Costumes, Community and Crochet

Hey guys!
This week has mostly been busy with making Halloween costumes.  Which may not seem very academic, but it fills part of my void of making and creating.  Making Halloween costumes has always been one of my favorite things.  When it comes to school and teaching we often have to come up with book themed costumes to inspire reading with our students, for that I picked to be the Very Hungry Caterpillar.  For fun, for me, I made a cloud costume.  (see attached pictures)
Sometimes for me it feels so good to just to be free and to create something totally fun and silly.  This week I was just focusing on the fun of life and using that as my inspiration on my Halloween costumes.  I debated whether or not to even post about them on here, but I figured it involves creating, and inspiration and motivation - so why not?

I have also been looking for ways to connect to my HOME community.  We have a local shop here called SCRAP which is like a thrift store for art supplies, it's amazing.  Well, I have wanted to take a class there, and I have been waiting and waiting for one that was up my alley, and this Saturday I took a class on crocheting - it was my first crocheting class, so it was a little rough, but the teacher was great, and the class was small and beginner enough that I didn't feel overwhelmed, I felt supported.  I was so happy I decided to take the class.  The teacher is offering more "drop in" classes for us to reconnect and she even wants to start a crochet club - it was so precious, just a room full of ladies making little mug mats.  When I was shopping at SCRAP the education director even asked if I wanted to volunteer to teach some classes, not on crochet - but on the subject of my choosing.  So this one little class might open up more opportunities to teach in my local HOME community. 

I hope everyone is having a great week!  I hope my costumes aren't too silly to post and that they spread some joy you're way! 

October 26

One of the joys of being a professor in visual studies is that I can teach both undergrad and graduate classes which allows me to figure out what the topic will be each semester. For the graduate class I take my cues from you all ...our conversations in Junction, questions you ask and/ or questions I ask because of something you all have presented. For undergrad it is a little bit more structured, but I still have the freedom to choose books or readings. So this coming semester in addition to going to all the art based sites in Lubbock ( Museum, Art and Garden Center, Underwood, Buddy Holly, Ranching Heritage Center, Windmill Museum and of course Charles Adams Gallery)we will be concentrating on Native American Artist. This is inspired by a new map I just purchased from a young Native American in Oklahoma. His amazing map list all the names (both the name we call the various peoples and the name they call themselves ) for Mexico and North America including  Canada. This is a mind altering map. Any notion that someone (we know it was not Columbus) landed on uninhabited lands is thrown out the window. http://tribalnationsmaps.com/fulltribalnationsmap/
Check it out. His name is Arron Carapella and I am also going to bring him in during the semester to share his research and devotion.

With that said this week I have been reviewing  4 books to go along with the class. Two  I know we will use: " Do All Indians Live in Tipis?" and " Trickster: Native American Fables"....the other two are " I Stand at the Center of the Good: Interviews with Contemporary Native American Artists" and Dreaming the Dawn: Conversations with Native Artists and Activists". I absolutely love looking through books that I can share with others.

As for my art, I am sewing. Lots of blue thread on dark blue material. I lose track of time which is good because it does take time.  I have my first set of slide back on a flash drive...I have not looked at them, too scary, too close to the dream. But I did take in my slides of my prints and my dolls. The dolls surprised me. For 4 years, the last year of my Dads life, after his death and my divorce all I could do was make dolls. There are over a hundred. Not pretty little girl dolls but sticks with cloth wrapped around them, with embellishments. A very odd world I made for my self. If you watched True Detective, my dolls would fit into the last scene with all the roots.

For this week think about the out of the box historical references you use in your work. In the blog I mentioned to Andrea to look at Retablos and ex- Votos...this is what I see in her work, what I am interested in is what YOU see in YOUR work. Not my vision but your heart's vision. Go back in time and find the source that informs you. Lynn I know you do this naturally...keep going and keep sharing. I am just trying to keep up.

