Marta Thoma: Stretch
Curator statement by Beth McLaughlin

Giganticism is a creative device employed in fables such as Jack and the Beanstalk and Alice in Wonderland to evoke feelings of fear or fantasy. In Stretch, artist Marta Thoma explores this duality as she confronts the viewer with her colossal sculptures. As we stand dwarfed by the figures, are we fearful? Or do the giant forms incite feelings of whimsy and playfulness? Thoma's intent is not to answer these questions, nor does she give us any indication of the desired response. Rather, she uses scale as a device of disorientation, shifting our perspectives and challenging our perceptions of the world around us.

After losing her father to mental illness at an early age, Thoma turned to art-making and education to transcend her fears. She continues to reflect on her own childhood for inspiration in making work that elicits an intuitive response. According to Thoma, "I am constantly looking for what can be said about girls, childhood, and being human that is important, possibly profound. I look for what has been overlooked. My way continues to be through fantasy where reality is reshaped for more complex, symbolic and revealing storytelling."

Oakland Museum of California at City Center
October 16 - December 31, 2003