Franchell Mack Brown is an artist employing an amalgam of materials in her practice. From the pliancy of crocheted ribbon to industrial cordiing and the solidity of welding, she juxtaposes soft and hard, exploring the dualities of being. Undulating forms and dripping tendrils suggest movement evocative of Nick Cave’s Soundsuits. Color and texture prevail in ecstatic collision, echoing her fascination with Egungun masking traditions and Native American tribal ceremonies. With her background as a jewelry designer, she features semi precious gemstones, particularly freshwater pearls, in much of her work. The pearl embodies individuality. Each is a unique speck emerging from metamorphosis as an exquisite gem, a metaphor for the development and full expression of self.
Franchell has been honored with multiple residencies including the 2023 VisArts Annual Residency @ the Visual Arts Center of Richmond, Richmond, VA, the 2022 Interlude Residency, Hudson Valley, NY, the 2021 Virginia Museum of Fine Art, Richmond, VA (VMFA Arts Fellowship Award 2021-22) and a Monson Arts Residency in April/May of 2023.
1) What was the best part for you about being at Monson Arts? And what, if anything, did it teach you about your own creative process?
The best part about being at Monson Arts was several things. Having access to amazing food without thinking much about it gave me the freedom to focus more time on work. The peace that came with the environment relaxed me in ways that I didn’t know I needed. Lulu’s culinary artistry is absolutely divine! Having access to welding again was incredible! Walks past the lake to my studio and the glimpses of water as I ventured to the weld studio were decompressing and invigorating. What I learned about my process is that isolation is a way for me to be incredibly prolific. But also that when I have access to the creative energy of others daily, it grows my own creativity exponentially. It was the perfect mix of isolation and overlap.
2) Did you start a project while in residency and/or were you able to “complete” or wrap-up a work during your time here? What’s been your focus since you left Monson Arts?
I continued work on a project while I was at Monson Arts, Rize of the Goddess Spirit. It’s a three-stage project and is taking years to complete. My focus since leaving has been to continue working towards finalizing this project. I just completed an annual residency at The Visual Arts Center of Richmond, (VisArts), in Richmond Virginia. I was able to make a tremendous amount of progress as part of that cohort. The resident’s final exhibit, DREAM MANUAL, showed the first stage including some of my POWERSHIELD works. These are multi-medium works on paper that have extended into works with fused glass because of the VisArts studio access. I also completed a separate series of work called FELICITIES which was exhibited in a solo show at Southside Contemporary Art Gallery, (SCAG), over the summer. I am currently exhibiting RECLAMATION, a solo at The Pauley Center with The Virginia Museum of Fine Art, (VMFA). This group of works spans from pieces created during my VMFA fellowship in 2022 up to works completed this year. These works are sculptural and the materials include crocheted ribbons, knotted cords, semiprecious stone beads, flamework glass beads, and “woven” fused glass. I am currently searching for a space to weld to continue the next phase of Rize.
3) Name 3-5 writers, poets, artists, books, musicians, or visual works that continue to inspire you.
Inspiration for me currently comes from the interactions and skillfulness of artists Nastassja Swift, Veronica Jackson, Lanecia Rouse, and Justice Dwight. I am closely watching the brand excellence of creatives Mickalene Thomas (Scrambler Ducati), Jeffery Gibson (Dior and Alpana Bawa collab, Venice Biennale 2024), and as always Nick Cave (for every single thing that he touches). The expanding reach of these artists with products and the public is awe-inspiring. I’m intrigued by the book, Symbol Sourcebook. The works of Torkwase Dyson (like Liquid Shadows, Solid Dreams (A Monastic Playground)), divinely haunt my consciousness.
Time and space to create.
Monson Arts is a new artists’ residency and arts center in Monson, Maine. Programs include residencies for artists and writers, intensive shorter workshops, and educational partnerships with area secondary schools.