Make a Bird of Poetry

Found poems and art started our class last night at Arlington Center for the Arts. That reminded me of an installation I'd read about, poetry re-imagined as a flock of birds. Tonight I tracked it down: Virginia Fitzgerald:  

You too can make a Bird of Poetry

 

The idea of words taking wing: would that work with my Elder students, I wonder? I shall sit down and try some prototypes. Just as soon as the studio is cleared of scarves, cards, and small art, all ready to launch for the holidays.

Found poetry collage

The Arlington Center for the Arts collage class started last night making cards.

Barbara: blues and yellows this term

They each got a card, a page from an old children's mystery, and 30 minutes.

We talked briefly about the steps involved: how to get past the page to the words that moved you; how to step from there to a ground that supported your text.

My class sample

What felt odd quickly morphed into delight in their talented hands.

Nancy: complex found imagery

An assignment that felt odd quickly transformed to intriguing in their capable hands.

Caroline: wolves, dense surface, imbedded questions

 Each card reflected the personality its maker.

Judy: ocean colors, vistas

 The goal: relax, work fast, leap past the tired monkey brain to joy.

Beth: rich colors, warm heart

 I think it worked.

Deborah: direct and yet unexpected

 "Is this what the Valentine's workshop will like?" 

Yes, but with lots of pink and red, hearts and flowers.

Kathy: tiny window, rich view

 These folks are a joy. They support each other. They work hard.

Appreciating the results

Wonderful, creative women.  

So much talent, such different voices.

One more week together. The term has flown by.

In the Studio

layered prints on reclaimed cotton

One whole day to work. A gift. The studio is hip deep in fabric and paint.

There's a chair there somewhere

 I am making scarves for the holidays. Each is unique intersection of time and opportunity. The fabrics range over a collection of years: silk charmeuse dyed by a local artist, kimono found at an estate sale, high-end jacquards from designer close-outs, plus vintage linens I've over-dyed.

In progress

Because apparently I cannot work in a linear fashion, I also find myself printing. 

 

Plus I'm hemming up some scarves from a black sheer I bought a year ago from a local designer. I hope to print these this weekend on the big print table in Lowell.

Experiments

And to fill in the cracks? Shibori-dyed vintage napkins. After cleaning out the basement this fall, the 1920s workbench converted nicely to a dye station. I'm on my second batch of shibori-style dying. This means lots of stairs. The dye station is in the basement (two flights down);  the tub (washing out) is two flights up. The laundry (final wash), is in the basement. The ironing is back up on the third floor. I suppose I could move that, but I do try to keep at least the kitchen and living room work-zone free. Piles for classes, yes. Ironing board, no.

Here's the next two batches of napkins, ironed:

Electric Blue and Blue Violet on Rayon/cotton blend

Same colors on 20" square linen/cotton blend

All for Open Studios in Lowell come December.