Psst...it's a Telephone Game!
A few years back I was invited to participate in a fun art project. The creators of the project chose a prompt and sent it to the first artist on the list. After the first artist was finished, their work was sent to the next artist in line to be used as their prompt. The project went around the world to hundreds of artists, who posted work from all media. You can find more about that at telephonegame.art. (you can look up random names, including mine, and see what came before and after their contribution). It played out like the children's game Telephone, where one person whispers something to the person sitting next to them, and so on down the line until the final person says out loud what is usually very different than the original!
In January, the creators started a new telephone game. I'm not supposed to give the prompt away, but this is what I contributed in response to the work I was sent. What does it say to you? How would you interpret it if you were playing the game?
More collaborations
Two years ago, Karen Eckberg of Owl Arts and I started a collaboration. We wanted to explore what would happen if we played with our two media, Ceramics are hard and unyielding; fiber is flexible and soft. We started our work together by creating three fanciful birds nests. Nests need to be strong and safe, but they also have to be soft and nurturing. Our result is called Triptych Aerie, and it has already had quite a life. In late 2023, we won first place in the "Collaborations" exhibit at the Art Garage in Green Bay. In June 2024, our nests traveled to Sturgeon Bay as part of the Wisconsin Visual Arts member exhibit. Finally, in September 2024, our pieces were shown in the Grand Rapids Art Prize (more about that on the front page).
This year, we've been joined by a local sculptor, Naomi Moes. We've chosen to create a bust of the Greek Gorgon Medusa. Medusa was accepted into ArtPrize 2025 (it runs from Sept. 18-Oct. 4) in a great venue and we're very excited! We'll be heading to Grand Rapids and look forward to sharing more about this outstanding event!
Gifts from Artists and the Earth
A few years ago, I was able to get my hands on a bunch of barn wood from a neighbor near our lake home. This lovely wood is 100 years old and full of natural textures and colors. Some years before that, I visited an artist friend in Scotland, who gifted me a huge bag of Harris Tweed scraps from her work. With these prizes, plus some wool roving, a needle felting kit and a husband with a Dremel tool, I've been experimenting with needle felted landscapes that can be "framed" in the wood. The first one, "Walloon Lake," was accepted into the "Home" exhibit at the Art Garage in Green Bay. But I admit to being very fond of the Scotland Landscape, which sets out a crofter's land using pieces of Harris Tweed (and of course a wee sheep). Stay tuned.
Protest Banner Lending Library
I do love craftivism! Artist Aram Han Sifuentes maintains a library of cloth protest banners that can be checked out and used again - connecting protesters and eliminating waste. Last fall, I participated in a workshop and created a banner that will now be a part of the library in Chicago! Here are a few pictures of the process.