About the Exhibition

Melissa’s artistic journey is rooted in a deep connection to Detroit, exploring themes of urban decay, resilience, and the enduring beauty of architecture. Beginning during her time as a college student living in the Cass Corridor, her practice has grown into an exploration of both personal and collective history.

The process of saltwater copper etching creates a deep connection to Detroit as the salt is drawn from ancient deposits beneath the city. When this salt water interacts with copper- another material deeply tied to Michigan’s industrial history- it creates rich and unpredictable surfaces. This process reflects the delicate balance between control and chance, mirroring the city’s story of struggle, survival and transformation. The use of cooper, often stripped from homes in times of economic hardship, carries both beauty and pain. Its presence speaks to cycles of loss and renewal through its role in Detroit's history and to the ways people have adapted, reclaimed, and rebuilt.

In addition to salt etching and copper, Melissa utilizes cyanotype printing. Similar to film photography, cyanotype printing uses light-sensitive chemicals and manual development to capture images through exposure and time. These analog processes are tactile, expressive, and increasingly rare in the digital age. Their decline mirrors the loss of traditional architecture—structures made with care, intention, and cultural significance. When we lose these buildings, we lose memory, identity, and the artistry of past generations.

For Melissa, preserving these processes and honoring architectural heritage is an act of resistance against disposability and erasure. Drawn to buildings and homes that have endured—weathered but still standing—are seen as symbols of human perseverance and the passage of time. Through her etchings and prints, Melissa aims to immortalize them and evoke a sense of nostalgia, reverence, and quiet resilience.

While Detroit is a city close to Melissa’s heart and remains central to her work, she is excited to expand her lens. In this show, Melissa captures not just Detroit, but also includes Ann Arbor and its surrounding areas—places that hold special meaning. As a parent to a University of Michigan graduate, she’s spent many weekends walking its neighborhoods, admiring the architecture and the vibrant sense of community.

Through her work, Melissa invites viewers to look more closely at the stories embedded in our built environments, to find beauty in what remains, and to reflect on what is worth preserving. Each piece is both a meditation on place and a tribute to endurance.

Melissa Wilson

Melissa Wilson is an accomplished art educator and practicing artist with over 25 years of experience teaching high school Fine Arts. She has also taught college-level fine arts courses and currently serves as an instructor in the Art Education program at Oakland University. Melissa earned both her B.S. and M.A. in Art Education from Wayne State University and further expanded her studio skills through coursework at the College for Creative Studies. As head of the art department at Lake Orion High School (LOHS), she also advised the National Art Honor Society (NAHS), guiding students in numerous large-scale community art projects, including murals, tile installations, and a permanent sculpture garden. Her excellence in teaching has been widely recognized. She was named Lake Orion High School Teacher of the Year in 2018 and received the Most Inspiring Educator Award from Scholastic Art for Oakland County Public Schools. In 2020, the Michigan Art Education Association honored her as the High School Art Educator of the Year, and later that year, the National Art Education Association named her the National Art Honor Society Sponsor of the Year.

Throughout her career, Melissa has inspired many students to pursue careers in the arts. Her students have earned 28 National Scholastic Art Medals, among many other awards. Melissa’s own artistic practice is deeply informed by her teaching experience. Proficient in a wide range of media—including clay, oil and watercolor painting, printmaking, metals, and photography—she selects materials based on the concept she is exploring, rather than adhering to a single medium. She lives in Royal Oak, Michigan, with her husband and is the proud mother of three sons.

Opening Reception

Friday, August 1, 6-8 pm

Ann Arbor Art Center
117 W. Liberty St., Ann Arbor

Join us for the opening reception of Melissa Wilson's show in the Spotlight Gallery on the 2nd floor of the A2AC.

Free