Meet Melonie Mulkey | Visual Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melonie Mulkey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melonie, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
“Love is at the root of everything, all learning, all relationships, love or the lack of it.” – Mr. Rogers

This quote speaks to me so deeply because it acts as a statement of reflection and a call to action. My younger self would have thought of “events” as big successful moments, but as time passes, I realize the biggest events are the ones that happen in the quiet of my life every day. Of course, I can only strive to one day be able to fully contemplate my every moment with such intention and humility, however it encourages me to be mindful of the present moment as an opportunity for love. If I approached all my decisions from a place of love, I would be the best person I could be for myself and for others. Being present to that awakening has been life changing for me in many ways.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My family growing up always supported the arts, and both my parents were artists. My grandfather, who was a corporate lawyer by day but a pen and ink master illustrator by night, used to say, “Don’t ever quit your job until you have a new one, and it doesn’t matter what you have to do sometimes as long as you understand the value of work.” This had a huge influence on me, and I started working at 14 years old. I learned over time, that everything I did gave me a skill for something yet to be discovered, even if it didn’t make sense. As someone who wanted to pursue art early on, I also knew I would have to work jobs that might be unrelated to art to pursue my creative passions. As an aspiring artist, I believe you have to be humble to that realization. By the time I reached college and graduate school, I knew that pursuing an arts degree was a big risk in terms of financial return, but I decided to pursue it anyways because art making taught me about problem-solving on many different levels, and I knew if I pursued a career in the arts, I could be a part of many rich experiences throughout my life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in South Bend, Indiana at the northern tip of the state bordering Michigan. I love the landscape here with the St. Joseph River running through, and Lake Michigan right above us. The Indiana Sand Dunes off Lake Michigan are just a hop skip from us and are beautiful! In town, we love campus walks through the University of Notre Dame and Holy Cross College, The South Bend Museum of Art, and eating downtown around the Howard Park area.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
A shoutout to my dear husband, who for the last 13 years has supported me, loved me, encouraged me and inspired me, and to my precious children, who teach me everyday, and have filled my heart and soul with the deepest love imaginable.

Website: https://meloniemulkey.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meloniemulkey/