Provincetown Magazine
May 4, 2022 by Rebeca M Alvin
WHAT WE GIVE (The Exhibition) Curated by DAKOTA X.
What We Give What We Take (The Book) by Author Randi Triant.

All of the work in the show is either by or about people with emotional and/or physical challenges. At first, Triant approached artist Dakota X, who uses they/them pronouns, because they had done a series of portraits of autistic children and their families and was similarly interested in themes of struggle, challenge, disability, and living outside the mainstream. From there, it was decided that Dakota would not only participate but also curate the show.

In what may seem like a big departure, Martin is now working on a new artistic pursuit with Portraits of Autism, which will have its first exhibition starting this week at Art Market Provincetown Gallery (AMP). The show features portraits of children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) in this deeply personal work. For many years Martin worked with children and adults with special needs, and as an artist she wanted to draw attention to the challenges these people and their families face. In particular, she was drawn to the problem when these children turn 21 and are no longer eligible for federal support so families are forced to navigate the often confusing maze of state bureaucracy, or find that their state offers no assistance at all.