Today we’d like to introduce you to Martin Cox.
Hi Martin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a visual artist, I worked entirely in photography for years often with plastic film cameras shooting film in remote locations until the pandemic stopped that. in 2021 re-engaged with the practice of drawing and then painting long abandoned since art school decades before. I work on very large charcoal drawings and tiny paintings on cardboard and printed material. What I want to highlight is another part of my practice in which I create opportunities and nurture community for artists.
This journey began late in my career. I attended my first artist residency in 2016 and saw the power that a simple idea held. A group of artists come to a place for a limited time away from their familiar activities, their purpose to be there is to engage with their ideas, and explore their creative practices and hopefully connect other artists and whatever community is accessible.
I was an artist in residency at Fjuk, (no longer in business) in Husavik in north East Iceland and it was transformative. My work completely changed direction. Projects I began there lead me to several LA gallery exhibitions and the work eventually took me back to Iceland for more exhibitions.
While I was on that residency I came across an uninhabited farmhouse in a snowy fjord while exploring with artists and locals. The magical house ignited something in me, and I made a proposal to its owner to turn it into an art residency. Within a year we had formed a team and worked to transform the farmhouse to a livable work/live space. We opened the art residency to artist in the summer 2018. There was a large shared studio upstairs, and on the lower floor, four bedrooms and a roomy kitchen and bathroom and some nearby sheds. The greatest asset was location. Deep in a long fjord in north west Iceland with stunning views of cliffs, mountains and the fjord itself. The farmhouse had a rare silence offered by its dramatic isolation, the nearest living things were the sheep with some humans over 7 miles away down a long rough track.
We offered as a fee-based artist residency season each year with 3 1/2 week residencies. The residency was a great success and ran for four years. Then it was time for us to tackle something closer to home, something in Los Angeles, and Latitude For Art was born.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
After the success of the Iceland residency I felt I wanted to find an alternative funding model such that we could offer residency to artists with no fee, to encourage artists and not burden them with more costs. To that end my husband and I founded a non-profit to focus on community, creativity and artist residency. We got the go ahead from the State in the winter and 2019 with our non-profit Latitude For Art and made plans for expansion and fundraisers in 2020, however Covid significantly delayed us. By 2022, the Iceland project was over and we began a test project using a leased apartment in Los Angeles and invited artists to come and stay in a building that was filled with creative long term tenants. Latitude For Art was deeded the building by long time Echo Park activist Isa-Kae Meksin, who believed strongly in community and housing. We committed to keep the current creative residents housed despite the whirl of issues from running a hillside building over a 100-years old with a limited income. Since then we have opening up more opportunities for artist and events.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Latitude For Art?
LATITUDE FOR ART, is a 501 c 3 California corporation and our mission is to develop a creative community in an urban setting through artist residencies and long term housing projects for artists and seniors. With events connecting the artists on residency the longer term creatives and the local population, we hope to enrich the neighborhood through meaningful cultural exchange, art activities and fostering creativity. Our board members have been a powerful asset with many artists and locals serving: Sati Kaur, Douglas Hill, John Rosewall, Hayley Barker, Thomas DeBoe and Jenny Burman.
We are part creative long term housing, part artist residency and hold many outdoor events with artists. By 2024 the non-profit was able to take over the charming century old building in Echo Park, there were many needed improvements but now we are well into our programming. In addition to the artists coming for short term residencies, (a week or two weeks) we hold gatherings in the lush terraced hillside garden with various themes. In 2025 we initiated “Drawing in the Garden “ – community project to gather and draw together. Ongoing are our artist centered events called “Artist in the Garden”, with presentations and talks with artist as well as some fundraisers, discussions and meet and greets.
Latitude For Art offers the possibility of community and a place for creative expression. Our building is filled with creatives of all ages who work in a variety of media. The artist residency program brings in artists to the mix.
Our artist residency funded by Latitude For Art and is free to the artists who artists are selected from their applications (made though our website) by the programming committee, made up of board members and locals. Applications that focus on the our location, Echo Park, or curiosity within the long standing resident community at Latitude For Art are encouraged. We also prioritize applications by artists who were impacted by the LA fires.
In addition to offering the residences, our aim is to keep the other seven households of long term tenants in good shape and with an active social component. Community gatherings and creative interactions with both the artists in residence, and through workshops or presentations that are part of the monthly experience.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I would say having a vision and sticking to it, and finding the right people to work with, my partners include family and friends and volunteers for board positions who have hung in there to get a structure organized. Thomas DeBoe, Sati Kaur and I are the Officers and have regular meetings to stay on track. Having an attorney on the board has been essential to navigate many complications, and having a great team to focus on upkeep of the building.
As I mentioned, our residencies are free to the artists. We seek donations of money and time to keep Latitude going. Donations are collected at fundraisers and through our website. Without supporters we could not continue.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.latitudeforart.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latitudeforart
- Other: @latitudeforart.bsky.social
Image Credits
Martin Cox
