Artists Interview Artists: Martin Henry

Martin Henry, a New Bern, NC based artist, participates in the Artists Interview Artists Project. Below Martin responds to another artist's five questions (Barbara Johnson-Gresser from Washington, D.C.). In order to participate, Martin had to provide me with five questions for some other artist to answer. The assigning of questions to artists is completely random. If you're an artist and interested in participating, let me know.

1. Why do you make art?

First is that I enjoy it and have a natural interest in it. Now I think after so many years I feel that I have accumulated so much knowledge in my field I have some responsibility to continue and also it is my job and provides for my income.

2. When you are working in your studio do you think about your audience and their reaction to the work? And if yes, who do you imagine your audience to be?

Yes and No. I rely on my instincts to make things that will appeal to others...so I am hoping that enjoyment will be the result of my work. The pieces that are made purely from inspiration tend to be more complex and more expensive so unfortunately they require an audience who can appreciate them and afford them. Depending on the pieces my audience can be quite broad.

3. Do you think art should be accessible or is that a dirty word?

Of course... in my opinion art should be made for consumers. If you use expensive materials then it is reasonable and expected to market to a higher income buyer but outside of that I try to make designs and artwork that people will want.

4. what makes a work of art great for you?

I think how it make me feel. Sometimes it is the technical aspect of it or the simplicity of it...the originality. I also think it has something to do with who made it and perhaps under what circumstances.

5. If you were told you could no longer make art for some reason, what would you do with that energy?

That is a hard question... I can't help but imagine that my creative impulse would show up somewhere in whatever work I was doing. I guess I would have to say I would want to write or play music.

Previous Interviews:
Juno Doran (questions by James W. Bailey)
Josh Feldman (questions by Joseph Barbaccia)
Lisa Stephenson (questions by Whitney Lynn)
Joseph Barbaccia (questions by Josh Feldman)
James W. Bailey (questions by Matt Hollis)
Matt Hollis (questions by Juno Doran)
Carol Es (questions by James Leonard)
Alexandra Silverthorne (questions by Ami Lahoff)
Christine Buckton Tillman (questions by Carol Es)
Douglas Witmer (questions by Alexandra Silverthorne)
Sky Pape (questions by Douglas Witmer)
Whitney Lynn (questions by Lisa Stephenson)
Heather Levy (questions by Joanne Greenbaum)
Heather Lowe (questions by Samantha Wolov)
Samantha Wolov (questions by Heather Levy)
Timothy McClellan (questions by Heather Lowe)
James Leonard (questions by Sky Pape)
Joanne Greenbaum (questions by Timothy McClellan)
Richard Kooyman (questions by Robert Walton)
Candy Keegan (questions by Warren Craghead)
Robert Walton (questions by Candy Keegan)
John M. Adams (questions by Richard Kooyman)
Prescott Moore Lassman (questions by Mary Addison Hackett)
Mary Addison Hackett (questions by Prescott Moore Lassman)
Andrew Wodzianski (questions by Nathan Manuel & D.Billy)
Nathan Manuel & D.Billy (questions by Andrew Wodzianski)
Michael Janis (questions by Scott Listfield)
Scott Listfield (questions by Michael Janis)
F. Lennox Campello (questions by Sean Hennessy)
Matt Andrade (questions by Adrian Parsons)
Sean Hennessy (questions by F. Lennox Campello)
George Wayne (questions by Michelle McAuliffe)
Eridanus Sellen (questions by Anabela Jevtovic)
Anabela Jevtovic (questions by Eridanus Sellen)
Marianela de la Hoz (questions by A.B. Miner)

Comments

[Martin Aas]

Good reading on this website! Keep up the good work!