We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mela M. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mela below.

Mela , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

My last three personal projects represent works of particular significance to me and carries substantial meaning in the greater context of my artistic vision. The works I want to emphasize are 1) my exhibit at MOAH Lancaster titled MANIFEST STRUCTURES FROM THE IMAGINAL: The Omegatropolis , The Rising Wall, The Temple and The Moon Castle and 2) my exhibit at the Billis Williams Gallery in Los Angeles titled ARKS OF ANGLES: Where Have We Been, Where Are We Now and Where Are We Going?and 3) my challenging sculptural installation at Dr Robbie Gordan’s Hollywood Sculpture Garden.

When talking about the Imaginal I am not referring to imagination per se but rather its source. The Imaginal is the substantial reality underlying all of the outward manifestations and appearances which we know under the terms of the material universe or all that is apparent to our material senses. For example, the Imaginal streams through the imagination to inform our sensory systems allowing us to recognise a world of angles, curves, lines, shapes, forms, figures, colours and shades before we even understand the sound meaning of language to describe these endless features. After this rich and vibrant non-verbal world of sensation and feeling becomes assimilated into the complex structures of language, it becomes increasingly unconscious . However, this forgotten or unconscious dimension is resurrected via our unique and varied artistic endeavors.
In my exhibit MANIFEST STRUCTURES FROM THE IMAGINAL at MOAH Lancaster, it was my intention in my paintings of the OMEGATROPOLIS to represent an orbiting megatropolis using an over imagined, over exaggerated architectural representation taken from our earthbound civilisation with its nearly unlimited architectural cityscape audacity built by our species that has always wanted to reach the stars. Future colonization of our solar system is no longer science-fiction. However, in leaving our planet it is imperative that we attain a higher frequency of interconnectedness and gender equilibrium while leaving behind the crushing gravity of despair so we can move forward with an elegant and vibrant new context of harmony and equality.
Setting the specifics aside, I want my general works in particular to convey through geometric abstract shapes, the endless variety and possibilities of creating transcendent individual perspectives that will ultimately serve to unite us existentially in an overarching vision that can accommodate, as well as provide, a rich fertile ground for cross cultural understanding and inspiration .

I want to bypass the concrete, rational and logical predictions of reality by shifting from the verbal to the nonverbal, from the linear to the nonlinear and open the doors of perception. In ARKS OF ANGLES it was my intention to continue moving forward with my 30 years of evolution in creating intuitively informed abstract geometric designs that focus on the universal trichotomy of geometric waves, vibrational fields and optic frequencies and to display them in a dynamic and synergistically orchestrated fusion through my hand, sanded, handcrafted, and handpainted architectonic wood panels with their irregular shapes and angles. I wanted to thrust the viewer into a subjective experience of reality where boundaries are a luxury and where everything is seamlessly connected from the macro to the microcosm and to use the concept of the ark itself as an appropriate and intriguing metaphor for confronting the growing reality of impending destruction brought about by a dark and corrupt dystopian world. Hence, the Ark must carry a message of hope that life in all of its beauty and strivings for the best and most positive outcomes, will prevail. This is where we must be at the present. To achieve this can only result through each person’s willingness to change their mindset and align themselves with the highest order frequencies found in love informed actions. This is where we want to be going.

Lastly I want to mention the challenge undertaken when invited to make a sculpture for inclusion in Dr. Robbie Gordon‘s Hollywood Sculpture Garden located in the Hollywood Hills above the Sunset Strip. Various local as well as international artists have contributed an eclectic mix of styles . These works are spread out through the hillside terrain of his acres of property. We had to use construction equipment and build scaffolding to negotiate the precarious slopes and steep hills of the uneven terrain to accommodate my entirely hand crafted enormously expansive bridged monolithic multi-colored acrylic wooden sculpture . This unique opportunity provided me with yet another complex challenge in working outdoors in difficult terrain and harsh weather conditions to create a sculpture to withstand the test of time. This challenge was similar to my rooftop sculptural installation at MOAH in Lancaster which represented THE RISING WALL and THE TEMPLE segments of my MANIFEST STRUCTURES FROM THE IMAGINAL exhibit. These sculptures were made from one and a quarter tons of Douglas Fir cut into hundreds of different irregular shaped pieces and assembled with a variety of woodworking tools. The sculpture has stood the test of time as it has withstood the incredibly harsh weather conditions of the high desert from triple digit temperatures to freezing and wind velocities up to 90 miles an hour.

