Finalist at Culver City Film Festival

Martin Pierce’s venture into the kingdom of Katydom has not gone unnoticed and has been documented by Maria Ramirez -Adams in a short film “Katydom”  that debuts at the Culver City Film Festival on December 12th at the Regal Live LA at 6pm

In Ramirez-Adam’s film she beautifully documents Martin’s surreal bronze sculptures and paintings that together set out the story of the Katydom. In this imaginary world we see that the scale of insects and humanoids has been seismically changed with very large insects and very small humanoids, each rendered in bronze or in oil on canvas. As the video plays we learn about the Insect Race and how the sculptures come to life once a year to compete in this playful sport. We see through paintings and drawings how these sculptures evolved and we get a behind the scenes look at Martin as he TIG welds insect body parts and then applies his hot patinas.

Sunset Rider - Limited Edition Print

While this post is subjective I think you will enjoy this wonderful 7 minute short, it is beautifully filmed has keen production values and it is showing at the Regal Live LA a perfect venue. Admission is a modest $ 15 and you get to see other films that have made it to the finals at this years Culver City Film Festival.

HAPPY 4th JULY 2024

From all the creatures of Katydom to all of you, may you have a happy and fun July 4th.

Some of the large insects shown here also participate in the Annual Insect Race that happens in Katydom, a fictional world where humans are small, and insects are large. The rules that govern this annual event ensure that all contestants compete on an equal footing and accordingly all are restricted to ambulatory rather than aerial participation. The Katydids are the custodians of these rules and of other historical matters that are recorded on the wings of the Katydid elders.

The story of Katydom is evolving and we will be providing updates during the year as well as when we celebrate July 4th.

The Stag Beetle below is a major force to be reckoned with in the annual insect race.

The Katydids are custodians but also competitors in the Annual Insect Race

Small fine art sculptures

In the world of Katydom, Martin Pierce has been focusing on the dung beetle, a central character in his fictional world of  large insects and small human-like creatures. In the most recent piece, the dung beetle’s ball is repurposed as a climbing frame by a humanoid seeking to mount the thorax of the beetle so they can compete as a team in the Annual Insect Race. It clearly takes practice to achieve a successful mount which explains why the piece is partly named “Fallen Rider”.

 In Katydom neither species nor scale are the source of power or wealth   and coexistence is the social norm. Thus, while the new dung beetle and his ball are smaller than other beetles  in Katydom they are no less valued. By contrast in the present world of commerce scale generally determines weight and when this comes to bronze explains why the smaller sculpture at 5 lbs is less expensive than it’s much larger 12 lb relative.

The dung ball’s organic appearance is reminiscent of the Morphic collection of door handles, but the uneven surface and imperfect edges give it a clay like appearance.  The dung ball will be the focus of other pieces to follow with plans to repurpose it as a fitness center or learning room or summer lodge. 

The current piece is finished in a combination of hot and cold patinas with a  green thorax and head and  dark bronze beetle body and satin brushed light antique ball and polished humanoid.