K'ren Martin – February's Choice
K’REN MARTIN
A Fiber Artist who Knows her Throws
by
Judith Kajiwara
February 2006
They speak to her, telling her what colors and textures would enhance their beauty. If her response is, “Hmmm, I would have never thought of that,” she tries it and if she likes it, it stays. There are times when she disagrees. That’s when the square of one of her budding quilted throws knows its place. Ultimately, the artist makes the final decision, and the squares must live peaceably with their chosen neighbors.
Through this ongoing dialogue, each throw develops its own character and intimate relationship with Oakland fiber artist, K’ren Martin. She describes herself as a “fabric fanatic” who specializes in, not just any fabric, but heavy, textured fabric used in upholstery. Denim, corduroy, mud cloth, African prints, brocade, each of K’ren’s quilted throws, consisting of 28 squares, is as unique and beautiful in the back as in the front. Most of the time, a throw is created by building around one particular square. Other times, K’ren puts together a “crazy quilt” using haphazard remnants lying around her studio. Or, when designing a custom quilt with a special theme, a throw is meticulously sketched and planned. Regardless of how they’re birthed, K’ren is constantly imagining and learning new ways to take her one-of-a-kind, washable throws to yet another dimension.
Her studio--two rooms located in her artful home in Oakland--is jammed with bolts and bolts of fabric, a work table, and walls covered with hundreds of tools and necessities hanging from peg boards. Like all artists, she’s constantly reorganizing, and always on the prowl for interesting, unusual fabric. Though her basement, shed and studio are packed with bolts, where she’ll store her new fabric is never a concern.
K’ren’s love of fabric began in a high school sewing class. As a young mother, she acquired her first sewing machine and began making clothes for her children. Making clothes came easily and K’ren was always game for a new challenge. Her curiosity led to the world of drapery and upholstery when, in 1990, she began making window treatments. How did she learn to do this? K’ren asked an interior decorator if she could follow her around. Always eager to learn, K’ren has never hesitated to ask professionals how to make something, or whether they’d teach her privately. When window treatments became boring, K’ren replaced her yearn to learn with upholstering furniture; and when health issues forced her to replace upholstery with something less strenuous, quilting became her next journey. She enrolled in a quilting class at New Pieces on Solano Avenue, and was pleased when she sold her first throw at the Temescal Street Fair in August 2004.
I asked K’ren how she juggles such a busy life. She’s managed to scale her data entry day job down to four days, and spends the remainder of her time making throws and designing an exciting new line of purses, soon to be introduced. She keeps physically fit by bike riding, walking and most recently, doing yoga! Thanks to Rodney Yee’s ABS yoga dvd, since beginning last November, K’ren has already noticed that she walks differently, stands longer, breathes deeper and has stronger knees. As a result, she’s learned to like yoga, and even arrives early at work to engage in a few poses before the others arrive. Family obligations include her roles as caregiver for her husband, and as Abula (Ethiopian for ‘Grandma’). Her four grandchildren love to spend time with her in the studio. The two oldest--Darius, 10 and Charis, 8--have already taken sewing classes, and are creating their own quilts under Abula K’ren’s keen guidance. The two younger grandchildren--Armani, 4 and Mikyla, 4--can already help Abula stencil, and can’t wait to begin designing and sewing.
I was curious what a typical day in the studio is like. Each throw has approximately an 8-hour turnaround. K’ren may be at it for four hours straight, with a throw on the dining room table, one on her work table, and another strewn over the kitchen table. The sound of her humming sewing machine blends with the cd player on her work table from which a booming voice is reading a book. About a year ago she switched from listening to sports to books-on-tape. “Devil in the Blue Dress” hooked her and she’s since listened to numerous books, including all six Harry Potters. (She claims the second Harry Potter was the best.) Currently she’s engrossed in “Secrets,” a mystery by Lesley Pearse.
K’ren’s home is filled with a collection of unusual antiques and dolls, including four of Yo’ Mama’s dolls (another OAM artist). Each has been carefully labeled with the name of one of her grandchildren, who will eventually own that piece. Wherever there’s an empty space, K’ren’s collectibles can be found, amidst the hundreds of family photos which are also on display.
But one piece really steals the show—the flaming antique leopard love seat (see photo). Her first upholstery project, the love seat screams for attention from anyone who visits K’ren’s home. It’s been telling her for the longest time that it wants more black in the room! K’ren’s resisted the request for years but is now revisiting it. She’s finally consented to add a black area rug to the room’s décor. K’ren showed me an African animal print upholstery fabric which she plans to make into a wall hanging. The leopard love seat is not happy to compete with tigers and elephants. But according to K’ren it’s all about being in control. As soon as time allows, she’ll be starting the hanging, and the flamboyant leopard love seat will just have to live with it.
In addition to being a regular face at the Oakland Artisan Marketplace, K’ren plans to branch out by doing more shows. Since the debut of her throws, K’ren has been commissioned to design two pieces for the African American Museum and Library. In celebration of Black History Month, they will be on display at the Museum’s consignment shop located in Oakland at 659 14th Street (see photos).
Every artist has a dream and I was eager to hear K’ren’s. A warehouse--not a tiny storefront--but a spacious warehouse will be comprised of a gallery to display her throws, a classroom for art classes, a relaxing space for social gatherings, a fully equipped kitchen, and a beautifully decorated living area for visiting artists. K’ren not only knows her throws, she also knows the secret to staying young and healthy: “Do what makes your heart sing.” By balancing her spirit of joy, generosity and ambition, without a doubt, she’ll someday have the warehouse of her dreams.
K’ren’s Interior & Designs
P.O. Box 31767
Oakland, CA 94604
510-433-7017
krenid@sbcglobal.net
Judith Kajiwara is an artist with the Oakland Artisan Marketplace, where she sells her handcrafted, one-of-a-kind polymer clay angels. She can be reached at angelsbyjudith@yahoo.com.