Between Us

To create art with others – in community – requires interaction with others. It is in this space that the real community ART is made.

Martel School Lewiston ME

Hands create together

This spring I am continuing my transition from teaching in schools to focusing on my own art.  Soon I will remove the artist in residence/teaching portion of my website. I will not be closing that door entirely as  I will entertain special requests for the Mandala Community Weaving as well as other intergenerational projects.In this new chapter of my creative life - I will put a greater weight on developing my own art work.  It is here in my studio that I dig deep into my personal narrative. I have the good fortune this month of being in a show at the George Marshall Gallery in York, ME.

Detail: “One of Many”

This month I worked with The Cotting School in Lexington to create a beautiful and expressive Community Mandala. In addition I traveled up to Lewsiton ME to work with 3rd and 4th grades at Martel School to create a joyful Mandala. My website gallery is long over due for some new art – so stay tuned – it is coming!

Cotting School Mandala

Mandala means circle

Mandala means circle

Mandala means circle in Sanskrit. A Mandala design always has a center – a core, just like us. A Mandala is always a symmetrical design that radiates out from this center or core….just like our personality radiates out from us. And the weaving on a Mandala is a spiral – one that keeps growing from this central core. And just like that spiral of weft that grows from the original start – the Mandala Community Weaving has continued to grow and grow.The Mandala Community Weaving is a project that I designed about 20 years ago – and it has grown and grown and grown…just like the spiral weaving. This spring the project has experienced two milestones.

Rock Creek Forest Mandala

First – with the help of parents,staff and students at Rock Creek Forest Elementary School (Chevy Chase MD) we created the largest Mandala yet – over 650 clothes pin people. It is so full of people – the weaving is a small inner circle. There is such power in this image – the strength of numbers, of community, of wholeness and diversity. Thanks RCF for making this Mandala with me!!The second milestone – the Mandala Community Weaving has gone abroad! With the help of Kathy Kaknes, a volunteer who traveled to Haiti this month, the project was presented to the Be Like Brit Orphanage in Grand Goave, Haiti. With over 60 children living, growing and learning in this community, along side many dedicated adults ~ their Mandala has a very special glow to it.

Haiti – Mandala Community Weaving

Making clothespin people helps us feel better.

The completed Mandala

Weaving with friends

Art makes us smile!

Be Like Brit Mission statement.

Haiti colors!

Mandalas in Maryland

El Salvador pride

Community hands

Placing out the people

I am recently back from a week long residency in Chevy Chase MD at Rock Creek Forest Elementary. With a student body of nearly 600 plus staff and teachers, we created a large all school Mandala Community Weaving that will be stunning when fully assembled. The parent volunteers and organizers were amazing – and even with the large workshop sessions we cruised through the week with ease. At the end of the week, I left the final gluing assembly of the Mandala in the capable hands of the two parent organizers – thanks Tricia and Erica! I can’t wait to see it all together!!  

Waterbury CT ~ Rotella Magnet School

3rd, 4th and 5th grade collaborative weaving, Rotella Magnet School, Waterbury CT

5th grade weaving, Rotlella Magnet School, Waterbury CT

3rd grade weaving, Rotlella Magnet School, Waterbury CT

4th grade map of Connecticut, Rotella magnet School Waterbury CT

Lower grade Mandala

A rainbow of hands on the Mandala Community Weaving

This spring I had the pleasure of returning to be artist in residence at Rotella Magnet School. I worked here about 12 years ago and the beautiful pieces we created hang in the main office of the school. Now 12 years later, I have been invited back to do an even bigger project!Over 300 students in the 3rd, 4th and 5th grades worked on a triptych. The theme was “Journey”. The 3rd graders tapestry was a journey in and around Waterbury, CT. 4th graders illustrated a journey through Connecticut. And the 5th graders explored a more personal journey of the past/present/future of their lives.The lower grades (Pre-K, K, 1 and 2) worked on a Mandala Community Weaving. There were over 300 students who contributed to this joyful collaborative piece.