New Art Textiles - Works in Progress

This new series is something that has been percolating for some time. I finally got to it over the holidaze.
I am combining parts from a vast array of vintage textiles, and have also included some of my own stenciled images (cat, trilobite, cake, chicken, alligator). Some of you may recognize these images from my stenciled clothing business days. Now that the stencils have been let out of the cupboard they may appear sometime soonish on clothing, or canvas as small wall hangings. These pieces are all hand stitched.

Lady With Pursed Lips and Alligator

Circus Dogs

Trilobite and Butterfly

Chicken and Chair

Cat Tales

Cake in The Yard

Snack Attack

Cookie Reef

The Riddle of the Jelly Donut

Cookies and Milk on the Milky Way

The Flan of Giza

Pudding on Mars

Paper Sphere

This week I have been thinking about group art projects, collaborations of sorts, where each person makes one component, and when put together, these components create something that becomes much more than the sum of the parts. I began thinking about this for my college level art education class. I wanted to 
create something that could hang on the wall or sit on the seminar table and remind us that we are a group, each with our own ideas and visions, but together capable of great things.

I like to make art projects as a group that enhance a physical space that the group will be sharing for a time, while making art, discussing the making of art, or pondering the teaching of the making of art.  During my investigation of the sculpture idea I had for the college students I realized that with some preparation on my part, the preschoolers could create a similar sculpture together.

 In order to prepare an activity for four and five year olds that  could be completed in the allotted time I would need to do several of the steps ahead of time. This is often the way it is with this age level. In my experience it is usually worth it, both for the process they will experience, and for the finished piece or pieces. If I were a classroom teacher working with students over several days I could

have them work on components and then construct the whole together. But as the “Project Lady”, arriving once a week with my bag of tricks for an hour or two, the magic needs to happen Presto! Pronto!

I set about tracing and cutting the circles for the paper sphere pictured here. It takes twenty circles to make one sphere.  That’s twenty circles to cut, and twenty triangles to trace onto the circles, and sixty folds to fold. I wanted enough to make two complete spheres for the class so double all that. It was a bit of a job, but then again I like repetitive tasks so this was not a problem. I wanted these components to be ready to go, so all the students would need to do is draw on them to make them special, and then I could glue them up one at a time and they could watch the sphere take shape.

 I had never done this project with students of any age before so I crossed my fingers, loaded the markers, paper circles, and glue sticks into my bag, and headed out hoping for the best. After a rhythm game or two with the group it was time for the demonstration. I showed the completed sphere I had made – all in white. I explained how the individual components went together to create it. I took a few individual circles and glued them together while they watched, so they could get the idea. They were ready to go. But first, I asked for questions or comments about the project before we left the circle, just in case. One little girl raised her hand and asked “didn’t you get tired of cutting out all those circles?”  “That is a good question” I replied. I went through the math with them and explained all the steps, but then told them that it was worth it because it was going to be something real special when we finished it and hung it up in their classroom. And off they went.

Sure enough, they were immediately engaged. Some of them colored solidly all over their circle, some drew images, and some did a combination of the two. I sat at one table and had them bring the circles to me as they completed them, so I could glue them up immediately and they could watch the sphere taking shape. Some of them sat with me and watched, quite enthralled. Some of them watched enough to get the idea and raced back to their seats to make more to add to the piece. Some expressed preferences as to the placement of their circle, ”put mine next to Chelsea’s”, or “put mine next to a pink one”. I was happy to oblige.

 When the sculpture was finished one of the classroom teachers punched the hole and hung the string and carried it around the room showing it to all, and enlisting their advice in choosing a special place to hang it.

The paper sphere fulfilled all my wishes for a successful project. It engaged the children, taught them something new, introduced them to the idea of a collaborative artwork, and helped to enhance the classroom with their creation.