One last note. The Oct/ Nov issue of American craft (which I think you can get online) has a short piece on "Busy Hands, Busy Brains"on scientists as craft people. Ana this may be something that can help your research.

2nd Grade Art Show/Screen Printing Event

Hey guys!

This week has been hectic and crazy, but super successful as far as a teacher.  On Monday (thank goodness it was a holiday) - First my husband and I designed two different designs that could be used for screen printing for a school event I was hosting this past Thursday night.  He is a lot better at drawing on the computer than I am, so I sat by him and directed him on what I was wanting, what a trooper!  Then following YouTube tutorials I taught myself how to create silk screens for screen printing.  I was super nervous that it wouldn't work - but it was successful!
On Tuesday, back at school, I had two parents help me hang up an art show for all of my 2nd grade students.  The show consisted of art inspired by some of our favorite books or illustrators.  This year we are doing a lot of different activities to promote reading so I thought I would base the art show around reading as well to have the cross curricular connections.  The show also consisted of over 300 works of art, each student had 3 pieces represented.
On Thursday was the actual event, I set up a screen printing station where students could screen print their own reading tote to carry their books in.  The halls were filled with families that came to support their child's art, and they were so excited to leave with a hand made tote they got to create that night.  Everyone kept asking "how much does this cost?" - I teach at the lowest economic school in our district, but thanks to Donorschoose.org and with donations I received to do the screen printing and the totes I was so happy to say "IT'S FREE!" - I love to be able to offer free, fun services to the community whenever possible.
The event was fast and furious, and I was so busy with the screen printing I hardly had a moment to look around and soak it all in.  I love it when we can open the doors to our school the community and offer them a hands on experience that the whole family can enjoy.  It was truly a successful night.
I believe one gift as teacher we can give back to our students and our community is to offer memorable moments like this to our families.

Here are some pictures from the event!

And here are some videos!

Finding Peace

I have been working on artwork that just feels peaceful. This is one that I feel like I have made it through the storm in one piece and survived. I love the beach and the serenity that it brings. I feel like I am able to finally paint just because I want to and things that I want to, but somehow always come back around full circle to what I am going through or I can relate it to my future.

After the forgiveness book and working through the Brene Brown book I felt the need to finally let go which is what I do with my art, it is like the final stage of letting go and being done with whatever I may be going through although situations may arise, and I may still get angry or hurt, it doesn't last as long as it used to. I do not usually attach words to these works, but I felt the need to write the words again as the forgiveness book urged us to do. I feel as if I have finally forgiven Carson's father for all the hurt he has caused, all the pain and suffering, although I still get angry with what he does to Carson, I am able to not let that hate/hurt/pain control me like before. I am able to move on and let go. I think this was ultimately the hardest thing I have ever done, but forgiving is not for anyone but me. I can not express how FREE and how relieved, how much lighter I feel since finally letting it go!

After much debate and talking this over with friends, I went back in and changed the words, I can't cover them up completely, but I made them much lighter. I do like this much better as it focuses on the image and not the words..... 

October 19

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada was wonderful. The conference was exciting and filled with individuals doing good work. The idea/ideal of Community Engagement vs. Service Learning is a layered and challenging concept. How do we as teachers/professors literally engage members from the community along with our students? How do we make an impact that is self sustaining and viable?
How do we learn to listen to what is needed vs what we think is needed or what we can "offer"? How do we step out of our safe little boxes called school to the real world of life?  These are just a few of the questions I came back with.

Jayson and I had the honor of being on a panel with a professor from U of Alabama along with a parent of one the kids in their Saturday Leadership Program. Yes, a parent that shared her fears/concerns/doubt about having to also read the assigned text...to interact with her child over the text and to contribute more than snacks or rides.  It was so moving to listen to and feel the new respect this mother had for her child, for learning, for new concepts, for herself. This experience was totally aligned with our keynote speaker who reminded us that true growth is not measured in semesters or years but in life times. That we need to stop focusing on the little date that fills the forms we have to complete and begin to see how communities and families are changed or how they change us. Beautiful message.

