Meet Christine Martell | Fiber Artist and Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christine Martell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christine, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
As an artist, work life balance has always been a fuzzy concept. Some areas are clearly work but the artmaking itself is life giving and joyous. The challenge has been that the parts of running a business that I am not good at can consume most of the time if I am not careful. Then work becomes doing things I dislike and struggle with. I have learned to pay others to do many of these things when I can so I still have time to create.

My father got sick at the beginning of the pandemic. It changed everything for our family as my parents went from being self-sufficient to needing assistance to age in place. I was living in Oregon and they are on Cape Cod. My life and work became figuring out how to reconfigure my life to be available to help them.

I bought a van and with the help of my partner, converted it to a camper so I could safely travel cross country before tests and vaccines were available. Once on Cape Cod I could see this was the time I could make the most impact on my parents’ lives. I always thought it would be if they got really sick or needed round the clock care. Now I realize that would be a time when I would seek professional help. Now is the time they need help with daily chores and planning. I can also make a huge impact by keeping them connected to the larger world. Being medically fragile the pandemic has been isolating and lonely.

Most of my work was done face to face so I needed to find a way to shift into more work that is location independent and remote. I studied textile design in art school back in the days when it was hand painted in gouache. I needed to learn how to do it digitally, so I took Bonnie Christine’s classes to bring my skills up to date. I could take the classes around all the other things I was doing to help my parents.

Being on Cape Cod also brought a new sensibility to my artwork and I returned to working physically in textiles also. I use my photography, print it on fabric and paint back in with thread. I returned to Oregon, sold my place, and moved cross country. I now live in the parts of the house that used to be bed & breakfast rooms.

In some ways I am even more confused about the line between life and work. In others, it feels seamless as I work to figure out new ways to live and create.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I work in and teach a variety of media. One of the less common media is free motion machine embroidery. I am surrounded by natural beauty on Cape Cod and love to photograph the landscapes here. After printing them on fabric, I can then paint back in with thread to give the color more depth and texture.

Thread comes in a variety of colors, thicknesses, and degree of shininess. I often put one in the top thread and a contrasting on in the bobbin. That’s how you can “mix” color to add interest and variation. It gives the canvas a different feel than can be achieved with paint or dye. I’ve always been attracted to the tactile quality of textiles.

I do work that is intended for the wall, but my favorite are the pieces for the backs of denim jackets. I have customized personal favorites, vintage and upcycled, as well as new jackets. They are a fashion staple that never go out of style so are perfect for adding a piece of wearable art.

I have been making and selling art since I was in high school, I went to art school and have taken many workshops and classes over the years. At the same time I believe everyone is creative and can have a creative practice in thier lives. A big part of it is putting in the time. I have learned as much by trying and failing in the studio as I have from formal education.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Cape Cod is a fabulous place to visit with a wide range of activities. The Cape consists of 13 towns, and is divided up into Upper, Mid, Lower and Outer Cape. Each area has a unique range of things to do and see. The map of the Cape looks like a curled up arm and I live on the inner elbow.

The first stop is Cape Cod Bay. It is shallow and there is a mile difference between the high and low tide lines. During low tide you can walk out on the flats and see the oyster farms and tide pools. During high tide it’s all about floating (or swimming if you prefer.) When the tide is high in the afternoon, the water warms up as it comes over the flats. The warm water and gentle waves combined with the salt air are relaxing and soothing.

Even though it is the East Coast, the sun sets into the water on the Cape Cod Bay. A favorite place to go is Rock Harbor with its commercial charter boat fleet where you can go out on sport fishing trips. Because the water goes out so far with the tides the boats have to time coming and going. The channel is marked each year with trees adding an interesting feature to the sunset scenery.

The beaches on the outer edge are the Atlantic Ocean. These are long stretches of sand with colder water and more sharks. You can take long walks and the air is always cooler. Some people swim and surf here but you have to understand and respect the sharks to do it safely. The sun rises over the water and these beaches are some of the most beautiful and the best places to watch waves and storms.

The Outer Cape is home to the Cape Cod National Seashore. The visitor center has a series of interesting films on the geology and ecology of the Cape and a small museum of early artifacts of the fishing, whaling, and cranberry industries. There are hikes for every level of fitness. Some of my favorites are Fort Hill, The Altlantic White Cedar Swamp and the Beech Forest.

There are places to eat for a wide variety of preferences. Look for long lines to see the most popular. My favorite coffee shops are Snowy Owl and the Hot Chocolate Sparrow. The Sparrow also makes fabulous hand dipped chocolates for great gifts. I also love Mac’s Seafood for eating out and Nauset Fish for take home fish and lobsters.

Many of the towns have lovely downtowns with lots of locally owned boutiques and galleries. Orleans, Chatham, Wellfeet, and Provincetown in particular. I’d walk around to Left Bank Gallery, Adorn, Coastal Crafts, and Trove in Orleans for visual arts. If it was on the weekend during tourist season, the artist shacks would be open too.

I’d be heading out to the bike trails. There are lots of great bike rental places in each town, and many of them now also have electric bikes. Most of the trails are flat and go through woods and marshes. It’s a wonderful way to get to see the Cape from a different perspective.

I’ve barely been able to scratch the surface of all there is to do! I’d make you a list for the next time you visit.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My partner Alden Spilman is an artist, photographer, and carpenter and I would not have been able to make the changes in my life the last three years without him. We have known each other for decades and were finally both single at the same time right before the pandemic started. Our technical skills compliment each other and we both have passion for van travel. He is also incredibly supportive of my parents and helps them out too, Our relationship is loving and easy— I never knew that was possible!

I am also incredibly grateful for my network of friends both face to face and online. They have supported me through this transition and shared many stories of supporting their parents through their later years. I have benefited from the collective wisdom and deeply value the collaborative spirit they demonstrate.

Website: https://christinemartell.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christine.j.martell/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinemartell/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinemartellart

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/cmartell/