The experience had an impact on me as well. Of course I felt happy that it had gone ok, and that I could provide a positive arts experience for the children. But as with most art teaching experiences it also gave pause for self-reflection. The child’s question in the circle about whether or not I got tired of cutting out all those circles made me think. I thought about why it was that I was interested in doing that kind of preparation just to provide that experience for the children, just like all those hard working early ed teachers across the globe. I thought a lot about my love of repetitive tasks, and their meditative nature. It is no wonder I choose to do the kind of  artwork I do, stitching millions of hand stitches with crochet hook and yarn or needle and thread.

I also found myself pondering the collaborative aspect of the activity. A simple project can bring such satisfaction to a group, no matter what the age, either the age of the participants, or the age or era in which it takes place. I thought about barn raisings, and quilting bees, and my place in the history of makers.

 

Fella The Dog Discusses His Collection

Fella The Dog used to enjoy a good chew after dinner each evening.
At some point he seemed to lose interest in chewing em up.
He still wants to get a chew each night but does not chew em.
Instead he has started a collection. 

A Curious Girl Learns To Play the Ukulele

For many years I have noticed that when teaching art to a group of preschoolers a song and movement game of some kind in the circle time beforehand really seems to stimulate their creative juices – their little grey cells as Poirot says – especially their story-telling selves. When we sing and dance first there always seems to be more involvement with the art making, and more stories told about their pictures, collages, or sculptures as they are in the thick of creation. I did not seek to learn the ukulele for this purpose but I think it is having a similar effect on moi.

I have been fantasizing about learning to play the uke for several years. I am not sure how it got into my head to begin with, but it has sat there patiently and persistently for a while. I like to make new years resolutions and for 2011 this was one of them. I had picked up a uke at a church tag sale for not much dough about a year and a half ago but had not attempted to play it. Two nights ago I was ready to take the plunge. I downloaded some basic information from online and sat down with my uke.

A friend had told me she thought mine was a baritone and it might not be the right thing for me, since my hands are quite small. I did manage to teach myself row, row, row your boat which made me quite giddy, but also realized she was right about the size. I could hardly make some of the chords (also due to complete beginner-ness and having no chops of course) and almost had to use my toes to get some of em. I awoke yesterday still slightly high from the experience however and decided to take the plunge and purchase a soprano uke if I could find one locally. Luckily I did. I found exactly the kind I envisioned and I happily handed over my Christmas money

(thanks mom and dad and Al) and brought her home. I have not named her yet but I know the right name will come to me when the time is right. I adore her already. She is a dear little soprano uke and I know nothing of her pedigree but don’t care. She is here with me now and helping me learn to make music for the first time since childhood.

I played piano as a little girl for four years from 2^nd to 6^th grade and had a brief but frightening stint in the school orchestra with a violin, but otherwise have not played an instrument since. I loved my piano teacher Mrs. Westerberg and loved piano, but like many young girls and boys when I got to jr. high school it was so not cool to play an instrument (not like nowadays!) and so I lapsed. I missed those lunch-time lessons at her house across the street from Watchung School where half the time was spent playing the piano and half was spent eating the little sandwich and cookie my mother had packed for me while Tippy the dog begged at my feet… but I

digress… or do I? Perhaps playing an instrument now will put me in touch with those simpler times.

 Another of my new years resolutions was MORE FRIVOLITY – and my little ukulele fulfills that one too! If last night is any indication she and I are well on our way to this goal. From the first chords I knew I had made the right choice. I love her size and her tone. I had also purchased a beginner book and I learned to play a few chords and then tackled the same row, row, row your boat, figuring since I knew the tune and it only had two chords I should be able to swing it. And swing it I did!

Again the experience made me giddy and by the end of my session I could play the tune without looking at the book or my hands and dance around at the same time. I am hooked!!!

Now, those of you that know me, know that I do tend to have a bit (?) of a short attention span for things and I also have an unquenchable thirst for always learning new things so only time will tell if I will stick with this I guess. But already I have learned a great lesson - again. Listen to that inner voice when it tells you to try something new. It is good to be a learner. It is especially good if you are a teacher.

Over the years I have explored the connection between my writing and my art making and now look forward to exploring the connection between my music making and my art making.

Anything that calms and exhilarates is a-ok by me!