screen: What are some of the greatest challenges that you think artists face today?

Tough to say. I know them at all points of the globe….hmmm…self destructive behavior in general maybe?

Blank Screen: Are there any particular works you've done that stand out as your favorites?

The newest ones. The next one. Obvious answer maybe.

Blank Screen: What it the coolest thing you have seen recently while wandering the streets?

A truck near where I live drove by with FLUSHING MEATS written on it’s side. Flushing is some part of Queens,NY.

Blank Screen: Is your work all hand done? Or do you use any computer tools to help out?

I dont, i use computers only to burn DVD's. A bit of edits now and then, but for the most part my films are edited in camera.

Blank Screen: Your art has played in major film festivals, experimental festivals, art galleries and major art fairs. What kind of audience do you feel your art works best with?

Worst, probably art fair. Just speaking for all art in general. Best, well probably teenagers at summer art camp.

Blank Screen: What is your obsession with bugs?

My dad was is an entomologist and farmer and huh I guess.

Blank Screen: You did a recent music video for Deerhoof. How did that come about? Are you a big fan of their music?

We were on the same label in the 90’s.

Blank Screen: Do you own a computer?

Yeah too bad.

Blank Screen: You were in the Whitney Biennial last year. That is a big deal for an artist, what was it like?

It was like not much hype. I was like new to New York and just lookin around. Got dragged into a cab by some coke head art star types. They were hot enough, but I just walked away eventually.

Blank Screen:Do you ever collaborate with other artists or is your work done alone?

I always for the last 2 films had an assistant/ intern/ friend/ helping me to work the camera, because it is hanging from my wall by some two by fours.

Blank Screen: Your work is very beautiful and detailed, and doing it all by hand must be very time consuming. How long is the process from conception to finished product, on average?

I mean I made 2 nine minute films at the same time recently. I work fast when I have time to work. Creating films has become integrated into the fabric of my life. I don’t know how long anything takes. Its irrelevant. It takes a lifetime right? That’s what its taking.

Blank Screen: How long have you lived in NY? Where are your favorite places to visit outside of the States?

1.5 years in NY.

Oh to visit! A place! Everywhere! Pennsylvania is just as interesting as new Zealand. Favorite is the new place. Or the old place revisited after a time.



Blank Screen: What do your parents/grandparents think of your art

No clue.nothing. my mother doesn’t know what I do but she’s proud of me. I’m makin it as a city girl! A worldy one at that. So cheezy. So she’s happy to see me not stay in the redneck world. To have broken free.

Blank Screen: Do you plan on continuing in the medium you are in now or trying other mediums?

I’m do’in film. If you look on my website, there’s a lot examples of other work I have done. Just did a mural installation film project at Sundance, for Meet Me In Wichita. Gonna make some handmade books. Maybe release a record with them this time. Or a CD.





Blank Screen: In 'Cosmetic Emergency' (the piece chosen for the Biennial), you collaborated with musician Jad Fair and New Zealand Hip-Hop artist, "Coco Solid". How important is the element of music in your films and how do these
collaborations come about?

I saw coco solid in new Zealand. They played at an art show I was in. so then I asked them to play on the film. Or actually we made the music and film separate of each other. And jad fair lived with me and Jason willett in Baltimore for like 6 years when he wasn’t touring. We still collaborate, even when I lived in Amsterdam, which is when cosmetic emergency was made. It was made in the US, the Netherlands, and Canada (I hand printed it to 35mm there and mixed the sound).so traveling creates new friends. And also Hilary Jefferies, a british trombonist plays on there. I met him somehow in Amsterdam, he still lives there and is in a awesome group called Sand. Most recently I met an opera singer named Haleh Abghari I work with now and a few pianists. Music is tops. Music / sound. What you want to call it. Now I will form a live electronics group with this awesome artist/screamer/mom Jamie Moore I met. We’ll do live sound and projections.

Blogger, DIY artist and hustler Jason Penry, better known as just "J", is from Alabama and he knows how to use markers. Years ago, he left the South for New York where he now crafts his seemingly simple, yet dazzling drawings. His new book, Castles and Christians, was released by the great design collective, Graphic Havoc on their GHava Press. J's illustrations are starting to pop up everywhere from the artwork of Canadian band Blood on the Wall to the napkin at your local deli. And we understand why.


