MONARCHS MIGRANT DANCE

Oh The composition is changing! Gorillas employed by ICE.

dancing with monarch butterflies. Those immigrant monarchs flying around and decorating the plants, skies and imaginations!

SKETCH FOR "I.C.E." IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

This is inspired by an early morning visit to my neighborhood by a contingent of ICE agents. They carried out a rather large man in his boxer shorts to their truck. I think I am going to go for a gorilla look for the ICE agents. Migrating monarch butterflies could add a touch of irony and contrast. I'm still working on the composition but ideas are hatching.

I.C.E. OPERATION IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD!

I saw some ICE officers dragging a fellow out of his home very early one morning in my neighborhood. I managed to get one blurry photo. Enough to lead to a painting. Stay Tuned!

SURREPTITIOUS WEBSITE!!

Mr Frank Force took the exhibit of The Peoples Gallery at City Hall and made an online catalog. HTTPS://killedbyapixel.github.io/PeoplesGallery Here is my page https://killedbyapixel.github.io/PeoplesGallery/#artist/mj-hickerson

BEE, FISH AND FLOWERS

Painting a fish foreshortened from the front was more of challenge than expected. Flowers need and feed some lovely bugs! Postcards are great for practice, practice, practice.

POSTCARDS, HOME MADE

I cut some matboard scraps into the regulation size of the U. S. postoffice - 6" x 4.25". It is fun making postcards. Maybe I will do some political ones. Or, at least current events?

THE BUTTERFLIES ARE CONTINUING

After they rest and sometimes even exhibited, I suddenly see!! Oh then a brilliant continuation, improvement!

WITH A DRAGONFLY, BIRDS AND MEMORIES

One of my paintings in the TELL ME A STORY exhibit won second prize. There is money associated with this prize which I will get when the exhibit is over and I pick up the painting...If it doesn't sell...!! It's a winner!

On the figure's shoulder there is a red dragonfly AND the shell of a cicada. These two images together refer to someone who has passed on.

BUTTERFLIES, MEMORIES AND A LITTLE MUSIC

I am glad that these 3 paintings are going to Round Rock Penrose Theatre Gallery. They will be there until July in an exhibit called TELL ME A STORY.

COCK-A-POO MONARCH WITH BLUEBONNETS

I love it! I'm at that point in making this painting that I LOVE IT. I think. Hmmm When I get up tomorrow morning I'll see if I still feel the same. I have not yet put on the unifying glaze so there could still be changes. What an idea! Where did it come from? Thinking about death? How wonderful it is that this life is transient and precious. Except when what or who you love leaves. That is awful!!! My darling cock-a-poo left. I am so privileged or blessed to have had such a wonderful, brilliant dog. Oh, What a tale! The endangered butterflies and wildflowers who give us such beauty. Transient, seasonal beauty. Lucky us. Lucky me and that lovely dog!!

I got rid of the ribbon of life but she just doesn't quite capture that magic transience of life. So changes!

Maybe it is done. Maybe.

MIRACLES IN NEW YORK CITY

The exhibit in Manhatten was so fun! Thursdays all the galleries in the building-about 8 or 10- were opening and having receptions.

THE FOUR GRACES DESCEND.....

Finally! This painting has been at Austin City Hall since 2024. Finally it will be coming back to me. I guess it is sort of like free storage but for some reason it makes me very anxious to have an artwork on exhibit for years! It is the ribbon of Life at the beach. Or dancing with spirits? IT IS FUN!!

MIRACLES

MIRACLES is the name of my wonderful new exhibit at CERES Gallery, 547 West 27th Street, second Floor, New York, New York 10001. The first day will be Tuesday, March 31, 2026. There will be TWO receptions. Thursday, April 2, 6-8 PM and then on Saturday April 4, 2026 from 3-5 PM. I will have 26 paintings on exhibit! A shared voice and and homage to this wonderful LIFE! On this planet.

Melanie Hickerson is an American painter whose work blends narrative, metaphor, and lived experience into richly colored, disciplined compositions. She earned her MFA from The University of Texas at Austin in 1985 and has exhibited extensively in New York and Texas, including long-time exhibitions at Ceres Gallery. Her recent series, Ribbon of Life and Homage to Miracles, explores ecological loss and interconnectedness through dream-like, surreal imagery. Hickerson’s work is held in the permanent collections of the University of Texas at San Antonio and Texas Lutheran University in Seguin. She lives and works in Austin, Texas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9XUogbXhew

MIRACLES

The idea of the ribbon of life that joins all of us together is the metaaphor I am thinking about in these works. The butterflies are both fragile and tough. Continuing to exist against great odds.

MIRACLES CERES GALLERY TUES-SAT 12:00- 6:00 547 WEST 27TH STREET / 2ND FLOOR Tuesday, March 31 - Saturday, April 25, 2026 Reception – Thurs., April 2, 2026 , NEW YORK CITY, NY 10001 - 212-947-6100

MIRACLES

MIRACLES CERES GALLERY TUES-SAT 12:00- 6:00 547 WEST 27TH STREET / 2ND FLOOR Tuesday, March 31 - Saturday, April 25, 2026 Reception – Thurs., April 2, 2026 , NEW YORK CITY, NY 10001 - 212-947-6100

WONDERFUL BUGS MONARCHS WONDERFUL BUGS

Monarchs came through Austin a couple of weeks ago. They are just so miraculous. Silly people using dangerous pesticides instead of using balance and patience.

ROSES and FRIENDS

The structure of the flowers called roses is just amazing and beautiful. The spiral plus other geometries present in their structure challenges me to keep the air and magic in the image.

CENSORSHIP! PRESIDENT, THE CURATOR

I've had work not accepted into exhibitions. Fine. Curators doing their jobs to pick a show. I have had work rejected, sent back, dismissed after it was chosen. By non-art people. The question "Can you explain this to us?" is right up there in the top 10 stupid questions from ignorant and insecure people. Here is one of my favorites that got me into a private conversation with some politicians. "What is this about?"

Now our politician #1 is curating the Smithsonian. What a joke. He paved over a 100 year old rose garden. The man is a nitwit.

INTERVIEW WITH A MAGAZINE VOYAGE AUSTIN

They used the word "courage" too may times. I guess that means I used it too many times when I responded to their questions.