We recently connected with Martina Loncar and have shared our conversation below.

Martina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Martina, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Definitely. Hi there! My name is Martina Loncar, and I’m a mixed-media artist. I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, but I’ve been living and working in Washington, D.C. for a few years now. In my work, I explore how trees and humans are connected to their environments through deep-rooted networks of care. I am fascinated by trees due to their tendency to live in communities and their ability to support one another through their root systems. I think that these support networks can serve as a model for how humans can better treat one another, especially during times of suffering and hardship. We can learn so many valuable lessons from nature, and my work is an attempt to further reflect on and embody this wisdom. At the moment, I am particularly drawn to paper as a medium. I thought of paper as boring for a long time, but over the past few years, I’ve come to realize all the different possibilities it holds. It’s exciting to take such a seemingly simple material and reimagine it into something entirely new and unexpected. Since my work is about trees, it’s also the perfect medium for me right now. With that being said, my practice is pretty expansive, and includes other art forms like sculpture, drawing, video art, and large-scale installation. I also engage in writing and sometimes exhibit poetry alongside my work. Overall, I would say that my art embraces vulnerability and is rooted in themes of nature and community (no pun intended).

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

When you take a step back from the trees, my work is all about connection and our relationships with one another. For me, trees and their root systems serve as a model for how we, as humans, can better support one another through our lives–particularly through times of suffering and hardship. My ultimate message is that we have a responsibility to take care of one another. Being human is hard! There are so many aches, heartbreaks, and pains mixed in with the pleasures, joys, and love that exists in our lives. The people who are there for us through these ups and downs make all the difference. My goal is to make work that illuminates the ties that bind us together.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Being an artist takes up so much time and energy, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world! Many of my pieces are inspired by my relationships with my friends, family, and community, so my studio has become a place where I can reflect on all that comes with these relationships. That’s probably the most rewarding aspect for me. I’ve made work through the happiest and most difficult times in my life, and in a world that moves so fast, being able to slow down, look closer, and process my thoughts and experiences is so valuable. There’s a meditative aspect to the repetition that comes with the paper-cutting and collage that I’m doing right now, too. Ultimately, I like to think that my art keeps me grounded and better connected to my surroundings.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.loncarmartina.com
• Instagram: @tinistudios