As the daughter of United
States Air Force personnel, Marsha Hammel's early years took her through
much of the United States, Panama, Germany and Italy. The experience
gleaned from these early days of travel would soon be recognized as
at the age of sixteen Marsha was selected to attend the Governor's
School for Gifted Students in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
It was
at this point that Marsha Hammel came under the influence of the Classical
and European approaches to art, an influence which continues to the
present day. Although considered by many to be a descendant of the
European Modernists, Hammel prefers to think of herself as an atavist,
one who returns to primitive form. In keeping with early Egyptian,
Minoan and Mycenaen art, Marsha strives to present her figures in simple,
powerful terms with reductive backgrounds.
Feeling strongly that art
is a mirror in which the human psyche can view itself, Marsha Hammel's
paintings convey simple human truths and desires. As she states, "The
image of the human figure is the signature of our species. Since prehistoric
times it has been a conveyance of the spectrum of emotions, events,
desires and our sense of beauty. My work carries on in this tradition".
Marsha has traveled extensively
both in the US and Europe living and working in North Carolina, New
England, New Orleans and Florida.
“Since the fall of '99 I've been happy here in the Blue
Ridge Mountains enjoying a spacious studio in my own house. Two
big dogs, a big yard , friendly neighbors; why I even have a
garden, I reckon I'll stay put for a while.”
Marsha is now
published by West Bay Fine Art, Texas. Marsha's works can also be found
in many private collections and museum collections, including:
Northern
Trust Bank, Tampa Florida
University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
State Capital, Raleigh,
North Carolina
Riscorp, Sarasota, Florida
Bob James (recording artist) Los Angeles,
California
Museum of Arts and Sciences, Daytona Beach, FL. Permanent
Collection
Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, FL. Selected for Solo
Exhibition, 1993
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