Maker City KC
Meet Matt Hawkins, the bearded face behind Matthew Made Art in this week’s “9 Questions with a Maker”
Save the date: This maker’s work will be on display at the upcoming, sixth annual Spring Swing event presented by The Strawberry Swing. The event is set to take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 30 and 31 at Alexander Majors Barn at 8201 State Line Rd, Kansas City, MO. The event will feature works from more than 100 makers!
Matthew Hawkins is a maker, a paper craft artist, an illustrator, an amateur puppet maker, a banjo player and an incessant doodler. Hawkins weaves humor and energy into bold, whimsical art for humorous and often surprising results. He travels the country selling his art at shows and conventions. When he isn’t on the road, he can be found making and sharing paper craft for kids and families. He shares his work at www.matthewmadeart.com. His work has been shown in art galleries and exhibitions from Disneyland to Amsterdam to Tokyo. We recently caught up with Hawkins and asked him to be highlighted in our Maker City KC feature, “9 Questions With A Maker.” Have a look at his thoughts below and check out his work online HERE.
1. What inspires you and your work?
No doubt, the number one influence are my amazing friends and colleagues in KC’s art and music scene. Being part of this community means constantly being surrounded by amazing talent, bold ideas and a supportive community. If I’ve achieved anything in my creative pursuits it’s most certainly due to the creative, inspiring and crazy folks I’m surrounded by constantly.
2. Are makers doers or dreamers?
Gotta be both. Doing is what makes a dreamer a maker! Everyone wants to have made but not everyone wants to make!
3. What invention / product do you wish you would have created?
Vaccine for this damn Covid-19 bug.
4. What is the worst invention / product still embraced by modern society?
Perfectly manicured lawns.
5. If you could sit down and have a drink with any person in your industry, who would it be and why?
Wayne White. He’s managed to work in so many different mediums and careers, but always bring his whimsy and humor and unique perspective. Like all successful artist/makers he has managed to change and shift to stay inspired and relevant. Also we could chat about banjo.
6. What do you love most about the Maker Movement happening in Kansas City right now?
There is room for everyone and everyone is helping lift each other up and elevating the quality of the work. The better we all do, the better we all do. I think we are seeing that now more than ever, creatives banding together to help each other and the community at large through these strange times.
7. Who or what is another maker in Kansas City that you’re impressed and inspired by?
I’m always impressed by Mike Horner, Director of Puppetry Arts at Messner Puppet Theater. His puppet creations are amazing works of handcraft, using so many different techniques (sewing, woodwork, found-object). Then to see these handcrafted objects come to life and touch an audience in the hands of a talented performer is really inspiring. A beautiful combination of the performing, written and visual arts.
8. What Kansas City creation / icon best reflects our makers’ community?
It’s gotta be the confluence of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers. Our city began there. Like rivers flowing into each other, the Kansas City creative community comes from different directions and disciplines to make fertile and vibrant community for creativity to blossom.
9. If you could ask people to do just ONE thing to support the Maker Movement what would you ask or tell them?
As crass as it sounds, support makers monetarily. This is capitalism baby, welcome to America. We vote with our dollars. Want music, want art, want handmade goods, want amazing food, want great stories, want a vibrant, unique and interesting world to live in? Support makers and artisans. Even dream-doers need to eat!
Keep up with Matthew Made Art online here:
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