HYCC Sea Creatures in Boston's First Night Parade

Sea Creatures were the theme of Hawthorne Youth and Community
Center's contribution to Boston's First Night Parade this year.
Louie the Lobster (seen above) was our focal creature.  As for the
past few years, artist  Lisa Lee and I collaborated to facilitate
HYCC's  First Night Project funded through First Night.org 

We worked with HYCC's  after school program as well as led
Saturday workshops  including teens and adults. It's always a real
community effort to get everything finished and ready to parade.

Inspired by the organic crocheting structures of
Virginia Fitzgerald, I started working with the after school
kids ( age 5-11) teaching them to crochet in the early Fall
and was pleased to see all of them enjoy the process.(It's
rewarding to see a super active 9 year old go over to
his cubby and pull out his crochet hook and yarn on
his own. )  Thanks to a donation from Susan Thompson
of some of the yarn she received when weaver Theresa-India
Young  died, we had plenty of varied yarns and textures to
work with.  I think Theresa-India would have been pleased
with the use. Susan was happy to share and pass them on.

Everyone  loved making long chains.

Gradually a sea fantasy emerged with crocheted "seaweed",
fish, some jelly fish (made from shower curtain material)
strings of lights and more...all hanging from a hula
hoop. This is what the finished fantasia looked like in
the parade:

The children also each made individual fish or other creatures
to carry....made from a variety of materials....with of course
 glitter and paint. Large trash bags make great smocks. 

But as I said, our focal piece this year was Louie the Lobster.
Lisa Lee was the chief armature maker using chicken wire and
aluminum screen.  Made in two parts it grew and grew....In
the end Louie was a little over 10 feet long. The screening
was stitched with wire onto the chicken wire with inner
strong circular wire supporting it. 

Once the basic structure was set, it was time for glue and glitter:

Lots of people helped: 

Lisa mentioned our plans to the guys working on her apartment.  

They offered to construct a float with wheels to support Louie.  

A cooperative spirit is alive and well in our neighborhood.

We gave them specs and they were off to get materials.
Once constructed, the wooden frame was turned into
"water" for Louie:

and more detail was added. Louie wasn't bothered by

the hungry shark below.

Finally Louie was ready to move to the Hines auditorium
where the float assembly was completed

And last touches were added.

Louie's eyes are flashlights.  Blinking holiday lights had been
strung through Louie's body and claws at HYCC.  "Seaweed"
raffia was added,a few octopi, a bubble machine in the front
and a chair secured on the base so Sam Sadd, HYCC's coordinator
could ride and pass out Mardi Gras beads from boxes under Louie.
Finally Louie was ready to move outside:

Families and friends arrived, picked up their fish or other
creatures, and we went into the night to march with others.

There were over 40 of us behind the HYCC banner.
Walking in the parade is a long standing neighborhood
tradition, connecting  us to each other and to Boston at large.
Kids and adults have fun wishing everyone Happy New Year
while passing out beads and looking at all the other community
groups' parade items and costumes.  This year the Hot Tamale
Brass Band was behind us...great help to keep up our energy.

At the end we gathered to celebrate another successful
event. Then watched the family fireworks display!

Next year, Lisa thinks we should make something even bigger
for the parade.  Stay tuned for that! We're going to have to
work on HYCC's expansion plans.


Meantime, we're looking for a place to display Louie
for a while.

  Happy 2013 everyone...may it be a year filled with communities
working together!     Wendy

New work for Craft Boston Holiday Dec. 7-9

Nothing like a baby shower and an upcoming show to get the
creative juices flowing.  When trying to make a mom's journal
cover for a friend about to give birth, my eyes fell on this funky
stitched  patch from Panama in my studio. I also found the small
beautifully  stitched Hmong piece below. Both seemed perfect
for small journals.

I know new moms don't have much time for writing, but having
a place to jot down notes, fun images, or brief reflections is
always welcome. We all write on computers, but somehow
seeing something in the handwriting of our moms or Grandmoms
is always precious.  I have kept a journal for each of our
grandchildren begun on the day they were born, or soon before.
(Of course,  it might take a code breaker to decipher my hand
writing.) Each time we are together I try to write something.
or as they have gotten bigger, have them draw or write
something in the book themselves. I believe the most
valuable things we have to pass down to future generations
are our stories.

