Over and Under at Wheaton College

Last Thursday was the finale of my tenure as a Visiting Artist at Wheaton College. The project Over and Under: Weaving Together the Fabric of Our Community was a semester long collaboration where student groups and faculty worked together on a large scaffold weave. Individuals donated personal items to be woven into the tapestry resulting in a final collage of colorful individuals coming together as a whole.

The large scaffold weave was designed to be portable and was installed at either in the Balfour Center or the new Science Center cafe area. This increased the visibility and accessibility to many different student groups.

 We removed the weave from the frame and installed it between the two balconies in the student center. It will remain there until graduation. A beautiful emblem to the spirit of Wheaton!

Practice Closes Today

This is a simple entry without much text but many many photos. Check out earlier posts about that outline the theme and the artists and storytellers.  It's been an absolute delight working with everyone involved with this show. Caleb, Julie, Stephanie, Amanda, Hannah and Zsuzsi, the Nave, Massmouth, the visitors. I have enjoyed every second of it. Thanks everyone!

I'm sitting for the last shift at the Nave Gallery Annex tonight 6-8 pm. We're having a pizza party... come join us for one last look before it comes down!

Participants at Massmouth's story slam workshop

Hannah explaining her work at the Artists Talk

Zsuzsi talking about her video and process

Progeny

Blast II, front view

The past few weeks have been so busy with all the events associated with Practice that I haven't been able to write about my recent work in the studio. The posts about receptions, art talks and story slams will come later, at this time I'd like to introduce you to some new members of the family, Blast II and Spawn.

Conrad Wilde Gallery in Tuscon is curating a show entitled High Fiber and requested a new batch of these babies. Directly above and below is Blast II measuring at 33 x 26 x 23 inches. These sculptures are created with an adapted needlefelting technique that I invented when working on Mushroomed at Stonehill College in 2011. It involves creating an armature out of nylon and fiberfil and then applying many layers of felted wool.

Blast II, back view

The scale of these is more dramatic and threatening than the earlier orbs. The color paints a sinew-like texture which enhances the perception that they are alive and growing. A very physical and raw presence in the room.

Spawn, 16 x 15 x 13 inches