Ocean County Artist Fills Property With Sculptures

BEACHWOOD – Tucked away on a quiet street, large statues stand out from the suburban landscape.

These sculptures evoke curiosity in people driving by. They are the work of Martina Smejkalova, who surrounds herself with beautiful things.

A native of the Czech Republic, she was amazed by how much garbage Americans made. Perhaps, she thought, she could make use of these non-recyclable plastics. What better way for something to spend eternity on Earth than as part of a work of art?

She makes the basic shape using plastics wrapped with chicken wire or tape. Then it is coated with mortar. As it takes shape, the face forms organically. There’s not a set plan. It comes about through the art of creation.

Afterwards, Smejkalova and her husband Kevin Hinninger might come up with a name for the new sculpture – whatever fits its face.

They all have character. The Baba Yaga, more than six feet tall, is an old wisewoman with a glint of mischief in her eye. She represents aspects of Mother Nature. “She can be cruel but she can be nice.”

Even the fence around the property is art. Each length has a different scene painted on it. When one fence section came off, it wasn’t wasted. It was made into the floor of a small sitting area in front of Hinninger’s music studio.

“Some people stop” when they are walking or driving by, she said. “Some people purposely drive by or walk by and it makes my day.”

The statues are functional as well. The open mouths become birdbaths after the rain. Many a time a bird has flown out of one of the mouths as someone walks by.

“The sculptures aren’t separate from the garden, it’s a piece of it,” she said.

The garden itself is a work of art. Flowers are chosen to accent the sculptures. With an artist’s eye, she wants the garden to look good from every angle. The ambiance works in all seasons, through spring and summer blooms and the quiet of winter. The fruit trees and the raised beds in the back are practical as well, providing health fruits and vegetables.

Inside the house is her art studio, where her paintbrush brings her ideas to life. Scores of portraits adorn the walls. Some are in series, such as close-ups of people smoking. Familiar faces can be spotted in her series of musicians, such as Jimi Hendrix or members of The Beatles.

Smejkalova also does portraits of pets and loved ones. Her work is up on the Revolution Lounge now. For more information, visit paintings-Martina.com