Today we’d like to introduce you to Mere Mason.
Mere, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA. My mom was an interior designer who specialized in flooring, so we spent a lot of time in carpet stores. From an early age, I was trained to notice the details of a space—how lighting, colors, and textures could shift the mood and affect how a room feels.
As a teenager, I’d sign myself up for theater groups and sculpture classes around the city during the summer. One of the biggest influences on me was the Three Rivers Arts Festival, which happens in Pittsburgh every year. I remember seeing a piece there that really lit something up in me—it was a giant canvas covered in “trash” pulled from the river. The artist had used the garbage to create fish, and I was completely captivated by the idea of turning waste into art. I think about that piece all the time.
I went to Penn State and started out majoring in art education, but eventually dropped out and moved to Florida. I ended up going to massage school and worked as a massage therapist for many years. Around that time, I also picked up the guitar and started writing songs. I spent years performing in Jacksonville as a singer-songwriter. I recorded a children’s album when my daughter was a baby, then a record called Like the Sea. I’ve played shows at the Florida Theatre, Blue Jay, and the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall.
When COVID hit, I couldn’t perform for crowds or work as a massage therapist, so I found myself picking up visual art again. I realized how much I had missed it—especially sculpture. I started making things just for fun because, like a lot of people, I needed something to ground me during those weird times. I’m a serial creative at heart, and art gave me a way to process it all.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Sometimes the road feels smooth, and sometimes it’s really hard. The art and culture scene here is very different in the southeast.. I don’t paint seashells or marsh landscapes—I’m drawn to vibrant colors and organic, unusual shapes, and that can be intimidating or unfamiliar to some people.
I’ve always been an out-of-the-box thinker, so I’ve had to carve out my own space and find the people who resonate with what I do. I really believe that whatever gifts we’re given are meant to be shared—because someone, somewhere, needs to see them.
One of my pieces might be seen by a young girl who thinks, “Wait… we can do that? This is an option?” That kind of spark can change a life. Art has saved me in so many ways, and I want that kind of access and inspiration to be available to anyone who needs it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My main medium is paper clay, but I’m endlessly curious and love exploring all kinds of materials. I make my own paper clay—essentially a blended version of papier-mâché with a clay-like texture. I mold it over reusable inflatable forms or coat discarded Styrofoam and packing materials. Once it dries, it becomes as hard as wood, which means the possibilities are wide open.
From lighting to beads, I can create so much with it. I also love working with fiber and weaving, and every now and then I get the urge to paint—usually abstract faces. Texture is really important to me—even my paintings tend to have a sculptural, three-dimensional quality.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I’m not sure I believe in luck. I think the people who seem “lucky” are often the ones who’ve learned to move past their blocks and aren’t afraid to go for what they want.
For me, it’s about staying open. I look at what I’d love to see in a space—and then I make it. If I don’t see a place for myself at the table, I build my own table and invite others who also feel like there’s no seat for them. At the end of the day, we all just want to feel like we belong.
Maybe what we call “luck” is really just the result of showing up with authenticity and making others feel safe and welcome to do the same. When we do that, the right opportunities tend to find us.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Meremason.com
- Instagram: @art_of_mere
- Soundcloud: I’m on iTunes under mere Woodard (former last name) my album is like the sea