We also had the opportunity to visit the Alberta Gallery of Art. I would call this a museum, not a gallery for profit because it was a museum in all senses of the world. They had one of the best selections of shows I have ever experienced. The main show was on Toulouse-Latrate and the community of artist during his time . I learned of the Cate Noir (you may know the famous and often reproduced image of a black cat with the words Cate Noir) but this exhibit explained how it was first a night club or cabaret that was part circus, part theater, part wild part. The posters were wonderful and almost scary....a "no rules" place to be. They housed the Solon of the Incoherent Art (love that title and that thought) ad the put on Shadow Plays, a fore runner to Kara Walker's incredible work.

In the very next gallery there was an installation by Cree artist Amy Malbeuf using tufting as an art form. Tufting is stitching moose hair onto a cloth surface. In her work she uses words to challenge us and our preconceived ideas. One example was " We may be oppressed but at least we aren't depressed". Really moving.

There were a series of art films by artist from the Middle East and a wonderful books store where I found the 3 cataloges on Lyndal Osborne. Look her up. Trained as a printmaker now she works with found materials in large scale installations and walls. Amazing.

So, lots of inspiration and lots of thinking about my work and what I really want to do. I am not sure . Or maybe I am just hesitating because it awkward to begin again, to change my mind or even to just continue on the path I have been following. Art is a tricky lover.

I am impressed by your continued growth and questions.

For this week...what do you need from me. What is missing from this class for you?

Door 1 Side 2

Door 1 Side 2,

The second side of the door represents belonging; here I have myself walking with my family. Side two is the result of my searching and finding my first community.

Progression (UPDATED 10/26)

Hello class!

Decision Time:

I have decided to dip back into a painting that I started during the last session of summer 2 Junction. I have not touched this painting since I left campus. The odd thing is I have taken it back and forth from work and home each day since classes have started. I hoped by hanging it in the classroom that I would be forced to make a decision on what direction to go with it. Last week after talking to my uncle/mentor I came to a realization that my painting is at a stand still. I need to think outside of my comfort zone and begin to experiment with different materials and techniques to go beyond the street art/graffiti label.

My Inspiration:

This past year Jeffery Wheeler helped me realize everything around you can and should be used in your drawings/paintings. Future helped me realize that fiber art and formal crafts are detailed and consuming art forms that demand respect from the viewer. I have decided to incorporate the "softer" technique of sewing onto my abstract graffiti canvases to create a contrast between the two forms. Graffiti seen as a low-brow urban art and sewing/fiber art seen as feminine should create interesting compositions. Sewing will also be an ode to my mother who worked at a sweat shop in Los Angeles when I was a child. I have very found memories of running around the warehouse while I waited for her to clock out.

My Plan:

I would like to create acrylic paintings on un-stretched canvas then cut  and sew these images to my canvases. I will experiment with creating texture with this technique and also introduce pattern to my work via printed sheets. I will add and remove as I go with this new technique. I also will incorporate my mother's influence by having her teach me proper hand sewing techniques. My love of silkscreen and lettering will be added to the work as well.

I invite everyone in class to check on my progress through out the coming weeks. I will make sure to give updates in our weekly class blog so that you can revisit this page. Here is the painting I started and will use as my test dummy. If all goes well I will create the majority of my thesis exhibition in this direction.

The Beginning:

Adding Graphic Design Elements:

I have spent the last two week thinking about what I could paint on un-stretched canvas to later sew onto my graffiti background with no luck. I decided to focus on my graphic design background and design a bigfoot character that I could use for repetitive paintings. Here is the process that I began earlier this week.

 Here is the scanned and vectorized image that I can manipulate in illustrator. I will use this image to create various silkscreens.

 

I have also setup my canvas for the sewing portion of my artwork. I am still bouncing ideas as of what to paint. I am hoping to create something this week.