Martha Rich and David Sandlin are having a show in Los Angeles at La Luz De Jesus Gallery right now. I am sad that I live to far away to see it. But I do have Martha Rich’s Freedom Wigs to browse through. It’s a very small hardcover book full of “Sketchbook Expressionism and other Personal Things” Her work reminds me of Esther Pearl Watson’s Unloveable comics and I start to wonder what those might look like painted. Martha’s work in this book seems to focus on similar themes as Unlovable- young romance and high school beauty but it seems to take place more in the 60s and 70s. Her website artist statement says her paintings are “representations of human insecurity and the lengths people go to be accepted.” Like Esther’s work, Martha’s paintings are also crudely drawn- a lot of the time the eyes on her characters seem to be looking in different directions which isn’t too distracting when there’s tons of wonderful texture, pattern and collage surrounding. This book is from Mark Murphy and you can pick up a copy here. For more about Martha check out her website and her blog. On her site Freedom Wig she posts a new painting every day. December’s are available at La Luz de Jesus right now for $375 or less!

© Julia Rothman 2007