About

Artist Statment

I am building my nest, a space in which everything around me is charged with positive energy. While on a self- healing journey towards mental wellness, the objects I make serve as a pillar of comfort and safety.

Through loom woven tapestries, wooden furniture, and sewn patchwork, I create a culture of peace and tenderness that I use as a tool to grow and heal mentally and spiritually. Inspired by the ornamentation of ultitarian objects within folk art and culture from the American South, such as the Quilters of Gee's Bend, these works are often multi-functional objects for the home. I build tools that nurture the domestic space, thus making physical space for intentional self soothing.

My process often involves sifting through thrift and antique stores for inspiration. From children’s books to shaker style cabinets to old Ikea catalogs to hand-quilted bedsheets, the significance these items once held inspires the tone of my work that carries a sense of familiarity. Playfulness, an idea inspired by Wendell Castle, is seen in the objects’ bulbous organic shapes, solid primary colors, and emblematic motifs. Solid wood is meticulously crafted into a smooth to the touch finish. A spool of yarn is transformed into a piece of fabric that tells a story. Using traditional woodworking, tapestry weaving, and quilting techniques, I make works that allow myself and others to embrace a childlike approach to self-care through home design.

Biography

Richmond, Virginia native Sasha (Mars) Marston (she/her) is a 24-year-old craftswoman and designer working primarily in wood and fibers. She creates sculptural furniture with function and fibers works for the residential home. Marston’s work is influenced by folk art of the American South and children's storybook illustration. In her adult life, Mars is dedicated to improving her mental health and wellness through spiritual practices and self-care rituals. Through doing so, she has found a passion in creating and sharing pieces for a nuturing safe space, otherwise known as "the Nest". Marston graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Craft and Material Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2022 where she has received honors on the VCU Arts Dean’s List throughout her college career. Recent group exhibitions include, “Craft Capstone 2023" and “[...]” at the Anderson Gallery in Richmond Virginia, “Emptied Pockets” at the Murry N. Depillars gallery, and "Slow Aroma" at Field in Richmond, Virginia. Selected furniture and textile work is now available for purchase at Two Rabbits Vintage in Richmond, Virginia.