About

Melanie Norris lives and works outside of Asheville, North Carolina, in a rural valley. Her work is influenced by the sights, sounds and experiences of this life.

Fanfare Statement

Through the scope of the artist’s early years in parenthood, these tents, flowers and figures symbolize the work of attempting to construct a life full of big hugs and wonder and clean laundry balanced with the navigating the relentless cycle of life and death and life again.

We look up and our eyes reflect the blue sky while we sink into the weeds and mud up to our shins. Our hands are dirty, and I’m confused about how often to wash them.

We bridge the gap between this life and the next. Celebration and then a bow as we depart.

We parents and caregivers are tents, filtering the light and shielding from the elements, while acknowledging we are unable to truly keep the danger at bay. We are here for a time and then a big gust knocks us over - our bright, colorful flags snapping and waving as we blow away, calling “Goodbye! I love you! Wear a hat!”