FiberLAB Summer Retreat in Gloucester

Stitching Nature –  Expressing beauty using alternative materials & traditional techniques 

Shapes inspired by barnacles.
Created with strips of fabric, crochet, wire and paint.

JOIN US in this summer in Gloucester, MA and expand your vision of the material world. By combining close observation with a broad vision we'll play with scale as we build, felt, and paint in response to the patterns we find in nature.

Inspired by lichens found hanging from trees in coastal forests.
Created with a found fishing rope and copper wire.

WE’LL WALK IN THE WOODS AND ON THE BEACH in search of inspiration. Back in the studio, you’ll use material and technique to create unique abstractions using the ocean setting and the
woods around us as your muse. You'll be sculpting with wool, gel printing with vegetation, embellishing surfaces with finishes, connecting elements with needlework techniques and much more. You'll develop your vision with confidence and self-expression, inspired by the ocean setting and the woods around us.
 
MORNINGS include instruction on one or more techniques.
 
AFTERNOONS will be about independent study on personal projects with individual guidance to define your vision and make it happen. This time can be dedicated either as an in depth focus on a singular art object OR as a practice of several different processes toward a collection of studies.

Examples of contemporary artists will be presented and discussed. Investigations will be both 2D and 3D. Experimentation and journaling are encouraged.

Materials are included. Each artist has a full 8 foot table (more if necessary) on which to work. Class size is limited to optimize individualized attention. All levels of experience welcome.
 

Inspiration from nature and the aggregates of simple organic shapes.

Abundant materials available to allow for total freedom and spontaneity during your process.

Artists at working on independent projects in the Somerville FiberLAB this winter.

ENGAGE WITH OTHER MAKERS in the transformative art-making experience of this 5-day retreat. Our spacious studio, the Lanesville Community Center, is within walking distance of shady hiking trails and lovely New England beaches.
 
IMMERSE YOURSELF IN ART, NATURE AND COMMUNITY as we learn from each other, nurturing our creative souls and enhancing our connection with the environment.

 

When you are not at the studio, take off to enjoy the beauty of Gloucester,
Rocky Neck and the surrounding areas. Come be inspired!

Lodging: Participants will make their own arrangements for housing. There are many lovely B & B’s as well as very affordable weekly rentals within walking distance of the studio in Lanesville, MA. Contact me and I’ll share my links. If you live nearby and want to commute, no problem!
 
Dates and Location:      
Monday-Friday, August 15-19, 2016, 
Lanesville Community Center, Gloucester MA
 
Schedule:   
M-F mornings, 9am - noon,  
M-Thurs afternoons, 2-4 pm, (workshop ends at noon on Friday)
Evenings, self-organized beach walks (weather permitting)
 
Cost:   $725.00, includes materials
Early Bird Registration:  $650.00 by May 1, 2016
 
Signup via PayPal in the sidebar to the right of the blog.

Please contact me and/or visit my website for more information or to learn more about the curriculum.

Vintage post card for a local nature reserve called Dogtown. There's a rich culture and history
to be explored in the Lanesville neighborhood of Gloucester.

Plum Cove Beach just moments down the road from the studio in Lanesville.

Fiber Lab Workshops - New Session to begin January 2016

Just some of the materials on hand for everyone to experiment with.
The Somerville Lab happens in my studio, every other Saturday, with access to all my materials,
tools, books and secrets.

The first session of my new venture of open studio workshops called FIBER LAB has just completed to a resounding success.

We have an amazing environment where makers can experiment freely with materials provided, expand on current projects and learn from each other. We lose all concept of time and place and get lost in our work with lots of laughs and energy.  Participants quickly bonded to each other's work process, with several collaborative and wonderful demonstrations of new techniques as well.

I'm super excited and honored to be a part of this community and witness the creativity and ingenuity of everyone's process. It's only been one session yet we've learned so much already about basketry, sculptural crochet, weaving, embroidery, felting and organic freeform abstraction.

We're planning for future explorations into eco-dyeing, rust, journaling and inviting some guest artists for special technique tutorials.

