"Work Ethic," a solo exhibition of work by Jackson Martin, will be on display from Oct. 16 through Nov. 17 in Coastal Carolina University's Rebecca Randall Bryan Art Gallery. The exhibit opens with a gallery reception on Thursday, Oct. 19, at 4:30 p.m. Both the reception and the exhibit are free and open to the public.

Martin is an assistant professor of art at the University of North Carolina at Asheville and has exhibited his sculptures and instillations extensively throughout the United States, with residencies in South Korea and Denmark. Inspired by environments where nature is reclaiming industry, Martin transforms mundane objects into artwork with strong metaphorical meaning through which the viewer can reflect on his or her own relationship with the world. Over the years, Martin's artwork has evolved into an interdisciplinary approach to sculpture, installation and photography.

When constructing the title piece for this exhibit, Jackson planned for a cardboard box to travel to various locations across America where he has held employment. A friend or family member in each city then placed it in an interesting or unique location in the area, photographed it and then sent the box onto the next destination. Once the box had returned, he filled the empty box with concrete, creating his own homemade cinderblock.

"The original cinderblock-shaped cardboard box traveled to eight cities in the United States and has now taken on a new life, an emerging mass from a former exterior," says Jackson on his website. "The overall display includes the cast concrete block, the dissected cardboard box, the top of the box with address labels and several photographs documenting its journey."

Through this piece and others featured within "Work Ethic," Martin attempts to rework old and discarded components into new, engaging combinations that break free from their utilitarian purposes. The Rebecca Randall Bryan Art Gallery is in Room 129 of the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts, located at 133 Chanticleer Drive W. on the main Conway campus. Gallery operating hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The gallery is dedicated to advancing the education of visual arts and cultivating the production, interpretation, and enjoyment of objects and images in society. Upcoming events include Portfolios: Senior Exhibition Dec. 4-15, 2017, and Faculty Triennial Jan. 15-Feb. 15, 2018.

Parking is available in lots directly adjacent near the back of the Edwards building or in J lot near the Singleton building; see coastal.edu/safety.parking.

For more information on the event or the Rebecca Randall Bryan Art Gallery, contact gallery director Jim Arendt at 843-349-6409 or jarendt@coastal.edu. For more information on Martin's work, visit www.jacksonmartin.com.