Meet Maggie Kerrigan

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maggie Kerrigan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Maggie, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Though I have always loved drawing, painting and generally making things, art making had not become a compulsion until around 2010. My children were in full-day school and I was able to spend time again in classes and with my brushes. Watercolor is what I had learned, and I was determined not to abandon it for another medium until I had “mastered” it. The problem, though, was that I had not found my voice through that medium. I could paint an attractive and technically successful painting, but it wasn’t (I wasn’t) SAYING anything.

In 2012, I discovered the medium of altering books. In this medium, the artist uses an existing book as the substrate for an artwork. It was a personal thrill to approach every artwork as an intricate problem to solve. The creativity and required problem solving touched a part of my brain and soul in a new way. Finding ways to connect a visual outcome with the original book was completely invigorating.

Suddenly my voice came alive. With this medium I can express more than simple beauty. I’m able to push people into a new way of viewing art, and a new way of thinking–about books, about current events, about our world and about other people.

People routinely walk into my studio and look at my artwork with initial confusion. That gradually lifts as they realize that the artworks are actually made from books and paper. That moment, when their expressions turn from boredom to amazement, will never get old for me. My purpose is to delight, and excite, and inform, and challenge. It’s truly a compulsion.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I transform books into sculptures and other works of art. While a story can take the reader on a journey of the mind, I would like to hope that my art takes the viewer on a journey as well.

I work by hand, cutting, folding, tearing, gluing or using any other necessary process to reveal the artwork that the book needs to become. I’m currently in a series of paper-casting women’s shoes and highlighting books about strong women.

I also teach classes, both locally and via zoom.

My studio is located at the Virginia Beach Art Center, and I love visitors! I’m also represented by Stravitz Gallery in Va Beach and Moremen Gallery in Louisville, KY.

The biggest challenge for any artist is to get the art seen.

I would love more gallery representation in other regions of the US, especially since Altering Books is a relatively rare and unique art discipline.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Three qualities: curiosity, support, courage

Advice:

First, stay curious. Experiment and try new things, whether in an art discipline or in any other areas of life. Live like a child, constantly learning and in awe of even the smallest things!

Second, find a community that shares your passion and get involved. Everyone in that community will lift each other up, and keep the flame of interest alive. You will lift yourself as you lift others. And vice versa.

Third, be brave. You may do things that are unconventional, and you have to boldly step forward. Lean in. Ask yourself what is the worst that could happen, and then go ahead anyway.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

My number one challenge is getting the art seen.

How I’m working on it:

1. I’m working to improve my mental relationship with social media, trying not to hate it as much. My mind wants to reside in “art creation” not “content creation.” So I’m making an effort to document my process more, and share more on Instagram.

2. “We teach best what we most need to learn.” Therefore, I’m leading an artist mastermind group for the winter where we will have weekly topics and commitments. If I’m responsible for inspiring a group of artists, I will do the work myself as well.

3. I’m focused on making the art. Unless an artist is actually creating the art, there will be no avenue for it to be seen.

4. I’m telling people that I’m interested in gallery representation so that networking can be part of this strategy.

Contact Info:

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