Home in Detroit
The landscape of Barbara’s childhood was the ethnically diverse area of southwest Detroit. The people of her neighborhood came from countries considered irrelevant to mainstream America: Ukraine, Malta, Cuba, Mexico and many others. These countries were rich in culture, and the streets around her home reflected these cultures. The sights, the sounds, the smells, and the stories of her childhood became the well she drew her art from.
In her neighborhood she learned at a very young age that everything can be reused. Every object has more than one life, more than one story to tell. Her sculpture begins when she discovers an object with a story to tell. It can be a castoff kitchen spoon or a washed up piece of driftwood, something that would be viewed as debris with no intrinsic value left. She then sculpts pieces that will capture the essence of that story.
Her work is a dialogue between her and the viewer. The hope is that you will work together to create a shared story.
Barbara Melnik Carson 
Hi Barbara,
You look like a really fun person to know! You are talented as well…I look forward to getting to know you.
Diane
Diane, Thanks for checking out my blog. I look forward to discovering some of your looking young secrets.
Hi Barbara, thanks for attending the Rust Belt to Artist Belt conf & thanks for the mention in your blog. One request – my last name is spelled “Kageyama”. Thanks very much!
Thank you for letting me know. I am so sorry, I will fix this it, now. Looking forward to getting your “For the Love of Cities,” book.
Hello Barbara, you seem a warn and open person. My objects are in my head. I can write a story a day.
Thank you, stories are the beginning of it all.
You look like a smart woman,and I feel like you very much.
Its Eckel a sculptor my idea is to show people what i with in my mind though stone sculpture and shown people what is art how to become an artist. I have a project : Eckel Nyamhondoro School of Art Academy. Check on http://www.zac.co.zw. And facebook. I thank you. Eckel:
Barbara, are you going to blog while you are in Italy? I definitely want to hear all about it if you do!
Kaletts, hope I have the tech support to make that work. Stay tuned.
A rich place to grow, learn and appreciate the culture of other countries. You are a very talented, creative person with so much joy and heart to give. Thanks for sharing you beautiful world. Happy Holidays.
I am an adult nurse practitioner in SE MI. I have purchased (or adopted) two of your beautiful works of art – Everyday Heroine. I will be linking your website to mine. Thank you for your inspiring work. Thepracticalnursepractitioner.com.
Annemarie,
Thank you so much for taking time to let me know. What a great message to start off the New Year. I am so happy to hear “Everyday Heroine,” has found a good home. I look forward to checking out your website.
Best wishes for a healthy, peaceful 2013 for us all.
Barbara
salut,je pense que vous etes une bonne vivante,et j’ai des postes sur wordpress.com qui sont très intéressant dans zorro42.wordpress.com
Merci.
Detroit is (or at least was) such a melting pot. Such an interesting place to grow up, I imagine. Perfect for a creative soul such as yourself.
p.s. I’m from a little ways up North, a rural town near Bay City, which also had a strong ethnic atmosphere.
Detroit has changed quite a bit over the years, but so has the rest of the world. There are still great people there and pockets of wonderful.
You are correct about the melting pot. Back then our neighborhood was considered one of the most ethnically diverse in the city. So much of who I am comes from those early years.
Thank for your comments.
I am an admirer and true believer in the magic of Barbara’s sculptures. Her work is truly inspired. Her pieces talk to you, tell stories and captivate you. Hope to get to the Dancing Dog Gallery very soon. Insightful article on Heritage, I also grew up in an Detroit neighborhood, Oakwood, where I had many Italian second mothrrs along with my beautiful Polish one. What a blessing to have grown up in such ethnicity and old world wisdom.
Thank you Patti. Feel we are kindred spirits. Believe art should be alive and reflect the artist as the artist grows and changes. Looking forward to a new year of inspired work.
How to market and communicate with a stone to become a good sculpture check my facebook page
Hi Barbara, Thank you for visiting Runaway American Dream. I look forward to reading your future posts.
Barbara, I so enjoyed this weekend at the Ukrainian Museum in Hamtramck with you. Your artwork is a delight, and reading about your family history is very moving. Let’s continue to explore art, and genetic memory (I forget the scientific name!) – together! 🙂
Mary,
Thank you so much.
Wonderful getting to know you. So glad you were a part of the Ukrainian Museum’s open house weekend.
Love your paintings and the messages included in your colorful designs.
Look forward to staying aconnected and following the study of epigenetics. Would be fun to see it through an artist’s eyes.
Hey Barbara,
Marilynn, Dennis and I would be honored to have you attend our opening on Sunday, March 8 from 1-5 pm at Workantile, 118 S. Main St., Ann Arbor
There’ll be food, a DJ (by happenstance), a large variety of art pieces and Workantile is a cool “gallery” setting.
I wish March 8 wasn’t the only date, of the two-month show, for public viewing. (Even the artists have only this one-day access.)
However, that’s our agreement and we understand that the business people in an open co-op space need their quiet and privacy.
Just like a car commercial, this show is one-day-only! ❤😁