Martin Krafft uses video, photography, social practice, and writing to contemplate the world and invite others into that contemplation. His work pushes for a democratization of philosophy, sharing reflections from people whose voices aren’t often heard in the public sphere. He has worked in a Catholic Worker house serving the unhoused and Death Row inmates, as an inner city teacher's aid, on a ranch with a loving family of conspiracy theorists, and as an alternative preschool teacher, among other jobs. He is an itinerant with roots in Owings, MD, Atlanta, GA, Tucson, AZ, Missoula, MT, Rochester, NY, and Schwenksville, PA.
CV
EDUCATION
2020 MFA University of Arizona: Photography, Video, and Imaging
2012 BA Emory University: Creative Writing and Economics
Summa Cum Laude. Creative Writing Thesis
SCHOLARSHIPS/AWARDS / PRIZES
2021 Servest International Film Festival Documentary Short Semi-Finalist
Film Fund Finalist
2020 Society for Photographic Education Student Innovations in Imaging
Outlantacon Short Film Festival Best Experimental Short
Student Research Showcase: Communication and Expression
2nd place winner
2019 Marcia Centennial Sculptural Award
Recipient with collaborator Elena Makansi
The Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona
stART Mini-grant
Albert M. Haldeman Scholarship
Eirene Lamb Fine Arts Scholarship
Anderson Ranch Full-Tuition Scholarship
College of Fine Arts Travel Grant
2018 Nancy K. Strauss Art Scholarship Endowment
2015 Office of Cultural Affairs (Atlanta) Multidisciplinary Grant
EXHIBITIONS and SCREENINGS
2021 (upcoming - solo) matriarch. Emory University Gallery. Atlanta, GA
Alumni Show. Center for Creative Photography. Tucson, AZ
Cladogram: 2ND KMA International Juried Biennial. Katonah Museum of Art. Katonah, NY
Juried – Yasmeen Siddiqui
Essex DocFest. Essex, UK
Servest International Film Festival. Servest, Republic of Moldova
Noir. Analog Forever.
Juried – Blue Mitchell
VASTLAB Experimental Film Festival. Los Angeles, CA
Pune Short Film Festival. Pune, India
Alibag Short Film Festival. Pune, India
Goa Short Film Festival. Goa, India
New Generation Film Festival. Belgrade, Serbia
Himachal Short Film Festival. Himachal, India
Kerala Short Film Festival. Kerala, India
2020 Goa Short Film Festival. Goa, India
Family. SE Center for Photography. Greenville, SC
Juried – Aline Smithson
Calling Across the Distance. Emergent Art Space. San Francisco, CA
2020 - Political Discord. Las Laguna Gallery. Laguna Beach, CA
Generation Z. Noorderlicht International Photo Festival 2020.
Museum Belvédère, Heerenveen, Germany
We Make Movies International Film Festival. Los Angeles, CA
Frostbite International Film Festival. Online
University of Arizona Scholarship Show. Lionel Rambach Gallery.
Tucson, AZ
The Road. JKC Gallery. Trenton, NJ
Curated – Float Magazine
States of Democracy. Sonnenschein Gallery. Lake Forest, IL
Juried – David Sanchez Burr, Danielle Kelly and Rebecca Goldberg
Isolation. Millepiani Gallery. Rome, Italy
Curated – Loosen Art
9th Annual National Juried Exhibition. Charles W. and Norma C.
Carroll Gallery. Huntington, WV
Juried – Chloe Courtney. Honorable Mention recipient
Lift-Off Sessions. Pinewood Studios. Iver, UK
2019 Wild Sun. Harry Wood Gallery. Tempe, AZ
University of Arizona Scholarship Show. Lionel Rambach Gallery.
Tucson, AZ
College Art Association National Conference: Video Showcase.
