Now that the artist books are off and either in, or close to, their new homes, I have been invited to take part in another project. Hm. I was thinking about vegetating for a while, but it is not to be.
Largely I'm doing it because I can't resist the Milkweed Pod Project, which will be a huge installation, many parts one per many artists, all in fibers, yarns, spinning, knitting, crochet, and all in white, any white, all whites. I have already crocheted a long narrow grid in offwhite soft yarn, and I'm figuring out how to relate it to white nylon sisal type cord, which I can fray and fool about with. Great fun.
The organizing artist is a wonderful woman, Shan,in Wisconsin, and the eventual installation will travel. One location I am hoping for, have got almost all the go aheads for, is the brand new gallery in the brand new library in Plainsboro, NJ!
One of my lifelong quests is to erase the foolish distinctions made between art and craft, to blur the lines of demarcation, and this project fits right into our ambitions for the new gallery, where the fittings can accommodate crafts as well as fine art, allow for 3D objects to be seen from all sides while being safe.
So the Milkweed Pod Project is just right in that place! and it's open to anyone willing to observe the guidelines, don't have to be professional artists, or professional knitters or crocheters or spinners.
Anyone who wants to try her or his hand (you'll be one of hundreds, no need to be too intimidated!) just tell me in the comments under this post and I'll give you the deets on where to look for info and application and all that.
Then, art news part two, is that I have been offered a solo in the Library Gallery at Plainsboro in May,one of the last shows in the old modest gallery before the new snazzy one opens, and I plan it as a kind of farewell, with works that have appeared either there or in other places.
Haven't planned it yet, since it's only today I got the invitation, but often my first thoughts are okay, because they've got energy. So I'll post pix of a few ideas of what might hang there. The libe director and I founded and have run this gallery for hm, I think about 15 years, so it has a lot of nice thoughts in my head. We've encouraged a lot of new artists there, and generally done our bit to bring original art to a small town. Her energy is wonderful, too, in supporting artists of all kinds and ages, and being open to great new ideas.
It will be exciting to have a whole new gallery in the new building, actually designed for the purpose!
Well, on the technical side, I appear to have cracked the code on how to make my pix bigger if you click on them. Before I had a choice of postage stamp or postage stamp on a new screen.
ReplyDeleteNow, having loaded the originals in a bigger size, what a concept, they go big when you click.
However, as is my wont, I seem to have overdone a trifle. To the point that you can now, at will, or at click, go from postage stamp to highway billboard.
I will definitely get his down sometime in the current decade..
Great news. I like the idea of a farwell to the old gallery show.
ReplyDeleteReceived my artist book - many thanks - now I'm off to play...will send pix eventually........Woot!!
ReplyDeleteHooray! I love the name of the project, too - it sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI would love some info on the Milkweed project.I have a wonderful japaneese fibre that I think would fit perfectly into the concept.
ReplyDeleteCarol Ann Ross- Stouffville, Ontario
Raveler since January 16, 2009
ReplyDeleteWebsite or blog http://sticksandstitches.squarespace.com/
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Pets? Kids? 2 fantastic kids, 1 furry cat
Favorite colors red and turquoise
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About me
Hi. I’m Shan Bryan-Hanson, an artist and teacher, currently seeking knitters and crocheters to participate in a collaborative art project. All are welcome. Learn more about it at:
http://sticksandstitches.squarespace.com/the-milkweed-pro...
Carol Ann, the above is the original quotation from the Ravelry website, so you can follow the link and get all the info and the application and all that. Shan's already in the process of compiling the list of artists already involved, so now's a good time to do this.
Also to give me more news about you, too!
Gah, the above post first didn't post, then I rewrote it, then it posted bits of BOTH attempts, including parts I'd deleted before I posted....
ReplyDeleteOkay, ignore the part before the "I'm Shan Bryson Hanson" bit and go from there. She's very sane, honest! and proving to be very good to work with.
Catching up with you, Liz ... wow, you never slow down for a minute! Fascinating things you're doing lately; I love it all - especially this:
ReplyDelete"One of my lifelong quests is to erase the foolish distinctions made between art and craft, to blur the lines of demarcation, and this project fits right into our ambitions for the new gallery, where the fittings can accommodate crafts as well as fine art, allow for 3D objects to be seen from all sides while being safe."
Brava!! And congrats on the upcoming solo ... such an honor that they chose you for this special showing.