Melissa Harshman
For Maude  

Media: Pigmented Abaca 

Artist Statement:
The work titled "For Maude" references the words of the characters in the movie Harold and Maude when Maude asks Harold what type of flower he would want to be and he says, "I don't know. One of these. They're all alike." (Pointing to a field of daisies). Maude replies, "Oh, but they're not. Look see, some are smaller, some are taller. Some go to the left, some to the right and some have lost their petals. All kinds of observable differences. You see Harold, I see that much of the world's sorrow comes from people who are this (pointing to one flower) yet allow themselves to be treated like that (pointing to the field of flowers)." Although I use a drawing as a guide when making all of these flowers, none are exactly alike. I hope the viewer will take the time to notice the subtle differences in my field of flowers. During the pandemic, I have taken much more time to notice the flowers in my garden and each plant's unique structure and growing cycle.

Biography

Melissa Harshman is a printmaker and papermaker who has taught at the Lamar Dodd School of Art since 1993. She is currently the Chair of the Printmaking and Book Arts Department. Her most recent award was a Sr. Faculty Research grant titled "Explorations in Papermaking".