Artist in Residence: Peterson Elementary

Just finished my 3 week residency as guest artist at Peterson Elementary. This was the art walk we had on friday to showcase the students' work. Large collage panel was made with the 5th grade students. Smaller collages are the work of the 3rd and 4th graders. Sea Urchins were created by the kindergardeners and starfish by the 1st graders. Recycled jellyfish were assembled by the 2nd graders, crabs were made by the 3rd graders and the recycled fish were created by the 4th graders. Felted Sea Anemones were also made by 5th graders. Imaginarium creatures created by 3rd and 5th graders.

"Artists in Schools Program is made possible through partnership between the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional support from the Rasmuson Foundation.

Artist in Residence: North Star Elementary

K-1st grade students helped with wet felting the background for this Tidal Zone Chart. All the creatures were needle felted and embellished by me. I've sewn magnets into the backing so that teachers can display the chart on their magnetic boards in the classroom, while using the chart to teach students about tidal zones and the various creatures that inhabit them. Laminated labels velcro onto the chart for student placement.

Artists in Schools Program is made possible through partnership between the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional support from the Rasmuson Foundation.

The Dream Rocket : Global Collaboration

I've reserved my spot on The Dream Rocket! There are still spaces available at www.thedreamrocket.com

Artist in Residence: North Star Elementary

I've been working on fabricating jellyfish of all sizes to hang in the school library. 2nd graders at North Star Elementary made their own using all sorts of textured white yarns and recycled plastic bags. Those will be displayed during the Student Art Show toward the end of the school year. Can't wait!

"Artists in Schools Program is made possible through partnership between the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional support from the Rasmuson Foundation."

Artist in Residence: North Star Elementary

Dungeness crabs made with 3rd and 4th grade students at North Star Elementary.

"Artists in Schools Program is made possible through partnership between the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional support from the Rasmuson Foundation."

Artist in Residence: North Star Elementary

Kindergarden and 1st graders explored printmaking, dying, creating image transfers and collage. These are samples of some of their creations.

"Artists in Schools Program is made possible through partnership between the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional support from the Rasmuson Foundation."

Artist in Residence: North Star Elementary

Kindergarden and 1st graders worked together wet felting tentacles for sea anemones. These anemone will be part of a larger collaborative effort from the entire school to create a large textile relief panel that will become a permanent installation in the school. Each anemone will be hand stitched on to hand-dyed fabric that will be painted with a tide pool scene mounted on stretcher bars.

"Artists in Schools Program is made possible through partnership between the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional support from the Rasmuson Foundation."

Artist in Residence: North Star Elementary

I've recently completed work with Kindergarden and 1st grade students at North Star Elementary. We kicked off the 2010 Artist in Residence program learning about sea urchins and starfish. Students worked with air dry clay, paint, modge podge, tooth picks and beads to create three dimensional representations of these creatures.

"Artists in Schools Program is made possible through partnership between the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional support from the Rasmuson Foundation."

Handspun Revolution in Lillehammer Norway

There is still time to join Pluckyfluff's Handspun Revolution taking place in Lillehammer, Norway in May. Hurry, cause the deadline is fast approaching! You can find the details on Pluckyfluff's BLOG. Above is my submission spun from recycled cotton fabric scraps and ecospun (recycled soda bottles).

Student Sea Life Collages: Installation

Here is the finished collaborative effort of 5th graders from North Star Elementary. I mounted their collages (made from painted muslin with dyed and printed papers and contact paper image transfers) on a quilted background. The edges of the collages were sewn with a zig zag stitch and each piece was attached to the background with beads and heavy thread. The edges of the quilted background were rolled and bound in a blanket stitch with variegated silk based yarn.

Kodiak Arts Council "Curtain Call" Submission

Here's a peek at my submission for the Kodiak Arts Council's annual Art & Adventure Auction taking place later this month. This year they have provided local artists with pieces of the old theater curtains from the Gerald C. Wilson Auditorium, and challenged them to recycle the curtains into art that is to be auctioned off to support arts programs in our island community. The smaller collages are left over from work I've been doing at North Star Elementary, so really this piece is a collaboration between myself and 5th grade students. I love that we are working together on a project that has a social impact, for as we explore, learn and work together, we are creating something that benefits the community that we live in. I hope to do more projects like this.

