Meet Megan McCarter | Welder/fabricator/sculptor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Megan McCarter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Megan, how do you think about risk?
How do I think about risk? Role of risk in my life/career?

Risk is relative; relative to means, beliefs, location, abilities, and experiences. I have very seldom categorized events or choices as a risk, aside of jumping from high places and some spiders. Coming from a rural areas of the southern midwest taking risks has never been a catalyst of fear, not having opportunities has been. Growing up the eighth child in a fairly resistant family, there was not much impression of risk. I viewed risk and opportunity as the same thing, I feel only after becoming a mother myself have I become fully aware of what risk is.

Equating risk to opportunity has moved me out of poverty, into education, world travel, motherhood, and believe it or not a level of stability. Risk has lead me to a working with construction companies, allowing me to push those feminine boundaries even further. The opportunities from those risks has lead me to have the freedom to explore my self reliance and self expression as an artist, a mother and a builder.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Please tell us more about your art. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about.

My artwork is visual, or poetic, hence the hesitation to put straight forward words to it. When I work I am communicating, often an emotion based on a personal experience. What I attempt to do for myself is to break up that emotion, deconstruct it. How is this experience changing me? Better, stronger, slower, more relatable? Having an emotional reaction is something that we all share humans and animals alike. Witnessing a viewer, especially someone I do not know, sharing in that emotion is exciting.

How did you get to where you are today professionally?

I have gotten where I am today professionally through perseverance, education, and stubbornness. Fearlessness, and/or foolishness at times. Today I am a mother as well as a lead fabricator/estimator/purchasing/artist. A builder.

Was it easy?

Getting to where one is at and defining whether or not it was easy, is relative to where one starts out at. No it was not, and is not easy.

How did you overcome the challenges?

I have gotten where I am today professionally through perseverance, education, and stubbornness. Fearlessness, and/or foolishness at times.

What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way?

To not undersell myself, my experience and my problem solving ability. To be even more stubborn, educated, and fearless while working on assertiveness.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

I am not sure yet. Many things. Perhaps, mostly, that any single person from any single place is instinctively a builder. That is exciting as well, when I get to see that shine in the people around me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
So, my best friend has visited me many times here. That being said, there are always new places, businesses and events to explore. Tucson and the surrounding areas are full of unique and local shops and restaurants. So on to itineraries. Hiking, early morning Sabino Canyon, especially this year during monsoon and the time of the saguaros blooming.

Camping, a simple overnight on Mount Lemmon. Bring a telescope and a comfy tent, there’s great camping variety.

Airbnb along the Verde River near Cottonwood. Enjoy local food and Kombucha and explore the river.

Definitely take the streetcar along Fourth Avenue and Congress Street. Walk along the Arts Warehouse District, explore galleries that exhibit local artists.
As far as food in Tucson, in my opinion as long as you avoid chains, you can’t go wrong.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have had many great, truly great educators. Motivating and engaging, inspiring. These people helped me to obtain my skill set and hone my observation skills. The support I had from my best friend and my aunt and uncle kept me grounded. My partner Matt and his family have been and are supportive of creativity and engaging the community of Tucson. They themselves are creative and loving and I am lucky to have found them here.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megansmetal/

Other: megansmetal@gmail.com