Today we’d like to introduce you to Mechele Shoneman.
Hi Mechele, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve been working as an entrepreneur and in large, highly structured corporations most of my life, yet always been drawn to unlikely pairings and unusual perspectives. During Covid, the stores carrying my silver creations had all but closed, and shows were canceled indefinitely, so I decided to dedicate myself fully to sculpting and painting. It surprised no one when I started mixing plaster and pinecones in a baby pool.
Ever since I can remember, I’ve been experimenting with different materials and methods. To me, making art is a continuous process of letting go– falling into the swirl of creative movement.
I think studying philosophy in school sensitized me to the hundreds, even thousands, of shifting, alternative perceptions possible at any given moment in time. This type of constant flux is deeply intriguing and inspires much of my work.
Art serves as a steadying mechanism for me. Sculpting and painting are deeply immersive for me. It’s a way to stay afloat in the ocean of unknowns and could-be’s. The act of observing, twisting, and reimagining are my ways of absorbing and reformulating the world around me in hopefully novel ways.
My intention is to communicate a feeling without the need for a visual ‘translator’, just the feeling of head-on impact with a piece of art that stirs an emotion. I want my work to be accessible. At the same time, I recognize that my creations are impermanent, no more than a blink in time. Eventually, my canvasses will melt to dust, and my sculptures crumble.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a self-taught artist, I’ve come to accept that my process will be a bit disordered, not necessarily following a straight line. Without the benefit of organized classroom instruction or scholarly critiques that’s just a reality. I’m lucky enough to know some incredibly talented artists who provide feedback and help keep me centered.
Because I lack formal training, my technical skills are primarily developed through active practice and trial and error. It’s a humbling way to learn. I often take ‘missteps’ and need to start over or shift strategies, sometimes even swapping out core materials.
If I still can’t get the piece to work, I have no problem allowing it to implode. This can be very liberating. It allows me to start fresh and try something new. Breaking and reshaping work is a central part of my creative process.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Making and inventing things, and using materials in improbable (sometimes reckless) ways has always been fun for me. I crave the joy of play, discovery, and figuring out how to make things that don’t really align, somehow come together in unusual ways.
I’m currently working on a series of concrete exoplanets. These crazy planets exist outside our solar system, and each is so unique and captivating. Astronomers have already discovered more than 5,400, and every day it seems like more are revealed. A few “Goldilocks” planets even hold the promise of sustaining human life. Most though, have extreme weather conditions or lack atmosphere.
Because exoplanets are so mysterious and far away, they can only be detected through indirect methods. This shadow-like approach appeals to me, allowing me to imagine worlds that are at once realistic and fantastical.
Artistic creation is for me very dynamic, involving rapid decisions, rethinks, and lots of practice. With each new piece, I learn more about the boundaries and capabilities of my medium. When working with unforgiving, quick-to-cure materials like concrete, planning often gives way to unpredictability.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was the kid losing her backpack, losing track of time, and walking into walls. My perception was (and still is) entangled in my imagination. While most were playing soccer and posing Barbies, I was befriending rabbits and trying to control the weather with my mind. My Grandmother used to tease, she’d “send a search squad to find me in the gingerbread trees.”
My father was an entrepreneur, so we moved around quite a bit. Theoretically, my adaptive skills should have improved with practice, but really I just revisited my fantastical attachment to pretend worlds with more vigor. When I met another “quirky” soul there would be an immediate bond, and we’d play for hours with everything from straws to staplers. To this day, play is still an important theme in my life and in my work.
Contact Info:
- Website: mecheles.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mechele_shoneman/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mecheleshoneman/
