Marie Martelly examines her identity as a military spouse by piecing together elements representing tradition, comfort, security, and protection. She uses encaustic medium to coat the patterns of traditional quilt blocks, distancing layers, at once blurring and preserving them like memories over time.
The traditional flying geese quilt motif first entered Martelly’s practice as a response to grief experienced following a training accident. In January 2014, a helicopter in her husband’s squadron collided with a flock of geese on the coast of England. From this place of heartbreak, the flying geese pattern in Martelly’s work has grown to also represent the opposite - symbolizing the strength and resilience of military families and communities.
Martelly was born in Newport News, Virginia. She received a BA in Art History from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and an MA in Fine Arts from the Cambridge School of Art in England. She now lives and works in and around Air Force bases in the U.S. and overseas.
Photos from the Flying Geese reception:
marie martelly_birds in flightPhoto by Bee Aspinall
martelly reception 1Photo by Bee Aspinall
Martelly reception 2Photo by Bee Aspinall
May 17 – July 22, 2018
Monday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Add a comment to: Flying Geese by Marie Martelly