Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan O’donnell

Hi Morgan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?

Creatively, I started out writing poetry in elementary school. I was fortunate to have teachers who encouraged that. Additionally, my mother was an elementary school teacher and encouraged reading. I remember many happy hours spent in the library because my mom would take us there. I focused on poetry for many years then I started exploring creative nonfiction and environmental writing. After being in Toastmasters and seeing how people resonated with my humorous speeches I shifted to focus on humor writing.

Shortly after the pandemic hit, my mother passed away during the lockdowns and I was unable to attend her funeral. I found that my words were frozen. Trying to process her passing and the uncertainty of COVID lockdowns, I stumbled into art primarily using materials I could find around the house. In New Mexico, there are many shaman, spirit, and kachina sculptures and art. I was always drawn to them. One morning as I was on the edge of the property line I started looking at one of the old fence posts. I thought that maybe I could make a shaman sculpture out of it. Shortly after my first fence post shaman was born – Copper Shaman.

That seemed to unlock my creativity and I started exploring other areas including metal embossing. Originally I started by using the aluminum from soda cans, again because it was something already on hand during the pandemic. As I started reading more, watching videos, and experimenting I eventually started getting some real tools and using store-bought aluminum and copper. Since then I’ve gone on to experiment with mixed media using paint, recycled acoustic tiles, yucca stalks, masks, cardboard, and more.

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?

I think many (maybe most?) roads have bumps or at least curves in them somewhere along the line, right? Sometimes teaching myself and learning about techniques can be challenging. I have to go out and research things. That takes time. There is a lot of trial and error. Sometimes I doubt what I am doing. But learning on my own also has some benefits. I remember when I was taking writing classes during my undergraduate degree and my mentor and I discussed whether I might pursue an MFA. His opinion was that many programs teach a specific way to write that they often perceive as the correct or best way. He thought a lot of the writers that came out of those programs sounded the same or very similar,

I would say that another big challenge is trying to figure out how to pursue and honor my creative/health/spiritual needs while at the same time earning an income. We all have to eat, have shelter, etc. This is an area that I am continually thinking about and tinkering with. I love to read the stories on CanvasRebel from other artists to learn from them and come up with different ideas to try.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

When people ask me what I do the answer that most often pops into my head is that I make things. I create sculptures, embossed metal art, papier-mâché, mixed media, and whatever interests me. I have to say that I don’t really specialize in any one area. In fact, I have a tendency to resist niches in most areas of my life.

One of the things I am most proud of was my Menopause Art Project, which was funded in part by the City of Albuquerque through the Urban Enhancement Trust Fund and supported by several organizations including Puha Hubiya, the National Minority Health Association, Under Charlie’s Covers Used Bookstore, Carol Covino Fitness, and Authentic Web Solutions. Not only did it help raise awareness about menopause, but through the pop-up art exhibit I had the opportunity to showcase women artists as well as a local author/fitness coach who had written a book about menopause. The project also gave me the opportunity to start many conversations with women and what I heard consistently was that they were so glad that menopause was finally being discussed.

What makes me stand out? Well, what I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you…oh, wait! This isn’t Taken. But seriously, I think I have a unique set of interests, education, and experiences that all culminate in my own individual approach to art. Additionally, I work to infuse each piece with its own special energy.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?

That I once got locked in a coffin! Don’t ask. Oh, did you have something else in mind? How about the fact that I used to compete in humorous speech contests and got so good at doing roasts (only gentle ribbing, really) at one university where I worked that several people jokingly swore they wouldn’t retire or leave the university till I did.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.silverravencreations.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SilverRavenCreations