My Heart is a Forest –Mixed Media and Fiber Works by Melissa Meverden

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The City of North Charleston’s Cultural Arts Department is pleased to announce that concurrent solo exhibitions of mixed media and fiber works by Melissa Meverden (North Charleston, SC) and Daisy McClellan (Charleston, SC) will be on display at Park Circle Gallery from December 1-30, 2023. A free reception hosted by the artists will be held at the gallery on Friday, December 1, from 5:00-7:00pm. The public is invited to attend. 

My Heart is a Forest –Mixed Media and Fiber Works by Melissa Meverden

Rick Rubin once said, “The act of creation is an attempt to enter a mysterious realm. A longing to transcend. What we create allows us to share glimpses of an inner landscape, one that is beyond our understanding. Art is our portal to the unseen world.” Inspired by this quote, local artist Melissa Meverden presents My Heart is a Forest, an exhibition of mixed media and fiber works that explore nature and intuition. “When I reflect on what the mysterious realm of creativity looks like, I imagines a primeval forest - full of changing light, meandering paths, and layers of rich color and texture,” Meverden explains. “The works featured in this exhibition serve as artifacts from journeys into that dense inner landscape.”

 Melissa Meverden came to visual arts as a calligraphy student in her 30s. She was always crafty as a child but identified as a journalist, creative writer, and public speaker rather than an artist. After she became a teacher and later, a parent, she became interested in intentionally pursuing creative hobbies to give herself some "me time" to relax and unwind. A few courses in calligraphy soon led to learning about watercolors, gelli-printing, stamp-carving, collage, resin pouring, book making, art journaling, fiber arts, and more. In the last decade, making art has become a regular staple in her daily life - no longer just a hobby, but a driving passion. Melissa currently works from her home studio in North Charleston, SC, leads art workshops for kids, teens, and adults throughout the Lowcountry, participates in a number of group shows and local vendor markets, and is the lead organizer of the North Charleston Artist Guild. Learn more about the artist at www.melissameverden.com. 

Unfinished Business – Mixed Media and Fiber Works by Daisy McClellan

In Unfinished Business, Daisy McClellan explores the idea of restarting the life of abandoned projects and forgotten materials. Daisy has always been fascinated by the stories that handmade items hold. She often receives donated half-finished crafts that were stashed away in a drawer to be completed at another time; a time that never came due to the whims and demands of life. In other instances, she stumbles upon unfinished textile pieces that were once carefully packed away in an attic box, ultimately making their way to the thrift shop. Too important to be thrown in a landfill, Daisy has decided to give these items another chance at life, adding her own point of view while paying homage to their rich pasts. “Who started these items, what did they mean to them, and what would they think about how they have been manipulated,” McCllelan wonders. By taking on the unfinished business, a new chapter has emerged.

Daisy McClellan has always loved painting, fiber art, and partaking in traditional crafts. At Smith College she studied Studio Art and Spanish, which led to working in advertising and branding. Meanwhile a jewelry making hobby rapidly turned into a full-fledged business. In 2014, she and her husband opened gather, a brick-and-mortar retail shop in San Francisco where they featured over 200 artists and hosted creative workshops. In addition, Daisy designed a clothing collection for women and young children, founded a bi-annual shopping market for local boutiques, and worked with several artists on joint collaborations. In early 2020 she sold the business to move to Charleston, SC, with her family. Daisy teaches workshops, camps, and retreats throughout the country that range from fiber arts to natural dyeing. She also exhibits her work in solo and group shows throughout the Charleston area. In 2021 she was selected as a visiting artist at the Gibbes Museum of Art, followed by a solo show at the Museum in 2022. She currently works from her studio at Redux Contemporary Art center in downtown Charleston and sells her pieces and DIY craft kits at the Gibbes Museum of Art, the Charleston Museum, and her online shop. Learn more about the artist at www.daisymcclellan.com.

 The Park Circle Gallery is located at 4820 Jenkins Avenue in North Charleston. Admission is free and free street parking is available on Jenkins Avenue in front of the gallery, as well as on the adjacent streets and in parking lots close by. Gallery hours are 11:00am-6:00pm Wednesday-Friday, and Noon-4:00pm on Saturday. For more information about PCG, call 843-637-3565 or email culturalarts@northcharleston.org. For information on other Cultural Arts programs and artist opportunities, visit the Arts & Culture section of the City’s website at www.northcharleston.org.