A Sense of Wonder: Megan Eckman

By Kristine Kostuck
Contributing Writer

With our culture’s conveniences, society seems to expect everything fast and easy. This has affected everything in our lifestyle down to entertainment. Megan Eckman, a Fargo artist, is working at her own pace and bringing back a traditional style in her work that we have almost forgotten about.

Eckman recently graduated from MSUM with a degree in Art and Creative Writing. She combines these in her work. She isn’t a stranger to the Fargo art scene. A recent job was with the Plains Art Museum, she has displayed her work at Atomic Coffee and has had many shows through MSUM.

Eckman’s work is currently on display at the Green Market downtown. It’s the perfect place, as Megan describes, to show her work because it attracts art enthusiasts. However diversified their tastes may be, it is hard not to admire Eckman’s work. Most of it is based on fantasy and is illustrated in pen and ink. “I work best with this—art seems to be big and bright these days, at least that’s what it seemed like in college. I think our attention spans have become short,” she said.

Fantasy art is usually associated with Anime and graphic work. We seem to forget about the art in children’s books read many years ago; and if remembered, many do not introduce their kids to the stories they once knew. Somewhere we lost illustration in books. Almost everything is photographed and later digitally mastered, with few exceptions.

Eckman has recognized this, and is slowly bringing her viewers’ sense of wonder back by reminding them of the fairy tales she and others grew up with. For her it was the Grimms, stories like the “Three Billy Goats Gruff.” Others were by Edward Gorey, who wrote tales that appealed to adults but could be shared with their children. One of his most famous works was a book of different ways children could die: A is for Amy who fell down the stairs; B is for Basil assaulted by bears…. “It was dark but cute at the same time,” she said.

When people look at her work it brings them right back to their childhood, exactly what Eckman intends. “I get a lot of ‘Oh my god I can’t believe someone still does this,’” she said. “I want people to remember the fun they had as a child reading these stories. And for them to know it is fine to read them again.”

Her show at the Green Market is almost completely fictional, like her viewers’ favorite, the series of drawings “Little Red Riding Hood.” Others are ideas formed by her trip to Scotland, where she was fascinated by the castles and their stories. Some were haunted, others were rumored to have monsters locked in medieval dungeons.

Eckman has also explored history through portraits. Recently, she illustrated a book about Fargo for a University of Michigan student. It was a challenge for Eckman. She was not use to drawing exactly what was in front of her rather than in her imagination. “I have tried to be a serious artist but it just hasn’t worked,” she said. “But it isn’t so bad when you are interested in what you are working on.”

In July Eckman will be moving to California where she will continue drawing. She hopes to meet influential artists and find other illustrators. “I was worried that the people in California would not take my work seriously, but after the opening and feedback I got from the show at the Market, I don’t see why not.”

Megan’s exhibit at the Green Market closes July 17. She will also be displaying her work at Fargo’s Cork and Canvas on June 10, or see her work at the website http://megeck.deviantart.com

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If You Go

What: Megan Eckman
Where: Green Market
When: Through July17
Info: 701.241.6000