Session II begins Jan. 14 for Weston and Jan. 16 for Somerville. Read below for all the info. If interested, you can sign up using the Paypal button in the sidebar of this blog... just choose location and session and the rest is easy.

Lots of laughter and fun in Weston Workshop.
We meet in the beautiful First Parish Church building in a classroom with ample space and light.
Perfect accommodations for us to spread out and make our happy messes.

THE FIBER LAB is an independent study group that provides individual instruction, exposure to contemporary art, experimentation with material and technique and a membership to a maker community.

- Individual tutorials of a myriad of fiber techniques including needlefelting,

sculptural crochet, weaving, embroidery and more

- Introduction to alternative materials

- Access to studio tools, books and materials

- Materials included for instruction of new techniques and experimentation

- Gentle peer group consults for feedback and information exchange

- Mentoring

- Nurturing environment that encourages risk taking and experimentation

Lots of time for individual instruction. This is an opportunity for those who are new to working with materials as well as the fiber enthusiast who is looking to add to their repertoire of skills.

Choose from two locations:

Weston Center

First Parish Church,Weston

Every second Thursday 10:30a-1:30p

Session II Jan. 14, 28, Feb 11, 2016

Session III  Mar 24, April 7, 21 2016

Miller Street Studios

11 Miller Street, Somerville MA

Every second Saturday 10:00a-1:00p

Session II Jan. 16, 30, Feb 13, 2016

Session III Feb. 27, Mar 12, Mar 26 2016

Cost: $ 280.00 per three class session

All Levels Welcome!

Jodi Colella

jodi@jodicolella.com

www.jodicolella.com

www.jodicolella.blogspot.com

NEW!! Fiber Arts Workshop Series

I'm excited to announce a new program beginning this November!

PRESTO!! 
Creating Magic with Experimental Material and Technique

A series of Workshops on various topics including WOOL, SCULPTURAL CROCHET, WEAVING, EMBROIDERY and more. INCLUDING an OPEN STUDIO WORKSHOP which allows for independent experimentation and exploration.

All classes include personal instruction, access to tools, an abundance of materials for in-class projects, examples of contemporary artists in the field, community support and lots of freefloating creativity.

Here's just some of what we'll be covering. There is no knowing where we will go once we all start working together.

WOOL

Explore needlefelting, create orbs, incorporate found objects, build freeform sculpture, 2D painting and more. Includes a fieldtrip to " The Wonder of Wool" at American Textile Museum in Lowell.Thursdays, Nov. 5, 12, 19 - 2015

10:30 am -1:30 pm   
First Parish Church, Weston MA

$320.00  includes fieldtrip, admission fees and tour 

SCULPTURAL CROCHET
We'll cover improvisational crochet with wire to create 3D shapes. Plus my own adapted version of Irish crochet using fabric over wire and cord to design with scale, shape and texture.Thursdays, Dec. 3, 10, 17 -  2015

10:30 am -1:30 pm   

First Parish Church, Weston MA

$280.00

EMBROIDERY

Create a unique sampler of improvisational freeform stitching that you will apply to future projects. They will be studies in color, texture, technique, 2D surface design and 3D form using alternative materials and applications.

Thursdays, Jan. 14, 21, 28  -  2016
10:30 am - 1:30 pm
First Parish Church, Weston MA
$280.00 

OPEN STUDIO WORKSHOP

Independent study groups with individual attention that fosters experimentation. Introduction to alternative materials and techniques that apply to your own personal work. Access to studio tools and materials while in class. Materials for instruction of new techniques and assistance in sourcing more for personal projects. Gentle peer group consults for feedback and information exchange.

Every second Saturday  10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Session I   Nov. 7, 21, Dec. 5, 2015
Session II  Jan. 9, 23, Feb 6, 2016
Session III  Feb. 20, Mar 5, 26 (no class Mar 19), 2016

My studio, 11 Miller Street Studios, Somerville MA (plenty of off-street parking on Saturdays)
$280.00 

JOIN US!

All Levels Welcome!

Lots of time for individual instruction. This is an opportunity for those who are new to working with materials as well as the fiber enthusiast who is looking to add to their repertoire of skills. Plus it's a perfect way to expand your community.

