Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Melissa Libutti. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Melissa, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I was born with an alternate view of reality. After 2 surgeries as an infant my parents were in the predictament of putting contact lenses in my eye.at age 2. After wearing a patch through kindergarten and coke bottle pink glasses when I lost contact lense, not to mention day long visits to the eye Dr., I still remained double visioned with my right eye legally blind. I believe this was the foundation of seeing the world on a macroscopic scale with all the intricacies that I could imagine.
I’ve struggles with my vision issues ever since. I’ve been told I beat to a different drum and have a case of pareidolia. My imagination has also been sparked at an early age by attempting to have a difinitive answer to what my eyes see.
Amazingly enough I didn’t realize I was any artist until my 20’s. Starting with a career as a makeup artistry soon led to painting canvases. My one and only art teacher, Mr. Egan, greatly influenced my identity as an artist. He allowed freedom with your art while giving suggestions and guidance. There was no right or wrong. I am grateful to this d
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I began my creative endeavors as a professional make up artist in California, always reaching for new innovative makeup up designs using new products, pastels and paints. I had a passion for Africa, her indigenous peoples, the music, the dance and the art. Sculptures on canvas emerged with natural elements that call to me with the intent of connecting to primitive ancestory and our humaness, such as, porcupine quills, turtle sheddings, sea urchin, bones, egg shells, crystals and feathers.
Perfectionism vs Expressionism. Conformity vs Freedom, Reality vs Imagination. Individuality vs . Compliance. Strength vs Pain. These battles in my mind not only resound throughout my work,
but resonate with Individual and the World’s issues today. l feel guided by a higher power, both spiritually and creatively, finding myself going in and out of a liminal state while beginning a project and questioning life, death and other planes of existence. Adding experimental mediums, sculpture and texture give a 3D quality to my Series, Rise. These multi resin layered sculptures on canvas surround the themes of diversity, women’s freedom, emotional rage, positive self esteem, and Anti AI. The use of symbolic elements are prevalent in my projects, such as, the handmade lightening bolt belt buckle in “I Keep My Eyes Fixed on the Sun”, which represents the power of women, sexual issues, abused women, motivation for success and my own inner rage. The mirror adds another subconscious call to the viewer to reflect on themselves. I continue to support www.haloartsproject.com for the “Angels for Artist” ANNUAL AUCTION and Wisconsin’s non profit, www.bigbuddies.org Mentorship Yearly Auction with yearly donations of art surrounding these social and personal issue as well as, donating my time to www.https://avenue-of- art.chalkfestival.org.
Ontology inspires my work and has evolved into a passion for cosmology with an acute interest of the study of space time including linear time and whether time travel and other dimensions of existence exist with the possibility that we are unaware that we are experiencing them now in the present. Research and education into the latest scientific theories by physicists, scientists and astronomers and discoveries by the Hadron Collider and The James Webb Telescope combined with my own thoughts, dreams and experiences has prompted a new series. Here, I explore my consciousness and allow myself to continue experimentation of different shades and dynamics of black with added elements and new adaptations of interference and iridescents which explore the effects of various lighting and added mediums. Crystals, mirror and wire are commonly used to express these ideas and concepts to transcend the viewer to the possibility of other dimensions and planes of existence envisioning their own alternate lives and connecting with me through my art. – “SHRED the BOX” – Don’t just think outside the box-SHRED IT!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I feel makeup artistry had a big impact on work as well as the study of Africa, her people and tribes, the music, dance and of course art. I also believe having the priveledge of visiting Paris and Europe in my early adulthood opened my eyes to cutting edge art and fashion.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I am looking to collaborate with specialists in the fields of sound, particularly frequency and lighting gurus. I have a project in mind that I could use some expertise in these ares. My series TIME has inspired the thoughts of creating an interactive piece involving these elements. Please contact me if you are interested.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shredthebox.art
- Instagram: @shredtheboxart (new IG) @asylumartworx (older IG).
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-libutti-2092046a/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC88Yq_u-tfUvws_dhD-hk-g
Image Credits
Aasha. The Spiral of Life and Death. Photographed by the late Zak Frederick All other photographs by Melissa Libutti, artist
