Bio

Melanie McMinn is an artist in fibre. Her creations include wall hangings and freestanding pieces whose gentle colours draw from the New Zealand landscape, sculptures of whimsical creatures of fantasy, custom portraits of household pets, and on occasion, handbags and hats. “Wool is the most versatile medium imaginable. I can sculpt fine art objects, make vessels, bags, clothing, shoes, scarves, blankets, rugs, and I could even make my own shelter by felting a yurt, if I had to do so. What other medium has that range of application?” McMinn says, pointing out that she also loves sharing the ideas of warmth and connection that wool suggests.

McMinn has been drawn to art and craft since her childhood growing up in the American South, where she learnt needlework as a young child in a family where creating with one’s hands was valued. As an older child she took up oil paints, and while at university supported herself working as a mendhi (henna) temporary body art artist. She has also worked (and still does) creating with words, as a freelance copywriter.

Her wool and felt creations may be serious and thoughtful. They are equally likely to show her sense of humor and playfulness. All of these qualities stood McMinn in good stead when she was struck with chronic debilitating migraines that were so severe the neurologists believed for years that the symptoms were the results of a stroke. Looking for ways to create as she coped with the pain, she turned to felting and working in wool, and found there ways to draw together her creative gifts, her interests in nature and landscape, and her sense of whimsy.

If you’d like to learn more, feel free to follow McMinn on her personal blog The Frugal Kiwi or contact her directly.