My studio is in boxes and in two days we move .
Time to rewrite my intro as I’ll be swapping my Lake/Seattle view for twice as much studio space and more of a plateau,mountains and on a good day volcano.
I know my art will probably take a turn too as I’ll be able to work in the garden for the first time in four years.We have the coldest June for over 20 yrs and I’m tempted just to jump straight in a plant some of the things I have in pots.
Looking forward to putting down proper roots-literally.
So today was tactile art day.
As ever a fun time sharing and exploring.
I have been helping out with the installation of African American quilts at my local museum and this inspired one of our projects today.I really wanted to encourage the group to focus on different media and their application to surfaces.The thing that I took away from the year studying fiber arts is the surface really does matter.How we use that surface as artist gives us an infinite voice and place for expression.
We also took a stroll to the class installation.Four blocks ,three guide dogs and eight artists enjoyed a verbally described and tactile tour.
We also discuss ART the project to be installed at a Seattle housing project.We are planning the biggest braille installation in the world.Now that will be a challenge and a great image to share.
Artist Statement
I feel we are all the sum of our experiences; some moments are more inspirational than others.
In creating “Up” I am seeking to explore a visual and tactile representation of the children’s rights charter. The charter was ratified by the United Nations in 1989 on the 30th anniversary, in 2009, of its publication. Yet there are still inequalities throughout the world. This installation seeks to support a dialogue around the impact of embracing this document.
Prior to my arrival in the Bellevue area in 2008 I was a pediatric nurse/teacher in Oxford, England. In 2002 I was a member of a partnership project between Save the Children Fund and the local health care providers around the implementation of children’s rights. The goal of this partnership was to focus on complex health care needs in multi-agency settings.
In April 2011 I had the privilege of being the sighted guide for two visually impaired friends as we visited the Gates Foundation first open house. The foundation has donated more than $16 billion in grants intended to ensure that all people have the opportunity to live healthy, productive lives.
This visit led me to reflect back to the partnership that was geared around working for children’s rights – the conceptually seeds for this installation were sewn.
Through experience of volunteering at Bellevue Art Museum as a docent I lived with the exhibits researching, sharing and celebrating artist’s creations. A piece titled “United States of North America” by Erika Harrsch was a component of the exhibition “Travelers:Objects of Dream and Revelation.” It created an installation of a passport office this gave me a place to muse, create early drawings, concepts while holding the role of a fictitious passport official.
My hope by creating this installation is to develop a space that is accessible for people to discuss how children’s rights can be implemented throughout the world.
I had never thought about how this would look from the side and like it !
Yes I’ve been neglecting this space but something things just happen.Recently they have been many fold !
I’m done with the figure making.Thought the next stage would be just so easy but yesterday I was told I’ll be hung next to a John Buck sculpture for the show.I had the absolute privilege meeting John Buck while working his show.
I spent many happy hours just visually exploring his wood cuts and prints.I hope people enjoy the layers of “Up”
I’ve been thinking about the “Up” project for about 6 months now and today was the day to start cutting out figures.
Thanks to the great collage assignment quarter making series of things is now just fine by me.As one of my classmates shared it’s actually the process that’s fun for her.I’m finding it a good place to.
Today the fun continues with creating paper beads to act as the limbs from the off cuts.
So this is the theme for our show at UW tower in June.
This is one of the completed pieces of paper-cloth for the installation.
Yep it just had to be done!
Yesterday we had some young students join us for the tactile art class.We had fun !
6 pairs of hands one small space
My technical knowledge of clay is a pinch pot and a coiled pot.This was enough of a step off point for this small group.We explored surfaces,form and the muscle memory needed to create.
I also got to share my prototypes for the final show.All three classes that met them yesterday gave positive feedback.After I did some very guerrilla art installing while a very high brow conference was in process at UW tower.
Quick visual confirmation of space for finals show
Coat hanger will go but I really needed to check the scale.The blue crew will go for the final installation they are just sizing tools. 12 white sentinels and 42 green themed guys each representing an article of the children’s rights charter will be included.I have 18 pieces of hand painted,layered and stitched paper-cloth.Hardest part is cutting the first one up !
So between the clay and prepping to go back to class tomorrow ( yes that much passion just has to be resolved !) I slipped into the Gauguin exhibit with my tactile art crew.
This is the clip that was recorded for the local news show.You don’t get to see me but that is the back of my head as we squeeze into the elevator.
Click for the video
So looking forward to expanding these tours to new venues
Wow I have never seen so many surfaces- met so many fantastic people than over the past three days.
I had the pleasure of being the greeter for the NCECA last evening and be docent in the galleries at BAM today.Wonderful clay artists shared their work.For me new connections were made.Professors and their students experienced the gallery space.
Steffano asked me last night if I was have fun – the answer is yes !
I love visiting artists studios and doing so with my docent friends is particularly important to me.The beaming picture of me outside at Pilchuck last summer shows this perfectly.
I visited April Surgent and Ethan Stern last week and was thrilled that they are working artists on the Pilchuck Board to ensure the future development of this special place.The expertise shared there will ensure that the continuity of ancient arts and traditions will continue into the developing technologies of glass art
I have a beautiful image of a very talented textile artist just gently exploring an engraving in process but will just leave this as visual description as acknowledgement to the Artist’s space
