Born and raised in Boston, MA, Melanie Guerra has led a life immersed the arts. She has been formally trained in the performing arts (dance, voice, music and dramatics), and the visual arts (photography, clay, and jewelry design) throughout her life. Since1991, Melanie has been creating jewelry, originally as gifts for friends, eventually selling to friends and interested strangers, quite a few of whom purchased a piece from around Melanie’s neck! In 2001 she formed her own company, which today is known as MUSE.
She attended Emerson College, where she earned a degree in Mass Communications. She worked as a freelance promoter in the music and entertainment industry in Boston before changing her life dramatically and moving to Montana. There she found the inspiration of the Rocky Mountains and the endless opportunities of Western life exhilarating. After living in Arizona briefly, she settled in Colorado, living in Denver and Steamboat Springs. Her experiences in the American West, as well as her extensive travels in the US and abroad have inspired her jewelry and fueled a passion for landscape photography. She has successfully sold her photographic work, and was honored with having one of her images published in a book of fine art photography. See her photographic work here.
Melanie has enjoyed a fulfilling career in marketing and public relations, working for publicly traded as well as small, private businesses. She was also the Director of a non-profit organization, working with homeless children. She currently consults in the marketing field for a variety of clients.
Melanie has taught deign and technique classes in Boston and Steamboat Springs. She Co-founded of the Artists' Gallery of Steamboat, and served as Director of Marketing. She also served as Co-Chair of the Emerald City Opera Guild, and was the Troupe Coordinator for the Children's Opera for the 2007 season. She is an active member of the Steamboat Springs Arts Council, the Colorado Women's Caucus for Art, the PMC Guild and is a Level II Certified Precious Metal Clay Artisan. She has studied Precious Metal Clay techniques with Colin Buckley and Peggy Houchin. She has also studied raku pottery with Gayla Lemke.
Melanie attended the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Connoissuership program, where she earned a certificate in Appraisal Studies, focusing on Fine Art & Antiques. She has also earned the designation of Accredited Jewelry Professional from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in Carlsbad, CA. Her plans include continuing course work there in order to obtain her Graduate Gemologist designation, and one day set up shop as an appraiser of jewelry & antiques.
Melanie Guerra's work in Galleries, Festivals and Art Shows: * "Women About Transformation: an Evening of Art, Literature, Style, Music and Dance", 2002
* Fall Foliage Festival, Steamboat Springs, CO, 2002 & 2003
* Art on the Mountain at the Steamboat Springs Ski Area, 2002 & 2003
* Beaux Arts Festival, Steamboat Springs, 2003
* Huckleberries Gallery, Bozeman MT 2003-2004;
* Art Attack Gallery, Somerville, MA 2004-2006;
* Stylefixx - NYC produced retail designer conventions (2005-present);
* Elise Mankes Gallery, Marblehead, MA, 2005-2006
* Winter Craft at Brookline Arts Center, Brookline, MA, 2005, 2006, 2007;
* Spark Studio, Somerville, MA (instructor and consigner 2005-2007)
* Boston Center for Adult Education (instructor, 2005-2006)