After making the two journals above, I looked around and found
more textiles that had been waiting and created a group of
journals to bring along to Craft Boston Holiday  this weekend.

These two have more pieces from Panama:

I

This stitched rooster is from an Oboe remnant left over when

a dress was being made for my mother. 

I couldn't think of  going to a show without plenty of dragons,
so I sculpted a dragon on the cover of this leather journal:

And speaking of dragons...There is a shy guy in my studio
who finally decided it was time to let me finish him. You may
remember seeing him in beginning stages in one October blog post.
His name is Terus,the Timid.  He used to try to be terrifying,
terrible or taunting, but has finally accepted himself for the
gentle, timid  creature he is. He asked that I show you his
fancy  beaded anklets before letting you see all of him:

And finally here he is to say hello:

He is about 3 feet long and 24 inches tall with rawhide wings...and
has a snout  made from a stone I picked up during our wanderings
in ancient walled  cities in  Italy.  His belly is another beautifully
stitched piece made by the Hmong, gifted to me by a friend.

I look forward to seeing whom I'll discover at 
Craft Boston Holiday this year...and to see how Terus fares
in public! If you are in the Boston area, please come by.  
I'll be in booth # 611 with  creatures waiting to greet you
and plenty of luscious, fun leather accessories to keep
creative energies stirring.

My best to everyone for great story-filled holidays.

Adventure on!  Wendy

Variety and inspiration at American Craft Show New York -Aynne Applebaum, Frederick Prescott, George Nock, Laura Goddard, Avner Sher

As I said in my last blog post,I had a booth at  The American Craft
Show NYC  held at the Javits Center on Oct. 19-21.  Since Sandy
devastated so much of NYC and NJ only a few days later, it was
sobering to think of all the locations and tunnels I had travelled in
and through that were under water only a few days later.

But New Yorkers as artists are a resilient bunch, so I didn't want
to miss sharing some of the work at the three shows in one at the
Javits. As was true for the last two years, there was wonderful variety
- whimsy, elegance, fun and inspiration.  

In the whimsy as well as amazing category was the work of  Florida
artist  Ayenne Applebaum -the bird sculpture pictured above and
rooster below. She brings a painte,rs eye to her glazing..as well as
a wicked sense of whimsy and incredible skill to her clay sculpting.

 

There wasn't a child (or adult) who didn't enjoy the large kinetic

animals by Frederick C. Prescott.

In the inspiring and elegant category was the work by George Nock.
I especially enjoyed this bronze sculpture entitle "Win, Place or Show".
Be sure to check out George's website to see the amazing range
and superb quality  of his work..and read his biography...it will
help you understand why he is able to capture movement and motion.
It may challenge your perception of  professional athletes.

Laurie Goddard was also exhibiting. I've enjoyed seeing the way Laurie
has pushed forward with her fine art in recent years. Beautiful and strong.

And finally- an artist new to NYC - or at least this was the first time
Avner Sher has brought this body of work to NY from his home in
Israel.   He works with large flat pieces of cork, which he burns and
scratches intricate images into.  He describes his work "as an
expression of hope in the face of chaos". Check out his website to
learn what inspired this intriguing  new direction for his work.   

.

Next year this show will be one week later - good thing it wasn't this
year.  It is an extraordinary event that we hope we can continue to
build and entice larger and larger crowds to attend.

 For now, I'm working on inventory for Craft Boston Holiday,
to be held on Dec.7-9. A new large rearing dragon will be there.
Please drop by if you are in the Boston area.

Adventure on!   Wendy

New Creatures come to New York City Javits show Oct. 19-21.

Last blog you saw the beginnings....here are some of the finished
creatures and items going with me to the NYC show at the Javits
this weekend, October 19-21.  Complete info on this three-in-one
show at: www.americanartmarketingnyc.com

I'm still trying to figure out the total story behind the new species.
Ideas anyone? This figure is 26" tall, wingspread is 32". The beading
ended up taking quite  a few more hours than I expected.
Below is a youngster of the species, 14" tall.

During Roxbury Open Studios, a visitor observed that they
probably live in mountainous areas and love to hop boulder to
boulder...their wings help them glide between. I'd love to bring along
a pair of wings for my next trip to the Rockies or Andes.

I went around in circles  deciding how to finish the figure below.
Finally he told me he really wanted masks...so he ended up with these
three.

