Welcome to Katydom, a short documentary by Maria Ramirez‑Adams that transports you into Martin Pierce’s fantastical universe of oversized bronze insects and tiny humanoids. Watch as Pierce meticulously sculpts, TIG‑welds, and applies hot patinas—bringing to life a world where elevated scale and storytelling converge in bronze artistry.
*Watch, and enter the realm of Katydom—where bronze insects rule.*
The short documentary uncovers the myth of Katydom, a realm born from Katydid elders, where the “Insect Race” animates the sculptures once every year.
The short film delves into the art of making sculptures in bronze from the initial design to creating a sculpture in wood to the lost wax process where the wood sculpture becomes the pattern for the mold from which a wax replica is created, shelled and reborn as a bronze casting. The skills of TIG welding and patination are also uncovered with Martin buffing and finessing a katydid sculpture.
Festival Recognition
Katydom premiered at the 2024 Culver City Film Festival and also screened at the Fine Arts Film Festival in Venice, CA—a testament to its cinematic and artistic resonance.
This film is not just a visual journey—it's an intimate window into Martin Pierce’s imaginative creative process. Whether you're a sculptor, fantasy lover, or just curious, Katydom invites you to explore the intersection of art and narrative in bronze.