If interested, please sign up with Paypal here on the blog sidebar or email me for contact info.  

TERMS: Includes one-to-one consult prior to the start of the class and email support during session. Sessions register in groups of three classes. Makeup opportunity allowed within a session in exchange for a class on the opposite day (Saturdays for Thursday classes and vice versa). Refunds or credits not available for missed classes. Payment in full in advance to reserve a seat. Class size minimum of 5, maximum of 12.  Participants have access to in-studio tools while in studio. Tools stay in the studio.

Spring Workshops

March cannot come soon enough for many reasons. First, the weather, but mostly because I'll be teaching some interesting workshops this spring at Somerville Skillshare, The Eliot School in Jamaica Plain and Five Crows Gallery in Natick.

NEEDLEFELTED ORBS

Build your own organic growth. Learn the technique of needlefelting with wool and a barbed needle. Create a 3-dimensional orb while exploring the unique qualities of this material and process. Includes demonstrations of advanced technique using experimental materials.

Five Crows Gallery

Saturday, March 1

10am - 3pm

$100.00, materials fee: 20.00

FELTED ORBS

A demonstration on how to build a wooly organic growth! Learn the technique of needlefelting with wool and a barbed needle. Try your hand at creating an orb while exploring the unique qualities of this material and process. Look for me at 3pm in the Yoga Room!

Somerville Skillshare

Sunday, March 2

12-6pm

Center for Arts at the Armory

191 Highland Ave., Somerville 

SCULPTURAL CROCHET

Combine traditional crochet with unconventional materials, transforming fiber and raw materials into evocative sculptural constructions. Explore the anatomy of the stitch, its actions, character and dimensions, in the creation of forms and textured surfaces. Play with scale, using materials from wire to plastic to wool, and looking at work by fiber artists in the process. You will use adaptations of several different genres of crochet in this class.

The Eliot School

Sundays, March 16 and 23

10am - 4pm

$160.00, materials fee: 20.00 

FIBER JEWELRY

Create inventive jewelry by combining traditional technique with experimental materials. Use wire or fiber and objects of your own design. We'll cover knitting and crocheting with wire, incorporating finishes, assembly of pieces, felting, simple wirework and beading.

Five Crows Gallery

Wednesdays, April 2, 16, 30

10am - 1pm

$150.00, materials fee: 20.00

Workshops!

Some fun workshop opportunities happening this June. Come explore material and learn how to create your own masterpieces. It's always a good time!

NEEDLEFELTED ORBS

June 9 and 16

10 am-3 pm

Eliot School

24 Eliot Street, Jamaica Plain MA 02130

SCULPTURAL FIBER

June 22-23

10 am-3 pm

Fruitlands Museum

102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard MA 01451

Check Eliot School and Fruitlands Museum links for more information and course descriptions.

Workshops

Happy to announce two new workshops that I'll be teaching:

FELTED ORBS at the Danforth Museum School in Framingham and SCULPTURAL FIBER at the Society for Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh.

I'll also be giving a presentation at the Fiber Arts Guild in Pittsburgh entitled 'Intersecting Art, Science, Material and Process' - May 17, 2013.

Please check out info below and spread the word!

FELTED ORBS
December 5, 12  2012
9:30-2pm
Danforth Museum School

Build your own organic growth! Learn the technique of needlefelting with wool and a barbed needle. Create a three dimensional structure while exploring the unique qualities of this material. First week will cover basic technique. The second week will be about individual work and more advanced applications. There will be some homework in the week between classes.

SCULPTURAL FIBER
May 18, 19   2013
9am-4pm
Society for Contemporary Craft

Explore material and process in the creation of 3D constructions. During this workshop we will use commonplace materials with some age-old ingenious, handwork techniques such as knitting, weaving, felting, and crochet in the fabrication of surfaces and structures. Through class demonstrations and individual exercises, students will gain insight into the potentials of these low-tech and accessible methods and materials, as well as an understanding of some of the elements involved in creating three-dimensional works. Students will explore the innovative use of materials ranging from wire to wool from both manufactured and natural environments. Examples by other artists will be provided.