Megan Munro

Artist Statement | I have been crocheting for 50 years, so I decided to respond to each prompt in crochet. I wanted to push myself by trying new techniques, materials and concepts a bit different to what my work has most recently focused on. I did all of this through the challenge.

I experimented with some new techniques that I haven't tried before. I mostly work in a three-dimensional way. In the challenge I tried a few new 'flat' techniques, exploring pattern and stitches, which I enjoyed and would like to revisit. 

Mostly I was reminded of how much I love to use nontraditional materials. I really enjoyed some of the combinations of materials I put together and intend to explore this further. I used different types of wires, yarns, twines, plastic packaging tapes, plastic bags and basically whatever I had in my stash. 

Pushing my ideas through simple, short samples was rewarding. Ultimately I was looking for links or pathways to new ideas, particularly with the intersection(s) of me being a disabled person and ideas within conservation, environment and animals.  

The world is a very ableist place for disabled people and some attitudes are nothing short of eugenics. Yet, conservationists and the broader community are often keen to preserve animal and plant populations. I see a link here. Disabled people contribute to the diversity of the human race. Both disabled people and the environment and animal populations could do with more care and nurturing, whether we are ugly or 'broken' we all have a place. The challenge sparked new ideas and links and I look forward to exploring them further. 

I am unable to work due to chronic illness and disability, so I do spend all my time art making. However, this challenge pushed me and gave me the chance to play again and think beyond the work that I have been doing. It was also really nice to connect with other makers online and see the wide scope of how the challenges were interpreted. 

 

see @meganmunro1968’s Instagram here