Blank Screen: Who are you?

J Penry: Good question…just a dude who draws..a lot.

Blank Screen: Alabama is a great state. Why did you leave for smelly Brooklyn?

J Penry: The pizza is way better here...plus I can't do watercolors of seashells very well.

Blank Screen: Why drawing?

J Penry: So I can stare at girls in the name of "art".

Blank Screen: Is there something you won't draw and why?

J Penry: Probably not...I've covered a lot of gross things that people still kinda cringe at...lately I enjoy not being offensive, drawing kitties and such.




Blank Screen: What inspires you? What doesn't inspire you?

J Penry: I'm inspired by Dead Moon...graffiti doesn't inspire me at all.

Blank Screen: What would you call your style? What are your influences?

J Penry: Im a crosshatcher...my influences are mostly comedians like Rodney Dangerfield.

Blank Screen: What do you think about art critics?

J Penry: I don't know any...well, maybe one...he's nice I guess.

Blank Screen: You've done artwork for Blood on the Wall, how did that come
about? Do you have a preference for making band art over
doodling?

J Penry: I haven't done a cover for them...just t-shirts, tour art, etc...Brad and Courtney are close friends so they just ask me to make them things over the years...I don't doodle really, I try to make every drawing something I can use.



Blank Screen: If you could go back and do the artwork for any record, what would it be?

J Penry: Wow...prolly Nilsson Schmilsson, that's prolly the best record ever.

Blank Screen: Tell us about your process. Behind the scenes. The soundtrack to
your drawings.

J Penry: Well, I sit at my desk at work and draw when I have a free moment…I like to listen to Mitch Hedberg while I draw…I pretty much only use office supplies.

Blank Screen: New York's Fuse Gallery just put you in a group show. Do you think there's a divide still between the fine art world and what you're doing?

J Penry: I don't really know shit about fine art, I couldn't tell you the name of any of those Chelsea galleries...when I see that stuff I'm generally bored by it...the only divide is what you like and don't like.

Blank Screen: What does the "J" stand for?

J Penry: Jason

Blank Screen: Are there artists who you hate? Why?

J Penry: Walt Disney was bad at art because he hated the Jews.

Blank Screen: Graphic Havoc, which are super fucking great, released your book. How did you hook up with them? Is it for sale everywhere?

J Penry: My friend Adam is from Atlanta...they were friends of friends...so we hung out a lot over the last 5 years...they wanted to get into publishing so they asked me to collaborate on a book...so for a few months we ichatted and emailed drawings and designs back and forth...that is, I drew and they designed...then we sent that to Canada and they sent us a book! Its for sale on Tim Barbers excellent site tinyvices.com plus a bunch of places I can't remember right now.

Blank Screen: How did it feel seeing Jenny Lewis in your T-shirt?

J Penry: Jenny was a sport for doing that…that was the dudes from Vietnam getting her to do that cuz they tour together...I hope she passes the good word around Hollywood...or she could just tell Diddy.



Blank Screen: How do you feel drawing something for Nike? Or bloodthirsty, rich,
wonderful corporations? Nike is watching.

J Penry: Well, I have some Jordans...I can't get high and mighty about it...if they wanna pay me good money I cant see any reason why I wouldn't make something for them

Blank Screen: You draw naked people. Why?

J Penry: It's how god intended it.

Blank Screen: Brooklyn is awesome--tell us three things you love about Brooklyn.

J Penry: Thai Café, Photoplay, and Daddy's

Blank Screen: Would you ever collaborate with other artists on a piece?

J Penry: My favorite artist right now is Aurel Schmidt(http://www.tinyvices.com/Aurel_Schmidt.html)…so yes, I would.

Blank Screen: Any plans for the future? Design film sets? Clothing? Animated series?

J Penry: Woof…I draw t-shirts a lot…my girlfriend just got me to draw stuff in her new line of sweet purses.




J Penry is probably drawing you right now. Buy his book and it will all be easier.