Artist Bio:
Safi Martin is a farm girl through and through.  Raised by plant lovers on a 40-acre farm in the foothills of North Carolina, she knows her way around the garden. In addition to her first love (gardening!), she has built a career serving others and mitigating the impacts of childhood trauma.  After graduating from WCU in 1994 with a degree in Business Education, she spent several years teaching in the public school system before making the leap to mental health – a field she worked in for over 20 years.  In recent years she has shifted her focus, receiving her Masters in Entrepreneurship and working on a business plan that seeks to blend her two passions:  tending the land and transforming trauma.  Together, she and her husband DeWayne Barton are building three interconnected social enterprises (Hood Huggers International, Peace Gardens & Market, and Blue Note Junction) that weave the arts and environment into building community, transforming trauma, and cultivating economic, physical, and emotional health.  And in her spare time, she paints.

As a fluid artist, I am drawn to this medium both for the process of creation and the amazing organic outcomes on the canvas. There is something incredibly freeing about being able to let the natural flow and movement of the paint guide my process.
 
With each pour, I am reminded that there are no mistakes in art. The natural flow of the paint allows for endless experimentation and expression, as I blend and manipulate the colors to create unique and mesmerizing patterns. It's an ongoing dance between myself and the paint, where I must trust and surrender to the process.
 
Each piece is a reflection of my inner world, as the colors and movements of the paint evoke emotions and tell a story. I am constantly amazed by how each pour leads to something entirely new and unexpected, making this process a continuous journey of discovery and growth.
 
Paint pouring challenges the traditional norms of control and perfection in art, and instead embraces the beauty of imperfection. It reminds us to let go and trust in the flow of life, rather than trying to control every outcome.
 
This exhibition is a celebration of FLOW, both in art and in life, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share it with all of you. Thank you for joining me on this journey of creativity, self-expression, and endless possibilities.
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