Jason and Ben’s families met while serving in the military, their instant friendship sparked multiple creative collaborations which evolved into FADE. They enjoy the face-to-face interaction with customers and clients, primarily selling their goods locally at markets and art shows. You may have seen them at the following art shows/ markets; ICFF in NYC, Paradise City Art Show, The Lost Kitchen Holiday Market, Monumental Market and many more… They show in the North East (New England Area) and in Central Florida.
Artist Statement
Our practice exists at the dynamic intersection of material contrast, where the structural warmth of woodworking meets the organic geometry of ceramics. We build functional, mixed-media works by transforming reclaimed and up-cycled materials—including salvaged wood, broken glass, recycled plastic and shimmering brass.
Each piece is an act of design rooted in sustainability and purpose. We utilize the inherent history and character of these materials, connecting their past lives with a new narrative of enduring form. Critically, our contemporary vision is grounded in a deep respect for traditional woodworking techniques. We stay true to the craft through careful joinery and finish work, ensuring every modern application is supported by time-honored skill.
The deliberate contrast of elements—the brittle against the enduring, the translucent against the solid—challenges the conventional boundaries between disciplines. Our objective is to build objects that provoke curiosity and contemplation. We aim to leave the viewer intrigued by the construction, prompting them to question the lineage of the materials and the journey required to unify them into functional, sculptural pieces that celebrate the beauty of transformation.
Benjamin Martinelli is an American Craftsman born in California and raised on an organic farm. As a child, he was fascinated with trying to create useful objects from seemingly useless material. As a young man, Ben formally trained as a classical musician and worked throughout Europe as a Clarinetist.
While overseas, Ben continued to explore his creativity through multiple mediums, eventually landing firmly on woodwork. His approach to woodworking centers around unrestricted creativity. From start to finish, his designs are uninhibited by formal rules.
Martinelli studies and teaches at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Maine and resides in a small town nearby. Each piece he creates is unique, merging art and functionality, using locally sourced or reclaimed materials to create beautiful objects.
Jason Fieldman is a multidisciplinary artist based in his hometown of New Smyrna Beach, Florida. While his creative journey began in the ceramic and woodworking studios of his youth, his artistic perspective was refined through a unique career path—from serving in the military to years spent designing and renovating homes.
Today, Jason’s practice is defined by a sophisticated integration of clay and wood. Specializing in mixed-media sculptural furnishings, he breathes new life into his pieces by utilizing upcycled materials and reclaimed wood, marrying the organic fluidity of ceramics with the structural history of found objects. This "tradecraft" approach allows him to create work that is both functional and evocative, often serving as a tactile map of his travels and life experiences.
A lifelong surfer, Jason draws constant inspiration from the coastal rhythms of New Smyrna Beach. When he isn’t working from his home studio, he is a dedicated member of the local arts community, volunteering his time and expertise at the Daytona State College Art Department to support the next generation of makers.
