Artist Ted Martin’s art on view at Mind Virus

Arts | November 13th, 2024

By Sabrina Hornung

Ted Martin, retired educator and western North Dakota native, currently has his art on view at Mind Virus Counter-Culture Books and Media. The exhibition features Martin’s colorful ink drawings and will be on display from November 15 through December 1. The exhibit launches with a pre-show artist discussion on Friday, November 15 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

When asked if there was a common theme in his work, Martin said, “Male nudity? The male form — actually, the human form — is really interesting to draw. It's kind of interesting too, because a lot of people that I draw come here more for the aspect that they're exhibitionist or they want the erotic thing, but to me, it's just drawing. So my attitude is, you pose for me. I'll draw whatever.”

Martin mentioned he had an art school background, but picked up the pen again after his friend and fellow art educator encouraged him to continue to take classes. Drawing had always been a means of expression for Martin.

“I grew up on a farm in a large family— lots of talkers in my family — so I tended to kind of hide out in the corner and draw just for my own peace of mind,” he said. “I grew up drawing cows and chickens, horses and people. I remember quite a bit when I was younger. I had two younger sisters, they would get paper dolls from their one cousin, and I would make them the clothing for their paper dolls.”

It’s billed as a solo show. But in addition to Martin’s drawings, there will also be a few collaborations between him and fellow artist D’Mitry Lewman.

“He's 20 and very, very artistic and we've been collaborating on different things,” said Martin. “He is the one that got me motivated to start showing art, because I would just pack up. I don't care if anybody sees it or not. The show will have some of his work, some of my work, and some of our collaborations.”

Ted’s drawings have a great illustrative quality with a limited palette, while D’Mitry’s work is largely sculptural. Some of Martin’s work on view will be paired with D’Mitry’s creations, particularly his My Little Ponies.

“He's recreating them,” explains Martin. “Like there's the BDSM pony and the devil pony and the Grindr pony. They're not the original My Little Pony, they're the bootleg My Little Ponies. He got his acetone out and took off the little symbols and put new ones on and painted others. They are his paper dolls, except they're three dimensional.”

Ted lived in the Black Hills for a number of years and made mention that the artists of the Black Hills primarily focused on Western themes, landscapes and wildlife. He attended drawing groups and even mentioned there being a gay drawing group.

“Here, I can't even find a figure drawing group,” he said. “When I was there, I was drawing wildlife and that kind of thing. When I moved here, you'd have to drive way to Kindred to find cattle and then they'd move away from the road. There are no bison here to draw. I just couldn't really find a source of wildlife that inspired me.”

Martin had to get creative.

“So I just started having guys come in and pose,” he said. “And for the first number of years that I lived here, I paid two or three models to pose for me every week– just so that I would be inspired to draw. When you have a model, you have to draw, otherwise you kind of forget about drawing. So then I just built up a reputation, and I have lots of people come and pose for me. I no longer pay for models. The wildlife in the Rapid City area was bison and deer and here, it’s just men.”

IF YOU GO

Ted Martin Exhibition

November 15-December 1

Mind Virus Counter-Culture Books and Media

124 8th St. N., Fargo

https://www.facebook.com/people/Mind-Virus-Counter-Culture-Books-and-Media/61558492252195/