The artist behind UMW’s student art installations

by EMMA GREER

Staff Writer

From creating screen prints and sculptures to curating student art exhibitions, senior studio art major MacKenzie Martin’s college experience differs from that of the typical student.  

Last semester, Martin had the opportunity to curate For Five Coffee’s “Unicorn’s Garden” exhibition, which displayed over 20 pieces of student-made art. This semester, Martin is working on her newest curatorial project: “Electric Cafe.” 

Martin explained that “Electric Cafe” is a dual exhibition, including student art at For Five Coffee and community members’ art downtown at Ponshop Studio and Gallery. 

“That’s what makes ‘Electric Cafe’ so special,” Martin said. 

While previous student art exhibitions have been held at the campus coffee shops, both at For Five Coffee and its predecessor, Katora, this exhibition is the first time that student-run shows have ventured outside of UMW to involve the larger community of artists within the city of Fredericksburg. 

“My main goal and mission is to help get student artists more comfortable, to help them submit and apply to shows and to kind of demystify that process,” said Martin. “Helping students with that first experience has been so beyond rewarding.” 

Junior studio art and English double major, Nisa Estes, explained her experience with Martin and submitting to student art shows. 

“I was really intimidated by the idea of submitting to a show,” Estes said. “But then just talking to MacK, like, ‘No, it’s not scary,’ and she walked me through the process.” 

When asked how her curatorial role began, Martin said, “It happened really fast. I was having one of my regular mini breakdowns in one of my professor’s offices and they were like, ‘You need to channel this energy into something else’ and now we’re here.” 

Currently, Martin and the students before her who have curated shows on campus have not received any academic credit or pay for their time and effort. Martin plans to change this for upcoming curator Estes, who is currently shadowing Martin and is set to assume her responsibilities next year.  

Despite not being formally declared a curatorial intern, Martin is presently working as both an intern for UMW Galleries and a Program Assistant Intern for the Center for Career and Professional Development. Additionally, she is serving as a Gallery Monitor in duPont Gallery and Ridderhof Martin Gallery this semester.

When Martin isn’t knee-deep in the artwork of others, she is making her own. According to her website, she primarily creates found-object sculptures and large-format screen prints that incorporate religious motifs and unconventional materials.  

“Her work engages themes of religion, cars and grief, reflecting on how belief systems and cultural icons shape collective identity in the United States. By juxtaposing the sacred and the secular, MacKenzie creates works that both celebrate and question the narratives embedded in American culture,” reads the “About” section of Martin’s website.

Coorain Devin, assistant professor of photography and printmaking, praised Martin’s work inside the classroom. 

“It’s really exciting when artists are able to imagine something and then make it like a real object,” he said. “It’s like transforming this idea in your head into a physical manifestation. It’s magic, in a way. And I’ve seen Mac do that over and over again.”

Martin went on to explain her latest artistic endeavors, which involve screen printing on yard signs and truck mud flaps to create engaging sculpture-like prints. According to Devin, Martin is playing with message delivery in their use of ambiguous phrases over political signs.

“I’m always experimenting with material rather than technique,” said Martin. 

Devin attested to Martin’s ambitious spirit and hard-working attitude. 

“She does a great job bringing her own art into the classroom and bringing her other life experience in and is ambitiously building the career she wants to have,” Devin said. “MacK is very open and clear-eyed about the fact that they’re stepping into a difficult career. The arts are not always easy and so I see MacK thinking smartly, like ‘How can I get ahead?’ which, in this case, feels very positive.”