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Melisa of MWYPottery | Episode 1229
Melisa of MWY Pottery is a cancer physician, researcher, ceramic artist, and immigrant. As a side saunterer (like a side hustler, but without the hustle), she handbuilds resistance art to advocate for human rights and justice for all.
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In a world of so many voices, what do you hope that your resistance art accomplishes?
My goal with my resistance art is really for me, and it happens to be for other people. So I pick topics and things that I want to focus on based on what I need at the time, like what I’m coping with at the time. And it just so happens that other people enjoy the art as well, but I actually make it for me.
When you make it for yourself and then you put it out there in the world, what kind of receptions are you getting for it?
I think a lot of people appreciate my perspective on something. So, for example, there has been a lot of art made that has protested the actions of ICE, especially in Minnesota right now. And so a piece that I recently made in response to Renee Goode’s murder is a piece that’s actually right up there on the wall that says, can I go check a pulse? Because that was a physician who wanted to help her after the shooting and he was not able to or he was not allowed to. So that combines my perspective as a physician and as an immigrant and as just a human being that witnessed this tragedy. So I think people appreciate seeing that perspective of it as well.
Does the making process, is it like medicine for your emotions and for your mental health?
I think so, yes. Yeah. And there’s something that I like about stamping letters that’s very tactile that would be different than if I, you know, put a decal on it or something like that, isn’t as involved.
Not that this would be wrong, but do you ever feel like by making the art and when it’s put out there that it’s a call to rally?
I don’t think it’s necessarily a call to rally because the rally already exists. It more fuels the rally or supports the rally or shows solidarity with it.
I know you said that you make the art for yourself first. So that’s the underpinning of this question. But besides making it for yourself, why then do you post it to the world?
It’s really to show other people who believe similarly that they’re not alone. And so if it helps to have a piece of artwork in their home, that shows where they stand, and what their values are, and perhaps that helps someone who visits their home also say, oh, hey, let’s connect over this shared sense of justice. I hope it can help bring people together.
When you’re making, what are you listening to?
Sometimes I’m listening to you. So I listen to podcasts. I sometimes will watch TV. Right now I’m really into Korean dramas, but those are hard to watch while working because often they’re not dubbed into English, so I have to read the subtitles. But I’m often listening to podcasts. Often about pottery, sometimes about political perspectives and other interview podcasts, but usually I’m listening to something.
Book
The Artivist by Nikkolas Smith
Contact
Instagram: @mwypottery