Megan Caldwell Chandler

I finished my fourth installment of accordion books this week with Yellow Magic.  I’ve really enjoyed making this series, and I have a feeling I’m not quite finished exploring the subject matter (the subject matter being some combination of feminism, gender roles, biblical womanhood, etc).  I’m piece by piece putting together my artist’s statement for this series, and I promise to eventually share it with you even though I HATE writing those things.   

One of the best perks of my new vocation is my ability to allocate studio time to reading, writing, listening, and thinking.  What other jobs encourage you to spend time just sitting and thinking?  I don’t know of many.  When I left my job to work at home in my studio, there were several times I felt guilty for using my time to read or write.  I felt like I should have been using my time more “wisely” by sketching or painting.  I’ve since realized that reading and thinking and the like are essential.  Essential! 

Like my book nightsongs, Yellow Magic is influenced by poetry.  I’m interested in what past voices had to say about the subjects in which I’m interested.  Sylvia Plath’s voice is one that I find fascinating and vital to my current series.  Her poem “Rabbit Catcher,” from the collection titled Ariel, is a key catalyst for my latest book.  (You might also want to check out this interesting blog piece written about Plath and her undertaking of Ariel.)

Here is a video that features Plath reading the poem, “Rabbit Catcher.”  I think her poetry is enhanced a hundred times over when you hear it in her own voice.  I hope you will give it a listen.