Java.May.2017

One year for Christmas, she made her father an assemblage sculpture, which was
supposed to be a family portrait of sorts. “I remember my father being like ‘What
the f*ck is this?’ He didn’t get it.” Marill cited this experience when asked
about the first time she was proud of an art piece. For many people, becoming
an adult is a process of becoming estranged from their parents. Marill was
also greatly inspired by the burgeoning punk scene around her, which helped
enforce her playful, rebellious attitude and may serve to explain her father’s
seemingly confused response to her art. This was actually an affirmation—
she’d killed her idols.
SURFING & ART SCHOOL
Throughout high school, Marill ventured to the beaches of Santa Cruz to surf with
her friends. She didn’t get very good grades, but was determined to do anything
to move out of the house. Her determination paid off and she was accepted to
San Diego State University, where she tried several different majors for a couple
of years. Most of the pursuits were arts-related but not quite an art major, which
she avoided because she felt an art degree wasn’t practical. After two years of
trying to avoid the inevitable, she dropped out. Eventually she resurfaced at San
Francisco State University and majored in painting. While at San Francisco State
she met her husband, Matthew Moore, who is an artist, as well.
After receiving her bachelor’s degree, Marill attended Cornell University for her
MFA in painting. “Cornell has a small arts program,” Marill says. “You’re up to your
own devices and drive to make it worthwhile there. You don’t get a lot of faculty
time. I took advantage of that and cranked out work. You go there and spend all
day in the studio. That’s exactly what I needed—two years to just focus on my art.
It helped inspire me to develop a consistent work ethic. Even if an idea doesn’t pan
out—keep working.”
One of her favorite professors was Carl Ostendarp, who created biomorphic
paintings. “I liked the way he taught,” Marill says. “He played music really loud so
people would get out of their heads and not take it too seriously. He was a totally
quintessential curmudgeon teacher. I would say ‘You’re such a good teacher,’ and
he would say ‘That doesn’t mean I don’t like it.’”
DIGITAL REALNESS
After graduating from Cornell in 2004, Marill and her husband moved to Arizona
and she began showing her work. One of Marill’s main inspirations is Jean Arp
(1886-1966), a German abstract artist known primarily for sculpture. She was
fascinated by how Arp’s works could exist as sort of sculptural paintings but
with a kind of awkwardness as they hung in galleries. Her work borrows from
that tradition.
For her latest show, Imbalance, at Lisa Sette Gallery (January 2017), Marill decided
to explore crystal structures to focus her attention. “Crystal structures have a
quality to them that are nature’s digital expressions; they are a perfect bridge
between the natural and digital world,” says Marill. “Utilizing my hand drawings
of the crystal structures, Rhino3D software, handmade egg tempera paint, various
wood species and a CNC router, I bring both the organic and inorganic together.”
Much of Marill’s art has been shown with Lisa Sette, whom she met at the “New
American City” art show at Arizona State University in 2006-07. Their relationship
has been mutually supportive, and Marill feels that Sette is the best, most
professional gallery owner she’s worked with.
14 JAVA
MAGAZINE