Clothing Sculpture, Drawing, and Performance Blog

A tribute to the people of New York City

I’m very happy to share a new location and additional details regarding two clothing sculpture installations for the public realm of Jackson Heights, Queens. This new work will be made from wood and thousands of second-hand garments, sourced from the local community during the pandemic.

The Witness, 2021

A design for a portable clothing sculpture to be installed in public plazas throughout Queens, NY. This piece is made from eight separate units, to allow for multiple configurations.

Piled High – clothing sculpture featured in Selvedge Magazine

“In selecting second-hand clothing as his medium for making art, Melander has made a critical decision about how this chosen material conveys the connection of memory to feeling.”

Empty Gestures, 2018

This sketch is for a sculpture series. I always feel a twinkle of joy when I see a blank sign or a marker that has lost its meaning. These objects draw our attention, but have nothing to say (like some people I know).

Clothing Drawing: Devil, 2019-21

Working on an idea for a new sculpture. Pictured here, garment silhouettes are traced and cut from thin sheets of copper and distorted to appear as if they are caught in a whirlwind.

Alter & Circulate, TAG Projects

From 2002-2007, I was in an arts collective called Tag Projects. We built community, self-produced five exhibitions, sold work, and even got a rave review from Holland Cotter in The New York Times!

“A Shirts” – Wearable Clothing Sculpture

Here I am wearing my own creation called “A Shirts” made by daisy-chaining 4 dress shirts together at the plackets. I wore this all day at The Callicoon Art Walk in 2019.

Folding Screen – Deconstructed Shirt Cuff

You likely do not know this, but in addition to being a sculptor, I am a lover of industrial design. I have many sketches for functional objects, especially designs for furniture. Here is a design for a full-size folding screen. It takes its form from a deconstructed shirt cuff

A COVID-19 Memorial Proposal

The COVID-19 Pandemic is tragic on so many levels. When I learned that those infected and hospitalized were being separated from their loved ones, potentially dying among strangers, I felt a profound sense of grief. And as the pandemic progresses, seeing how it has disproportionally affected communities of color and the immigrant populations of New York City has shed new light on inequality and systemic racism.

Interview with The Listen Podcast

I’m excited to share my interview with Kate Jetmore of The Listen Podcast. We had a great time talking about getting unstuck and, well, something paranormal happens…

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