Merideth Young

Monroe County

Mixed Media & Collage

B.F.A. Art (Maine College of Art)

Website

Inspiration can be found anywhere.

While walking through the grocery store, I had an ah-ha moment in aisle 7 – the beverage aisle. I noticed all the colors and patterns on the soda and drink cans lining the shelves. I thought to myself, “I wonder what I can make out of that!” With a BFA in metalsmithing and jewelry design, it didn’t take me long to think jewelry! Making a purchase of beautiful turquois and pink iced tea cans, I consumed them, and thus begun the making of my first piece of UPcycled aluminum can jewelry. More than a dozen prototypes later, I finally had a pattern deemed worthy enough to put out into the world. That’s how the “Uncanny Collection” was born in October 2011. The collection has grown since then, and now includes wall pieces! I’ve also gone back to my painting roots. I paint murals in homes and businesses. You never know what I’ll create next! You can find my work at many shops across the country.

Biography

I’m a jeweler, painter and art maker. I’m inspired by shapes, colors and my surroundings. I begin with the abstract, the big picture. I’ll sketch boldly until the details unfold and come into focus. I kinda live my life that way. I’ve always been an art maker even as a kid. It wasn’t something I tried to do, I just did it. I always knew I was going to be an artist. I was fortunate to grow up in a decade that appreciated art in schools in Southern New Hampshire. That’s where I discovered the art jewelry making. I made an enameled broach. I was hooked. When I graduated, I applied to one school, Maine College of Art in Portland Maine – and one school only. After I graduated college I moved to West Virginia. That’s where I became part of the Tamarack family where I sold my sterling silver jewelry. During this time I also painted murals in homes and offices all over WV. What a juggling act, I must say. A whirlwind of creativity I was.

The gypsy in me was getting restless and I moved. I’ve lived in Vail, CO, Charlottesville, VA and Corolla, NC (OBX) before I made the journey back to WV. Once again I’m part of the Tamarack family, exhibiting the “Uncanny Collection” and painting murals across the state.

The reason I chose Maine College of Art was because of the instruction. I learned from one of the most revered master metalsmiths in the country, Tim McCreight. A lot of what I do today was rooted in my education from that one man. But wait there’s more! Not only was I gaining incredible knowledge from the one of the best of the best, he introduced us to his peers and we learned their skills to incorporate into our own. Art school was an amazing experience. I earned my BFA in 1995. I’m honored to have a piece of my jewelry grace the cover of one of Tim’s books and another piece nestled into the content of another. I’ve also been featured in local and national magazines. You can also find my work scattered across the US in over 100 shops.