After receiving her BFA from Appalachian State University in Fiber Arts, MC studied metalsmithing under the late Charlie McKinney in Bucyrus, Missouri. Thrust into the architectural blacksmithing world as his assistant, she fell in love the craft and community of metalsmithing. Through the McKinney's she was introduced to the Metal Museum in Memphis where MC was awarded an Artist Residency followed by a Blacksmithing Apprenticeship from 2008-2011. Some of the processes MC uses to manipulate steel come from her Fibers background, looking to old fabrics, vintage wallpaper patterns and paper dolls. She notes that her grandmother Bernice Taylor is still one of the biggest influences of her craft. MC makes art to pay homage to the handmade, to carry on a fiber tradition in steel and to remember the unsung makers such as Bernice. MC is currently working out of her backyard studio where she creates everything from large scale architectural commissions and sculpture to production jewelry. Her work can be seen at many downtown Raleigh establishments such as the Busy Bee (honeycomb wall sculpture and bike rack) and the corner of Martin and Wilmington Street (fox, chicken and cow bike racks). Her jewelry line is also available at select retailers across North Carolina and Tennessee. MC is expanding her teaching experience as a cofounder of Shopspace, a community metalworking shop that offers classes in metal fabrication and blacksmithing based in Raleigh, North Carolina.
