Not Just Ladies Who Lunch: Meaghan Monaghan
Getting to know some fabulous ladies who work in the arts!
Welcome to the Monday series Not Just Ladies Who Lunch. This will be an ongoing addition to the blog, meant to introduce you to some arts professionals. Their jobs will vary from freelance graphic designers to music composers, auction house specialists to cake decorators. Be sure to check back every Monday for a new profile. If you would like to be featured, please do send me a note! I am opened to suggestions as this piece evolves. Here goes week five:
Meet Meaghan!
Meaghan Monaghan is an Art Conservator currently based in Ottawa. She received her BA in Fine Arts with minors in Biology and Art History from Mount Allison University. Her interest in the intersections of art and science lead her to pursue the field of Conservation. In 2010 she received her Masters of Art Conservation from Queen’s University. She had the opportunity to care for and conserve a variety of artefacts during fellowships and internships at the Australian Museum, Canadian Conservation Institute, Yale University Art Gallery, and SMK the national gallery of Denmark. Her research interests are focused on challenges related to conserving, storing and displaying large scale murals, unmounted paintings, and textiles. Other interests include knitting, yoga, and the history of medicine. Meaghan recently returned to Canada to work on the restoration of the West Block of Canada’s Parliament Buildings.
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1. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I went through many stages. I think my first choice was astronaut. I only gave up this dream because my mom informed me I would never survive the training; I have sever motion sickness issues. Following that the general order was: firefighter, professional soccer player, teacher, doctor, teacher, paramedic, artist, biological illustrator, teacher, conservator.
2. What is the best piece of advice you were ever given?
This is a tough question; I have been so fortunate to have many supportive people in my life giving me advise. My parents have always stressed the “never give up” mantra. “If at first you don’t succeed, Try, try, try again.” The field of Art Conservation has a very competitive job market – as in much of the art field – and you have to read many rejection letters before you see an acceptance letter. Continuously I have to just throw the rejection letters aside and apply for another position. They also taught me the separation between the personal self and the professional self. Begin able to separate these things helps you build a more balanced life. Personally, I am still working on achieving a proper balance.
I think since beginning a Fine Art degree I have tried to follow the phrase, “stay true to yourself.” It is a well know fact that you can’t make much money in the art field. I think it is important to do things in life that are rewarding for you, things that make you feel comfortable, things that make you feel good. I know that can sound idealist and I realize life requires many sacrifices but I truly think it is important to feel that you are gaining something, other then money, from your daily activities.
Finally, one of my current mentors told me to always send handwritten thank you letters. This goes for both personal and professional life. In the world of emails and text messages a hand written thank you comes across as a personal and sincere message.
a before and after
3. Can you name your biggest success and/or failure in your career so far?
I think my biggest successes have come from letting go of some control and following the opportunities right in front of me. The opportunity to study at Mount Allison University (MTA) was something that presented itself at a difficult moment for me. At the time I was planning to drop out of university but I decided to give it one more shot. It was the best decision I have ever made. MTA presented a variety of multidisciplinary projects in the areas of fine art, art history, biology, and chemistry that I don’t think I would of found anywhere else. At MTA, while on a tour of the Owens Art Gallery, I was also exposed to the field of conservation by paintings conservator Jane Tisdale. While doing work/study with Jane for two years I learned what I needed to do to enter the field of conservation. Since choosing to study Art Conservation I have been given me so many amazing opportunities to travel, learn and grow.
My biggest failure in my art career has been my inability to find enough time and energy to do my own artwork while working full-time. I must admit that I have been fortunate to not have a major failure in my conservation career thus far but I have definitely had some major challenges. What I have learned from those challenges is that no matter how terrible they are to get through at the time they also help you grow and teach you how to deal with difficult situations in a professional manner.
4. Name a tool you can’t live without.
Dental tools are very handy in my line of work so I always have a few on me. That being said, I would say my absolute favourite “tool” is the microscope. I love looking through a microscope on a visual level. The images are just breathtaking. On a more technical level, a microscope is an amazing tool for observing the degradation of materials, identifying materials, treating microscopic damage, and much more.
5. Do you have a mentor/Who would your dream mentor be?
I am very lucky to have several mentors and I will mention here that I feel it is very important to keep in touch with your mentors. It is a relationship like any other and it requires effort from both parties. My dream mentor would be Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. I have been fascinated with her life and her art for as long as I can remember. She has inspired me in many ways. She taught me that art doesn’t have to be “pretty” and helped me feel comfortable creating uncomfortable imagery. I can only imagine how much I would gain from actually interacting with her.
6. Tell us about your favourite picture/photograph/sculpture/etc.
I have always been interested in the human body and how we, humans, interact with and understand our bodies. From the first time I saw Frida Kahlo’s work The Two Fridas it spoke to me. I felt the imagery communicated Frida’s relationship with her inner and outer self and body so clearly.
