Concepts
Emotional Abuse
One of Melanie's very first concepts for this mission.
Inspiration came from a doctor who had posed a question to one of her artistic friends, asking him whether or not he knew how to paint the solution to all of his depressive works related to his pain. Melanie found this to be extremely inspirational and had decided she wanted to attempt this. She researched and comprised her own feelings with those of other victims to create pieces related to symptoms or pain obtained through being victims of emotional abuse. She also used certain words to generate new meanings or thoughts of different feelings. The solution, was definitely needed because of the downward spiral Melanie was headed in while painting the pain. The solutions were based on things She has used to overcome all of her obstacles in life. Melanie had no idea she was being emotionally abused, just thought she was witnessing it. Melanie made sure to research the suggested methods for therapy, but most are greatly related to her own methods. She titled the pieces so that each specific piece, had a motivational outcome. |
Resist and Persist
Courageous
yet scared alone yet loved and supported not supported in the quest to die but supported in life. Suicide is something that most people will contemplate at least once in their lives. It's still not perceived as normal, and it's still an uneasy topic for conversation. It will not ever be an easy conversation. It's something like walking into a store and hearing your neighbors talk about how and which way their husbands beat them that day. Abuse is just not a subject that should be heard in public places where all you want to do is go in, get what you need and get out, neither is suicide. People thrive on each other as support systems, but suicide is a lonely and daunting task. Even euthanasia is lonely because the person helping you out still feels uncomfortable about it no matter how well they hide it. As an artist, Melanie is seeking answers for developing an understanding as to why people come to the end, and why they decide to end instead of turning around and finding a better option. Melanie wants her viewers to be able to walk away with that perceptiveness, and use it to open their hearts. She wants the viewers to be able to talk to the survivors they know about their choices, and not feel overly depressed for the rest of the day. She wants them to be able to look back on her installation as a space that should be reconciled with and contemplated for future resurrection of empathy. |
Clowns!
Melanie knows many people who are afraid of clowns.
This series, in process, has initiated many fears in some of her classmates who walk past her studio. This is purposeful. Melanie wanted to know more about why people are petrified of people with make-up on their faces. None the less, Make-up that creates a smile on faces. Melanie did not want to go with the classic smiling clowns, she knew that one reason was that some clown make-up is made to look demonic. Well, She decided to paint her clowns with regular make-up, but scary features such as disfigured teeth or cat-like eyes. The make-up can still be washed off to reveal a regular person, but disfigurement. Is disfigurement what people are really scared of? |
Exhibition Specific
Food For Thought- 2013
Acrylic painting made specifically for this show is titled: Milk and Cookies. Student Juried Exhibition This exhibition is held each year at the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock MI. It is for the students at Finlandia University to partake in. 2011: Gorilla* 2012: Look to the Sun 2013: Homage to Hofman*, Vagina Monologues, The lies will wash away, Good Morning The After Show- Reflections Gallery in Hancock MI, at Finlandia University 2012: Frustration, Hidden in the Shadows 2013: Kitty Girl, Dancing in the Rain, Musical Curtain. Re-purpose Show- Reflections Gallery 2012: Fire sea |
Commissions
Made Specifically per customer's request
2013: Damask Print 2013: Red Skelton clown |
Poems
Poems that Melanie uses to help influence her art and control her feelings.
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* Awards presented
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