Hilton Midtown, MediaLounge. New York, NY
5-minute Film Fest. Museum of Contemporary Art. Tucson, AZ
Curated – Ginger Shulick Porcella
2018 On and Off the Wall. Joseph Steinfeld Community Gallery. Tucson, AZ
Before Hours. Loft Independent Cinema. Tucson, AZ
Testing Ground. Lionel Rombach Gallery. Tucson, AZ
Precarious. Lionel Rambach Gallery. Tucson, AZ
2017 Until the End of the World. Exploded View Gallery. Tucson, AZ
2015 Distortions, Illusions, Lies, Stories, Also Dreams.
Ponce de Leon Public Library. Atlanta, GA
2012 The Forest. Emory University. Atlanta, GA
Detritus. Emory University. Atlanta, GA
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
University of Arizona:
2017-19 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Instructor of Record
Photography 244 (Intro to Photographic Practices
and Visual Thinking)
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Photography 242 (Intro to Photographic Concepts)
Turning Sun Preschool:
2015-16 Classroom Educator
Implemented reggio-emilia, play-based learning curriculum
Cardozo High School:
2013-14 City Year: Corps Member
Supported inner city high school English classrooms, including ESL students
Initiated and led Writing Club
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2020 Progressive Turnout Project District Field Director
Managed team of field representatives
2017-19 SPEAKOUT Communications Director
Managed graphic design team to support university Culture and
Resource Centers
Led staff meetings to support professional development and
community building
2017-19 Snowflakes Co-Founder
Collaborated with local nonprofits and student organizations
across Tucson
2018 Infuse Coordinator
Recruited artists to participate in monthly cross-disciplinary
collaborations
Expanded long-running program to include Theater, Dance, Music
2013-17 Alternatives to Violence Project USA Vice-President / Community Organizer
Oversaw efforts to diversify Board
Facilitated peace-building workshops in prisons and schools
Trained and organized local Atlanta facilitation team
2016 Self-Employed Handyman
Maintained 200-year-old farmhouse
Assisted in antique mill restoration
2014-15 Mercy Community Church Programming Coordinator
Worked at Community Church serving the needs of the homeless
Photographed for community newspaper
Taught Creative Writing class for homeless participants
2014-15 Andrew P. Stewart Center Literacy Specialist
Developed literary skills of elementary-age students
Led book club for inner city 5th graders
2013 Open Door Community Resident Volunteer
Provided services for the homeless: washed feet, served food
Organized anti-death penalty advocacy group
Attended death penalty trials to offer resources to defense’s family
2012 Gateway Community Center Photography Instructor
Led introductory photo class for homeless participants
Organized group showcase
SOCIAL PRACTICE and COMMUNITY PROJECTS
Ongoing Cassandra 2020: An anti-presidential campaign. 15 states across US
2019 Prayers from the Street. Tucson, AZ
The Meal. Esteven Park. Tucson, AZ
2018 Sharing the Road: Political Conversations while Hitchhiking.
Tucson, AZ to Selma, AL
2018 A Memorial for Past and Potential Victims of Gun Violence. Tucson, AZ
Media Coverage: Daily Wildcat. 9/18/19: http://www.wildcat.arizona.edu/article/2018/09/a-gun-art
Who Will Be Next? A Vigil for Victims of the Next Mass Shooting. Tucson, AZ
Media Coverage: KGUN9. 4/19/19
PUBLICATIONS
2020 “Perfect Kids.” Fiction. Barzakh Magazine.
“Disobedient Faith.” Nonfiction. Shift.
“Jonathan.” Photograph. New Plains Review.
“Traces.” Social Practice Documentation. Spectrum Literary Journal.
“I Wear my Grandmother’s Socks.” Nonfiction Essay and Photograph.
pacificREVIEW: A West Coast Arts Review Annual.
“Red Rock Rabbit Ranch.” Nonfiction Photo Essay. Roanoke Review.
“Recollected.” Photographs. Glassworks Magazine.
“Chosen People.” Fiction. Variant Literature Journal.
“My Grandmother’s Socks”; “Homeless”; “My Father’s Yells.” Poetry. Gravitas
RESIDENCIES
2019 Anderson Ranch: “What About Love?”
Instructed by David Hilliard and Elinor Carucci
LECTURES
2020 “Cassandra 2020,” Presenter, Society for Photographic Education – Northwest Chapter. Virtual.
2019 “Cassandra 2020,” Presenter, Emerging Conversations 2019: Art + Art. Education As Activism. Tucson, AZ, November 16
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Language skills: English and Spanish.
Facilitator skills: Certified Alternatives to Violence Project facilitator. Restorative Circles facilitator.
Technical skills: Photoshop, Lightroom, Premier, In-Design, Audacity, Garage Band, film processing, darkroom printing, framing, mounting.