Andrea Hungerford

Where did you grow up and where else have you lived?

I grew up in Oregon and have lived there most of my life, with the exception of college years - Boston (Harvard College) and Palo Alto (Stanford University).  I moved to mid-coast a little more than two years ago and now live here year-round.

Did you attend schooling for your art form? If so, where?

No, I’m a lawyer by training and schooling - I’m largely self-taught, supplemented by instruction from friends, at retreats, and through workshops.

What initially drew you to the world of art, and how did your location and environment at that time influence your creative path?

I was drawn (and still am) to the intersection of art and functionality - how those things that we use every day, or wear every day, can be both functional and beautiful.  Art isn’t something that should be used only for display or special occasions - it can enrich our everyday tasks and our daily routines.  Much of my art is influenced by the materials I use - I work only with natural fibers that are locally and/or ethically sourced from small-scale farms or sustainably grown (wool, alpaca, cotton, silk, linen).  Much of my work features either natural colors and tones, or fibers that are botanically dyed with local plants and flowers.  I focus on artistic structures that allow the natural beauty of these fibers and colors fto take center stage.

How does the natural beauty of Maine inspire your artistic vision?

Maine is the perfect location to blend tradition with modernity, because that’s what Maine is all about:  a deep respect for and commitment to carrying on traditional ways of life, but with a twist that makes my pieces fresh and relevant in the modern world.  And, of course, the color palettes of Maine’s coast are often echoed in my work - kelp along the shoreline, sunlight on ocean waves, pink and orange sunrises, the lupine bloom each June.  For instance, I recently completed a three-panel weaving series, each of which was inspired by a different aspect of coastal Maine:  Seaweed and Sunshine on the Ocean Waves, Fields of Lupine, and Penobscot Bay Sunrise.

What is your favorite season here in Maine? How does the shifting landscape and weather patterns impact your artistic practice throughout the year?

I have to honestly say that I love all four seasons here in Maine - and I particularly love that we get all four seasons!  I also love the transitions between seasons - the anticipation when the leaves begin to turn colors and fall is approaching, the snap in the air right before the first snowfall, the long lead-up to spring when you think nothing will ever bloom and then you see the first hint of green in the tree branches.  These transition periods often inspire my colorwork and how I think about shifting color palettes and the feelings that they create.  One of my favorite sources of inspiration is the light on the coast of Maine - it is always changing and always beautiful, particularly winter light, which has the magical pink glow to it that I’ve never seen anywhere else.  I think that the seasons here help me to appreciate change and transition, and that is reflected in my always-changing body of work.

What artist/maker do you admire and why?

I am particularly inspired by the makers who create the materials I work with, because of how hard they work to use small-scale, local production to produce exceptional fibers.  The Maine and New England fibersheds keep the entire process local:  raising the sheep, growing the dye stuff, milling the yarn, using a natural dye process, and then finishing off the yarns and threads so that they can be made into something both beautiful and functional.  This is a hard, labor-intensive process that farmers, growers, and dyers do for the love of the animals, the land, and the traditions they are preserving.

How would you describe your artistic style and what drives you in that direction?

My work revolves around color and texture:  how the fibers can be combined to create something entirely new that honors the materials I use.  I am always making with thought of how my creation will be used:  will this make a scarf/wrap that feels good to wear and flatters the wearer with its shape, texture, and hue?  Will this rug or bedding be both aesthetically pleasing in the room and stand the test of time, being used day after day?  I love classic simplicity, because it creates an heirloom product that will both last and be considered beautiful for many years, and because simplicity allows both the materials and the skill it took to knit, weave, crochet, or sew those materials to take center stage.

Beyond your artwork, what other passions or interests do you pursue, and how do they intersect with your creative practice?

Right now, I am passionate about traveling - both throughout Maine and New England, and all over the world - and the opportunity to see new places, experience different cultures, and be immersed in unique color palettes is incredibly inspiring and often turns my work in new directions.  For instance, a recent trip to Morocco has sparked my interest in desert hues, deep indigos, and geometric forms, shapes, and patterns.  Beyond that, I believe that travel is rejuvenating and it constantly broadens my perspective, preventing me - and my work - from becoming too myopic or routine.

How have you seen your work evolve over time, and what do you hope to explore in the future?

Learning doubleweave and working on a bigger loom will allow me to create pieces up to 70” wide, so that I can begin to weave blankets, duvets, and throws that don’t require seaming and that can encompass a wider variety of color blends and patterns.

In addition, I plan to continue experimenting with naturally dyed fibers; this summer, I have planned several series of wraps/shawls that will incorporate botanically dyed linen, silk, and merino, to play with tone-on-tone color blends, as well as fiber blends and how each fiber takes dye differently.

What is your favorite restaurant in Maine?

I love Nina June because it is local to my little village of Rockport, and because the menu is so completely inspired by the changing seasons, relying on whatever is fresh and whatever is available local from the ocean, the gardens and the farms.

Where is your favorite outdoor location in Maine?

It’s hard to pick a favorite!  Kayaking on Pitcher Pond at sunrise, when the mist is coming off the water . . . Beauchamp Point any time of year . . . the Cliff Walk at Prouts Neck . . . biking at Schoodic or hiking the Bold Coast.  Pretty much any place I can be near the water!

Anything else you’d like to share with me about you personally, your process, your vision for the future of your business?

Website:  meandermade.com

Instagram:  meandermade

Previous work:  Seventeen issues of By Hand Serial, featuring my own sewing and knitting patterns, creative projects instructions, and recipes, as well as interviews and features of artisan communities around the country:  www.byhandserial.com