Mela , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

A more detailed history of my story with respect to my evolution as an artist beginning in my childhood can be found in the November 2018 edition of Voyage LA.. However, in this paragraph I want to focus on my experience of curating exhibits that have been inspired by an idea or theme that captured my interest. In addition to curating an exhibit at the Billis Williams Gallery in Los Angeles, at the OC McNish gallery in Oxnard, California and the Marc Chagall Museum in Belarus , I was honored to have organized an exhibit called FROM AMERICA in 2006 which featured the work of 55 American artists from 25 cities and was held at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Minsk, Belarus (MoCA MINSK).
My curatorial efforts at that time with respect to featuring art from America was to offer a perspective that art is indeed the most promising avenue for cross cultural education, experience, dialogue and exchange.
For this exhibit, Art historian Dr Jeanne Willette wrote at the time that “ while New York approached art with a philosophical detachment (Sol Le Witt) LA artists reacted with the local cultures of aerospace technology, surfing, fashion, and the custom culture of fast cars (Ed Ruscha) with their delight in sensuous materials, hard shiny “ finish fetish” ( Tony DeLap), and the toys of grown-up boys-hot rods and motorcycles, the artists of Southern California were decried by the East Coast counterparts…” For the Belarusian audience, this exhibit engendered a mostly positive experience that sparked a great cross cultural interest, curiosity and dialogue.
Positive exchanges via the wide spectrum of artistic endeavors common across cultures is more relevant and necessary than ever in light of the current overreactive exclusions of artists from different nations because of political ideologies. The universality and integrity embodied in the true spirit of art should always aspire to unite us . Artists, musicians, athletes, writers,, filmmakers etc are the ones who typically bridge the cultural gaps and contribute to world peace. Therefore art should be elevated and celebrated at every opportunity.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I believe every human being can access their own unique imagination. Every human can access dimensions of experience in their being typically associated with imagination, fantasy, dreaming and the non-linear language of metaphor, symbolism and gestalt perception. I believe every human being has creative potential and it’s just a matter of finding what particular medium or outlet fits best for their own personal interests. Furthermore, I want people to know that art is not just about pretty pictures or captivating performances; it’s a fundamental aspect of human existence, crucial for our evolution as a species and for creating a civilization of culture. At its core, art is a form of communication that transcends language and cultural barriers, allowing us to express complex emotions, ideas, and experiences.
For non-artists, understanding the importance of art can be elusive. Art is so much more than just being a hobby or a part time job. Consider that throughout history, art has played a pivotal role in shaping societies, influencing beliefs, and driving innovation. From ancient cave paintings to modern-day masterpieces, art reflects the essence of humanity, chronicling our triumphs, struggles, and aspirations. I believe my own journey as a creative artist is a testament to the power of imagination and that its expression through my creations hopefully gives the viewers a glimpse into the depths of human experience to foster empathy and understanding. In other words, art reminds us of our humanity and keeps us grounded in the beauty and complexity of existence especially now in our world that is driven by technological advancements and economic pursuits.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My general goal is to challenge the observer/viewer’s conventional perspectives of reality and to even defy the rational mind. I want to thrust the observer of my work into a subjective, feeling experience of reality where boundaries are illusory, and everything is seamlessly connected from the micro to the macrocosm. I want to illustrate through this experience of my work that consciousness itself is the fundamental truth and substantial reality behind our universe of time space and change. Hopefully this will generate an experience of the universe as consciousness itself and every life form is another way or means by which and through which the universe experiences itself. My mission is to aspire, inspire and invite the viewer to experience deeper feelings and emotional subtleties hidden or latent in their own subjective inner world.
I want the theme present in the abundance of my use of geometric shapes to provide a rich, subjective experience of feelings, sensations and fresh impressions, and to perceive them as reflecting and representating the countless perspectives that shape our world that could be reimagined not as separations or differences or divisions, but as subliminal metaphors that reflect not only the universality of human similarities but also acknowledge and respect individual differences.
In my exhibit of MANIFEST STRUCTURES FROM THE IMAGINAL I wanted these works to reference the synergistic multidimensional mirroring of conscious subjective experience from multiple levels. I wanted these pieces to bear witness to the deeper, cultural and species driven archetypes that define all human endeavors. I wanted this exhibit to challenge new and upcoming artists to observe and create accordingly in this new zeitgeist of a not so common era.
For example, I wanted THE RISING WALL sculptural installation on the rooftop at MOAH Lancaster to be a metonymic metaphor of all the walls that divide us and foster the illusion of separateness . I wanted the angles to metaphorically attest to the numerous devices or systems of thought, belief, philosophy, religion, politics, or other “angles” that humankind still uses to promote protection and security but that only serve to foster further misunderstandings, reinforce instinctual biases and perpetuate our existential conflicts and nihilistic impulses.
Ultimately I want to demonstrate that in actualizing my artistic goal or mission , my life purpose is revealed and consequently generates a magnetic field to attract all things essential, necessary and needed for the continuing manifestation of the inspiration needed to continue generating ideas for my work. I consider the origins of this organic drive to create to be ineffable, magical, mysterious, and miraculous.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mela-m-art.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mela.m.studio1/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mela.marsh
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mela-marsh-89317214/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF6UcGxlK54
• Other: http://www.billiswilliams.com/mela-m.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4tgtfZsQQ4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9XRNFddi-c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz1x1GTBefM

Image Credits
Mela M Studio Billis Williams Gallery Dr Jeanne S. M. Willette , EMS Art Films