Check Out Melanie Shaw’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Shaw.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have spent the past two decades teaching and serving in faculty and administrative roles in online higher education. I am a professor and Academic Program Director at National University. I have written several books and received awards, including the Wagner Award for Outstanding Instructional Support and the Online Learning Consortium Effective Practice Award. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies and Music, a master’s degree in Education Administration, a second master’s degree in School Counseling, a Doctor of Naturopathy, and a Ph.D. in Education. I am the mother of two beautiful adult daughters and the wife of a professional musician.

In addition to my roles in education and family life, I am deeply invested in the Atlanta arts community. I serve on the board of the Avondale Arts Alliance, I host and maintain a new Free Little Art Gallery in Avondale, sponsor art events at Legacy Park, and am an avid art collector. I also serve as the founder of the Art Share Foundation. Since the foundation’s inception, I have worked to guide, teach, and give back to my creative community. I founded this organization to foster a vibrant and inclusive community through the transformative power of the arts. My ultimate goal is to make art accessible to all, with a particular focus on public engagement in Atlanta. I believe art has the unique ability to unite people and inspire collective action toward a more connected and positive society. My hope is to encourage others to join in this movement of spreading light, creativity, and compassion through the arts.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As a wife of a retired military musician, we spent much of our adult lives moving from place to place. It wasn’t until we settled in Atlanta four years ago that I fully discovered my love of visual arts. I was a music major in college and so I was always drawn to performing arts – but this pivot to starting an arts nonprofit and making my own art really was a departure from the expected trajectory. It means that I am now in my mid 50s and creating in this way for the first time. I am late to the game, but cannot imagine my life without this. I have found new meaning as a result!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I came to studio practice later in life after a long career rooted in academia. My work reflects this nonlinear path, embracing curiosity, experimentation, and a willingness to work slowly and attentively. I create fiber-based pieces using recycled string snips, assemblage, and miniature elements, translating them into explorations of Atlanta.

Reused and unexpected materials are central to my practice. Discarded threads, fragments, and small objects become building blocks for landscapes and scenes that invite close looking. I am particularly interested in how light and shadow interact across layered surfaces, creating moments of depth, movement, and humorous surprise. These visual shifts echo the way overlooked materials, like overlooked stories, can take on new meaning when given space and attention.
Playfulness is an intentional part of my work. Small details and hidden elements reward patience and curiosity, encouraging viewers to slow down and engage with the work at an intimate scale. Through fiber, assemblage, and thread painting, my practice explores transformation, attention, and the beauty that emerges from what is left behind or ignored.

One of my favorite parts of my art is urban intervention. We recently moved from the Beltline to Scottdale. I now walk the Stone Mountain Path, which is a much more sedate path than the bustling Beltline. I find that adding guerrilla whimsy is a fun way to engage others and make my exercise more interesting. Keep your eyes out for silly signs and sculptures if you happen to be out and about!

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
When I was younger, I had the honor of singing in some of the most amazing places with choirs and other musical groups including Notre Dame in Paris, El Duomo in Florence, St. Peter’s Basillica at the Vatican. It was such a delight to add my voice to the echoes of others throughout time reverberating off of the stone walls in these sacred spaces.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theartshare.org/the-art-share
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artsharefoundation/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melanie.shaw.7