Meg Thompson – NYC Artist

Thanks to David Gibson and everyone who helped pull off the Brooklyn Artillery show!  By all accounts it went well.  I will update for the next “Playspace” show when I know anything.  Keep playing!

December 12th.  Come join us for a holiday artist sale and open house.  There will be hand made cards, ornaments, belt buckles, wood furniture and other locally made gifts.  It is also an open house to celebrate our new, expanded space– “Makeville” is a woodworking school that I share space with and Robin will be there to show off her new area and talk about the classes and events she offers at Makeville (makeville.com).  We are even trying to get some friends to play live music in the evening.   So come by and see the creative stuff we make all day to keep ourselves out of trouble.  Bring friends, spread the word.  Many other businesses in the building will be having sales that day too– it is full of creative designer types.  Come by: 119 8th ave #208– Between 7th and 8th ave in Gowanus.  Close to F stop at 4th ave and 9th street.

I am pleased to invite you all to a group show I am participating in that opens this Saturday, Sept 12th.  It is a PlaySpace project entitled “I’ld like to teach the world to play…”    From the press release: “It is part of a new art fair organized by the Williamsburg Gallery Association called BROOKLYN ARTILLERY at The Castle Braid Lofts,114 Troutman Street, between Central and Bushwick Avenues… Co-curators on this project are David Gibson, Savannah Spirit, Rakien Nomura, Rebecca Eppenstein, and Elizabeth Line.  Featured artists include Dianne Bowen, Marcy Brafman, Jennifer Burbank, Amy Chaiklin, Vincent Ciniglio, Barrie Cline, Katherine Daniels, Linda Griggs, Moira McDonald, Mary Ann Strandell, and Meggan Thompson.”

It is open every Sat and Sunday through the end of Oct.  Come by and say hi!

For more information go to: http://playspace-projects.blogspot.com

I finally got some pictures up of the belt buckles I have been working on since last fall.  Go to “Belt Buckles” under “artwork.” They are handmade out of steel using torch, forge, and sanding/polishing work.  They are all one of a kind.  I like the rough finish look with the natural colors and rust of the steel coming through.  But some of them I sand and polish up.  I think this will be a consistant line in which I keep creating new pieces.  Custom requests are welcome- for the belt buckles and any work, just send me an email!

I recently finished a small mosaic wall hanging entitled “Cow Skull at Midnight.”  Go to “Mosaics” or “New Work” to see a photo.

I’m currently working on some tables for an office in downtown Brooklyn.  I’m using old Amish barn wood (pine).  I love working with the old worn and warm wood.  Go to “artwork- Furniture” to see photos.   I like working with materials that have a long history already.  I swear I can feel the energy in my hands when I work with the barn wood.  Design wise I am combining some Shaker elements and arts and crafts style, and my own personal preferences.  I also am using old wood joinery techniques which add to the evidence of hand feel of the old barn wood.

I am back in the blacksmith studio this spring.  The belt buckles have captured my imagination.  More coming to the site soon….

I took a blacksmithing class this past fall from Marsha Trattner, through SVA.  It was a great class and I love it!  I had always wanted to try forge work and torch work.  I like the idea of forging metal into whatever you want.  This is just the beginning for me in this medium.  Under “New Work” I just posted some photos of belt buckles I made.

I have been busy this winter getting applications in for grad schools next fall.  Thus, managing this website and creating new work has fallen behind.  But the are due soon, so I will be back with some new work shortly.  The application process has actually been really good for my artistic process as well.  Having to articulate what I actually do with my art stimulates a lot of ideas for me.

Thanks all who came to and helped with the open studio show!  It went well.  It is great to actually get some pieces finished and show to people.  I appreciate all feedback, so please feel free to let me know what worked and what didn’t and why.   And as for the poker game that was after the show– Robin may have cleaned up this time, but it is about time the shark starts to show her true colors.