MELANIE THOMPSON
Painting, Works on Paper, Print Making, Sculpture, Basketry, Collage, Encaustic, Textiles, Installation Art
Mrs. Williams-homage to a homemaker installation of 1950s kitchen
Salt Spring Island
City: Salt Spring Island
Instagram: @melaniethompson1
Artist Statement: I am a multidisciplinary artist. My work is materials driven and that is what inspires my making. My approach is experimental and I push the material to see what it is capable of. I work with natural and found materials. Everything is grist for the mill. I often obtain materials without having a clue what to do with them, the process of working with the material in an exploratory way informs my decisions of what to make, what techniques to use, what form they will take. They also direct the concept behind the work which leads to large installations and collaborations with other artists.
My work is very often conceptual and multi layered. Working on installations in a conceptual manner affords me the opportunity to incorporate a variety of disciplines and techniques, from knitting to print making. I make one off pieces or multiple pieces for installations. My approach to creating is always with the question 'I wonder..' as in I wonder if I can knit with this material be it wire, grass, or bark.
Biography: Melanie Thompson is a Canadian multi disciplinary visual artist. For years a professional basket maker Melanie completed the Diploma in Fine Arts at ECUAD, 2010, and continued with additional course work for a number of years. This course work led to her practice with a conceptual focus on material transformation and the environment. She frequently creates work for installations. Her practice includes both 2 and 3 dimensional work. Some of the disciplines she employs are basketry, stitching, collage, sculpture, print making, natural dying, and encaustic and acrylic painting.
Melanie has exhibited and sold her work widely. Her work can currently be found at Crafthouse, Granville Island, BC and Artcraft, Nook, and Inspired on Salt Spring Island, BC. It can also be viewed at www.saltspringartistdirectory.com, www.craftcouncilbc.ca and on her instagram account https://www.instagram.com/melaniethompson1