John Martin creates drawings that synthesize his memories of a family farm in Mississippi with his modern life in Oakland. John’s fascination with tools and trucks has informed his oeuvre since 1987, when he started making artwork at Creative Growth. His work both describes their function and subverts practicality through his outrageous animal mash-ups, oversized Leatherman tools, and mysterious text: fish become knives, alligators become saws, John becomes a Nokia phone, a multitool is splayed open to show grinning sharks. His wry and practical sense of humor is evident in all of his compositions, translating utilitarian imagery into his graphic and animated aesthetic.