Tide Pool Project Submissions

More amazing submissions from artsist across the country for our tide pool! From top to bottom is a Nudibranch (Sea Slug) a copper Sea Anemone, an Octopus and some wonderfully crafted rocks. To find out more information about the Tide Pool Project or how to participate, visit: Tide Pool Project

Submissions for Tide Pool Project

Finally finding some time to focus on the Tide Pool Project. Its a bigger undertaking than I originally thought and I have had very little time to devote to promoting it this past year- which is why I am extending the deadline to January 15th 2011. Above are some submissions that I hope will inspire you to participate in this global collaborative. For more information please visit the Tide Pool Project's official blog.

Student Sea Life Collages

Here are a couple of Sea Life collages made by 5th graders at North Star Elementary. I've been working with them on and off since October. These are postcards made of muslin with paint and printed papers. The images are contact paper transfers. They worked really hard on them and were able to take them home before Christmas break to give as gifts to family or friends. More of their collages will be worked into a large textile panel and will form a mosaic of sorts. It will hang at the school until the end of the year and will later be included in an exhibition at the Kodiak Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center.

A curious creature emerges...

Made from a recycled wool sweater, this little one-eyed sea monster is fully pose-able, likes to ride in cars and is very, very curious.

International Call for Entires: Textile Tide Pool Project

I am seeking submissions from fiber artists around the world to create a collaborative tide pool made up of textile stones, kelp, anemone, barnacles, octopi, crabs, shells and other related flora and fauna. My goal is to create a textile tide pool that will bring awareness to the importance of our coastal waters and the delicate and critical balance they play in the health of our planet. 

This international collaboration will be exhibited at the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge on Kodiak Island, Alaska in 2010. I hope to find other cities around the world that are interested in hosting this exhibit and drawing attention the importance of the health and sustainability of our oceans worldwide. This project has the potential to bring a tactile and diverse representation of tide pools to people who might not have otherwise experienced the marvel of exploring the thriving biodiversity found in tidal waters.  

Submissions may be no smaller than 2 inches and no larger than 6 inches in any direction. Artists may work in any textile discipline (i.e. knitting, felting, sewing, crochet) and are encouraged to create 3 dimensional works OR 2 dimensional surfaces with raised detailing and embellishment. Recycled materials are also acceptable, as garbage and debris pose a threat to coastal wildlife that ingest or otherwise become entangled in discarded trash and lost fishing gear. 

All objects received will be documented online at www.tidepoolproject.com with credit given to artists and links to blogs or websites. Please include your name, city/state/country where you reside, email address and URL you would like us to link to. There is no limit to the number of objects that can be submitted. Submissions become the property of the International Textile Tide Pool Project. Deadline for submissions is January 15th, 2010.

Please mail all submissions to:  

TIDE POOL PROJECT 

c/o Elizabeth O'Donnell 

P.O. Box 3075 

Kodiak Island, Alaska 

99615 USA

or email for more information:

info@tidepoolproject.com

International Call for Mail Art

I'm  sending out an international call for submissions of  Ocean Themed Mail Art. Thoughts, visions, dreams, poetry, imaginings and interpretations of the the Sea to be sent in the post. Please visit my page on International Union of Mail Artists for complete details, to see current submissions or to learn more about mail art in general. All submissions will be documented on my blog The Sea: International Mail Art Project.

1001 Journals Project

JOurnal #3397
Originally uploaded by yarnpunk

I've launched an ocean themed journal on 1001journals.com that I hope to include in an art show at the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge in Kodiak, Alaska in 2010. If you are interested in signing up to participate please visit the 1001 Journals website (you will need to create a user account to participate) and check out Journal #3397.

Kodiak residents are welcome to participate in a local journal that I will be launching within the community very soon. Watch for details or email me with your name and contact info and I'll put you on the list to receive the journal.

"WILD LIFE"

WILD LIFE
Originally uploaded by yarnpunk

Mixed-Media and Acrylic on wood. This piece was created for the Women's History Month Art Show "TAKING THE LEAD TO SAVE OUR PLANET" hosted by the Kodiak Soroptimists in the Gerald Wilson Auditorium foyer February 28th, 2009 from 3-6 pm.