Studio mates and partners in life, artists Matt Demers and Allison McKeen met in 2011 at Harlow Gallery in Hallowell, Maine, where Allison worked for nearly ten years. They now share a spacious 1,500-square-foot loft in Gardiner’s downtown that serves as their studios and workspace for Allison’s rapidly expanding, eponymous product design company, noted for its colorful, whimsical prints on tea towels, cards, stickers, tote bags, and more. Ever inventive and supportive of one another in their art and collecting habits, their studio and home are filled with curios, cast-offs, antiques, and works of art by an ever-widening circle of artist friends. Recently, Matt left his day job designing highway signs for the Maine D.O.T. to devote himself full time to his studio practice. And Allison acquired a sewing machine, embarking on a series of abstract pieced quilts. On my visit to the studio, we spoke about these developments in their life and art.
SM: Allison, can you tell me how you segued into the new quilted works?
AM: Honestly, I don’t know how it started; I just knew I’ve always wanted to make abstract improvisational quilts. So, I got myself a sewing machine, taught myself to sew, and launched into it, which was very gratifying. It’s piecing shapes together, much like how I compose my paintings and approach block printing and pattern design.
SM: Right now, they’re on a smaller scale compared to some of your paintings. Do you have plans to go bigger?
AM: Yes, it would be fun to make a larger one. I’m excited about sewing in lots of different ways. I want to make a quilt that we can use and try making my own clothes. So, this is just a jumping-off point.
SM: You both grew up in central Maine. Were your families encouraging of your art careers?
AM: Yes, my parents have always supported my intent to be an artist. They might not call themselves “artists,” but they’re both talented and creative. My mom worked in art therapy, and my dad has a sign-making business.
MD: As a kid, I was always encouraged to draw and make things. My mom was a big craftsperson, and my dad was really handy, so between them there were a lot of different materials available. I grew up in an old house surrounded by interesting, old stuff. My parents would drag me to auctions and yard sales, and it just stuck.
SM: How do you see your antique collecting relating to your art?
MD: It’s something I was thinking about just the other day. I’ve always been interested in customization and personalization, and collecting one-of-a-kind objects offers that, in a way. I think about my paintings, similarly, as making something uniquely your own. Lately, I’ve been playing more with found text and representational images but finding ways of making them my own by pairing them with abstractions in a series I’m calling Above/Below.
SM: The new split compositions contain a lot of humor and graphic elements. Where does the imagery you’re using come from?
MD: I find a lot online and in old clipart books. I like random, playful imagery that is bold and pared down. My interest in text is in the letter forms more than the word itself. Whether it’s text or a representational image, I’ll crop or invert it, making it something new. When you take just a piece of something, you look at it and think about it differently.
SM: Allison, how did you get into printmaking and product design?
AM: My first printmaking experience was an etching class at Haystack in 2015. After that, I was hooked but didn’t have a press or equipment at home. That’s when I discovered block printing. You don’t need fancy equipment, just your hands, stamps, and ink. As I figured out different ways to print besides on paper, I started printing on tote bags, tea towels, et cetera. And then it just grew from there.
SM: And now your business is very successful.
AM: Thanks.
MD: She won’t say it, but she just got a very large order from a national retailer.
SM: This feels like a big moment for the two of you. Allison, with your design company taking off, and Matt leaving your job to spend more time in the studio. What’s next on the horizon for you both?
MD: I’m excited to apply for residencies, which I’ve never been able to do because I couldn’t take extended time away from my job. And being able to travel more, which I couldn’t do as much when working. And, of course, more time in the studio. I was getting here less than I would like to. I’m also able to assist Allison with certain business-related tasks as she gets busier and busier.
AM: I look forward to more non-functional studio time. As the business has grown, it’s increasingly important for me to find time to make art that’s not attached to a product. It’s a challenging balance but essential. Having fun creating has always been our goal; that’s where it’s at.
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