7x7x7 Series: Tobiah Mundt
Published on June 27, 2016. Interview by 2016 Summer Intern, Nicki Sheffield: Tobiah Mundt is a local textile artist who is the New City Arts Artist-in-Residence for March-July 2016, has a solo exhibit at Welcome Gallery in July 2016, and is teaching a Cactus Needle Felting Workshop at New City Arts on July 20, 2016. Tobiah is our second featured 2016 artist in our second annual 7x7x7 Series, which asks 7 questions to 7 Charlottesville artists and published once a week for 7 weeks.
Photo Credit: Nikki Sheffield
If you had a free afternoon in Charlottesville what would you do or where would you go?
There are no free afternoons as a parent! But if I could escape for a little bit, I would go for a run on one of the awesome trails in Charlottesville. Then I would probably end up needle felting in the shade at Greenleaf park while my kids play in the water.
Describe your artistic work in 7 words.
Selfish emotional creatures that keep me sane
Photo Credit: Nikki Sheffield
Who or what inspires your current work?
My experiences and relationships inspire me. I am also inspired by the colors I see from my porch.
Consider one sculpture you’re working on right now. Give us a snippet of your routine— from start to finish, what goes into making it?
My work starts with an issue I need to work out or a relationship I want to honor. I always begin with the face and the emotion then work out my issues by playing with the wool and the position of the body or the with the way it interacts with another piece.
What have you learned about yourself as a person through the experience of making art?
My work has forced me to be more open and to share my world with others.
What would you like to see happen in Charlottesville to better support artists in our community?
We moved to Charlottesville not too long ago and I feel like I'm still getting to know the artist community here.
What is currently on your studio desk?
About 100 Pom-Poms. A sculpture entitled " The Twins" that I'm putting the finishing touches on. 3 Lego creations that my children have made for me. A half full Chemex with lukewarm coffee. And lots and lots of wool.
The opinions expressed in this interview are solely those of the artist and do not necessarily represent the policies or positions of NCAI.
Charlottesville artist Tobiah Mundt is the New City Arts Artist-in-Residence for March-July 2016. Tobiah's work captures and encases her fears and anxieties in sculpted form by exploring different methods of textile art, primarily needle felting. Her most recent body of work, Otherness, is about being OK with not fitting in.
Tobiah’s received Bachelor of Architecture in 2000 from Howard University. She has exhibited her artwork nationally, including “Being”, a solo exhibit at Lawndale Art Center (Houston, TX), and in group exhibitions, “Plush you LA!” at Munky King (Los Angeles, CA), “Plush you!” at Schmancy Gallery (Seattle, WA), and “Mortal Plush: I am not your Toy” at Whino Gallery (National Harbor, MD).