News bits and updates

Towel and journal VI back home.

I began this journey in early 2016 with around 50 households participating in the project where we explored thoughts, feelings and reflections on age, beauty, attachment and impermanence.

Three years have passed since I reached out for companions on this journey - and I am eternally grateful for the enthusiastic and willing folks who contributed this project.

Well Used, Well Loved continues to garner attention and awards. Here are some news bits and project updates.

Last week I brought the 4 WUWL panels home from a solo exhibit in Brunswick ME at Maine FiberArts.

I have also been returning the Well Used and Loved towels and journals to the 8 Linen Team households. Only one towel/journal set is waiting to go back home.

Well Used, Well Loved has been accepted in a national  juried exhibit titled "Excellence in Fibers IV."    The exhibit will be in Los Angeles at The Craft in America Center from May 11 - July 6, 2019.

I am so pleased that this work is getting the recognition it deserves and that all the voices that contributed to this project are being seen.

Again - thank you to all who supported and championed this project. I am incredibly grateful.

WUWL panels with Shifu threads 

Central panels installed at ME FiberArts Gallery

WUWL in FiberArts Now magazine

Full Circle

 Come see the project on display! Read the journals, handle the towels and soak up the 12' weaving. George Marshall Gallery, Lindsay Road, York ME. 

   

Well Used, Well Loved at George Marshall Gallery, York, ME until July8, 2018.

The Eight Journals on display and available to be read.

The 8 towels and journals.

Towel III caretakers Andrew and Bethie.

"Well Used, Well Loved" in the spotlight!!

After two years of designing, organizing, guiding and working on "Well Used, Well Loved, " -- I have the opportunity to exhibit the entire project at a lovely gallery right here in town.

Here are the details:
Where: George Marshall Gallery 
104 Lindsay Road, York ME 03909
When: May 26 - July 8, 2018
Opening: May 26th, 5-7
Artist talk: Sunday June 24th 3 PM

On exhibit ~ the four panel piece woven from the hand-spun papers with participants text, the well used and loved handwoven dishtowels and the participants journals.

Detail of center panels

I hope many of you will be able to come witness the power of community art.

Heartfelt gratitude for all the households who participated in this project ~

Sarah

Well done!

Well almost....!
I have completed the four panels that highlight the handspun shifu papers from the over 30 WUWL households. The entire piece is so big that when I had it photographed last week -- we had to shoot it in two sections!

Panels in my studio

Here is a preview of the work in my studio. Note that the red thread is just pinned in place.

I will post the professional shot images of the completed work soon!

Off the loom!

The end of the warp!

The two center panels for the "Well Used, Well Loved" piece are off the loom. I have tentatively titled this piece "With these hands."

The next few steps include sewing the edges, fringing the bottom and finally adding the embroidered and couched hands. I've sketched out a new design.

I wil be an artist in residence at Hewnoaks in Lovell, ME from September 16 - 22. While there I hope to get a great deal accomplished on these panels. The big effort of getting these panels dyed and woven has been done.

I am super excited to see the images finally take shape! I'll be sure to post with progress reports.

Sketched layout for "With these Hands"

Soak, breathe, dip and nosh

Quan Yin, my studio Goddess

Summer. Ah-h-h. A time to slow down and breathe deeply. To soak up the heat, the water and the times with friends and family. Summer here in Maine is so darn brief that it is important to take advantage of every minute as best you can.

I am in and out of the studio.  I am weaving the final two panels for Well Used, Well Loved. The fabric is a plain weave 40" wide by 6 yards long. I will embroider and couch the Shifu thread on this surface when it is all woven.

Here's to a happy summer - eat, read, nap, swim and enjoy!

Yardage on the loom

Panel #2 Off Loom

Panel #2 is off the loom!
It is just as amazingly vibrant with line, color and simple repetitive pattern as Panel #1.

Now it is onward to set up the loom for the two large center panels. These panels will have embroidered hands - which harkens back to the series I did "Now:Letters by hand."

It all seems to turn back on itself doesn't it?

My progress has been challenged by a new puppy -- Frieda! She is a joy -- and a challenge! I TOTALLY forgot how much work (and love) a puppy can be!

Frieda prefers paper collage.