Melanie Parke is a painter with an extensive exhibition record and an incredible eye which has resulted in not only making amazing work but also a solid and inspirational curatorial resume. She created The Provincial, an artist-run project space & curatorial program committed to camaraderie and intellectual verve. Her and her husband, the painter Richard Kooyman, are devoted to supporting artists in new and experimental work. They believe experiencing artist-driven endeavors is to glimpse the heart of raw creativity and it is regenerative to community, culture, and humanity. They champion friendship, collaboration, and highly curated shows throughout the year. Small gatherings, performances and community events accompany each artistic production. Existing between private, public and online spaces, they welcome artists, guest curators, friends and curious visitors with rural hospitality.   In this episode we talk about:   22:00 Growing up in an idyllic setting 24:00 Overcoming a traumatic experience with art 28:00 Going to art school 35:00 Landscape painting and going into the studio 36:00 Moving to Michigan, waiting tables and painting nature 39:00 Air and light in her work 39:51 Hans Hoffman 42: 20 Susanna Coffey 46:15 The process of her day 48:43 The Provencial 51:08 Julie Torres 1 hour 7 Books 1hr 10 Advice and Feminist Bussiness School     LINKS: www.ilikeyourworkpodcast.com https://melanieparke.com/home.html https://theprovincial.net/ Julie Torres http://www.sophietreppendahl.com/ Feminist Bussiness School Sister.Is Sunlight Tax Free Money Saving Webinar   Books/Writers: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19089.Middlemarch http://www.luciaberlin.com/ https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/anne-carson