This "eye" tree leather book cover seemed to want a little color:

And finally....yes, I'll be going to NYC with a good supply of
other "eye" leather items....covers for I-pads and e-readers,
I-phones and card holders as well as my journal covers.

Above is a  preview of two I-pad covers.

The Javits show is advertising itself as 3 shows in one.
Should be a fascinating mix.  I'll share some of my
discoveries or favorites next post.  Anyone near New York
City - please come on over...I'll be in Booth #233. It would
be great to see you.

Adventure on!   Wendy

New sculptures and books emerging in the studio

October - Open Studios and Fall shows. 

I've been having fun working on new creatures and new book designs,

including the one above who facebook friends have so far identified as

a unicorn, a fire breathing deer, and dragon. We'll see what folks think

during Roxbury Open Studios this weekend. Studios are open 11-6 both

Saturday, Oct. 6 and Sunday, Oct 7.  Map and complete info for 

Roxbury Open Studios at: Discovery Roxbury.org

Besides lots of finished work, people who visit my studio

will see new creatures in various stages of

completion. Including this dragon rearing on its hind legs.  

And these figures....which started as dancing wire armatures...
Next the wire was wrapped with polyester and that covered
with muslin..and beaks added. Leather, beads and wings
will follow.

One last "before" photo for you. This shows what
is beneath the leather of the cover at the top of this
post. Pieces of bark and wood are glued down as I
begin to visualize the final design. But until the leather
is on, I never know exactly what the final  piece will look
like.  I enjoy being surprise.  Who would ever guess it
might be a fire breathing deer!

Hopefully many of the new creatures will be finished for my next show
American Craft Show NYC Oct. 19-21.  Next post I'll share the
final appearance of at least some. Definitely a couple new
species in the works, so I'm hoping they'll tell me their stories.

Happy Fall  - Please drop by my studio or the NYC show if you're
in the area!

Adventure on! Wendy

Movement, Motion and Meaning in Boston Area Exhibits

 

 So if I need a wheelchair someday, I'll have David Lang design one like
this for me. Title: Deadelus on the other Hand.  It's part of his and
 Virginia Fitzgerald's exhibit  "Upon Further consideration: What tells a
Story" at the Carney gallery of Regis College  now until October 27. I've
been aware of both of their work for some time, but this was the first
time I had the fun of seeing so much gathered together and playing of
each other...which they do beautifully.....

As the show title indicates, this is a show filled with story and meaning.

Here's David with his piece: "If shoes could talk":

And talk they do thanks to speakers in the piece.   Most of David's other
pieces tell their stories through motion..activated as you approach the
pieces.Such as this piece, titled: "When the Castinetti Sisters First
Learned to Fly" :

 The materials Virginia makes her pieces from tell a good part of their
 stories, enhanced by form.  Below: "Dress of Etiquette" - made from a
shredded copy of Emily Post which Virginia said she received as a
wedding present and thoroughly enjoying tearing up.

 

The piece below called "Treacherous"  is made of wooden skewers,
wire, masking tape and broken mirrors. -Made from  "the feeling you
are overwhelmed with  responsibilities and are just keeping things
together - a dangerous game":

I recommend trying to get out to experience the exhibit as well as
checking out David and Virginia's website and their  blogs to learn
about them and their journeys.   You can see the movement of David's
pieces on his website, but in person is always better..  Both artisst keep
very busy with exhibits around the area.  There is a collaborative
installation called Birds of Poetry by Virginia flying in the atrium of
the Attleboro public library.

   Finally, I want to lift up one other exhibit - the Os Gemeos exhibit at
Boston's  Institute of Contemporary Art.  I went a few weeks past and
the images from the work are definitely still present for me...awake and
in my dreams.   The exhibit is there until Nov. 25th.  I could go on and
on about the work of the Brazilian urban artists, Otavio and Gustavo
Pandolfo, but will leave you just with this one image and story it
brings forth. Title of this piece is: " No Fundo de Mar E Respirar Mas
Facil" (In the Depth of the Ocean, it's Easier to Breathe")

and encourage you to see the exhibit if you possibly can.

Now back to my studio to work on sculptures for Roxbury 
Open Studios Oct. 6-7 and for the Oct. 19-21 American Craft
Show NYC. 


Adventure on!   Wendy