“Out From the Darkness” Is an art exhibition of new drawings and prints by Milwaukee artist and master printmaker Gregory Martens. “Out From the Darkness” refers to letting go of the influences and pressures of academic training and just trying to channel the teenaged kid back in the 1970’s who loved drawing for endless hours while listening to rock and roll on the 8-track. There is also darkness in the drawings which depict demons, comics, snakes, skeletons, monsters, crying babies, bad boys, and cool cars. The exhibition features richly detailed black ink drawings, acrylic paintings, and screen prints.

Martens has developed a series of incredibly detailed sketchbooks over the last 16 months to support his work. A beautiful anthology of his best pages entitled “The Sketchbook of Gregory Martens” (Waterhouse Press, Milwaukee) will be available for purchase during the opening reception. You will get a rare glimpse into the psyche of a working artist complete with finished drawings, comics, tidbits of found wisdom, copies of the great masters, fascinating quotes, and Martens’ inviting sense of humor.

Over the years Gregory Martens, a natural storyteller, has been a janitor, graphic designer, traveling salesman, a shoe cobbler, a university art professor, and bone marrow cancer survivor. His diverse experience includes winning first place at an international show carving competition in Harbin, China, receiving a research grant to study Spanish tiles in Lima, Peru, and presenting an etching demonstration for the Milwaukee Art Museum Print Forum.

Martens’ works have been exhibited and collected around the world at venues including the JM Kohler Art Museum, The International Print Center of New York, The Milwaukee Art Museum Print Collection, The Museum of Wisconsin Art, and the Southern Graphics Council Archive.

Artist Reception
Friday, Oct. 20, 2017; 5-9 pm. Cold beer and live blues/folk music by Graveyard Shift
Artist Talk
Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017; 12-5 pm, Gallery Talk at 2:00 pm

Gallery Hours:
Open on Saturdays 12-5 pm and weekdays by appointment,
Show runs through November 3, 2017