More Mandalas

The Bancroft School Mandala

After school volunteers help to assemble the Mandala

This week I was artist in residence at the Bancroft School in Worcester, MA. I worked with Lower and Upper School students to create a stunning Community Mandala. There was time with each group to have a conversation about the history and cultural connections with Mandalas. During one of these discussion, one student asked me how many Mandalas I had made. I could not answer, but it is in the hundreds.Recently I have been thinking about making my own Mandalas. After the one that I made for the Izzy’s installation, I have been so inspired by the practice of making these mesmerizing symmetrical pieces. Each time I work with students and talk about how the Buddhist Monks make sand Mandalas over and  over again as a spiritual practice, I think about what I might learn from this practice.Today it is snowing, and most likely tomorrow we will be snowed in. It just might be the perfect day to start my own Mandala practice.

Detail of the Bancroft School Mandala

Winter play and winter creativity

It has been an entirely snow-less winter so far.  I cannot recall a winter that has not only been so snow-less but so warm.  Last night at a non-profit board meeting the Chairwoman opened with the question “How you you feel about this winter? Do you miss snow?” The answers were as diverse as those attending the meeting. My answer was YES… I miss snow days. I miss playing in the snow. I miss the unbelievable quiet that a heavy snow fall makes as it muffles all other noises.

1st Izzy's installation

I have been involved with a new arts organization in Portsmouth called 3S Artspace. Last fall they put out a submission call for a winter long installation in a local ice cream shop that is closed for the winter. This collaborative project has three artists rotating installations once a week for nine weeks, culminating in a group installation for the final two weeks. My first installation was inspired by our road trip to Florida in January. Riding in the car ave me the opportunity to sky gaze for hours on end. I saw so many beautiful hawks soaring along the highways edge, and the sky was so wide and beautiful. Each installation is supposed to build on the previous one. I used the red sticks and blue background from the artist before me, stenciled the cranes and added more sapling branches.

2nd installation at night

My second installation followed the same artist who had built these trees out of bark and created this forest scene with glass balls inside the trees and rubber snakes. I added these balls out of Styrofoam and plastic spoons and forks. I covered the windows with paper snow flakes and red cellophane, plus added more rubber critters. The spoon/fork balls were on motors and slowly rotated. I felt wintery and bizarre to me.

beginning the mandala at Izzy's

My third installation was this past Friday, and I followed a different artist who is much more of a minimalist. All of the previous materials had been removed and the space stripped clean. She painted stylized mountains on the walls and hung painted pieces of bark (from the a fore mentioned trees).

the mandala completed

close up of the mandala, spoons, forks, twigs, oranges, styro-balls

So on Friday, I came in with the idea that I would take down the bark, but not remove it, and create a 6 foot mandala on the wall using any/all materials from previous installations. Here’s the result. I love it! I also wrote a short quote from Rumi along the edge of the mountains and their shadows.This installation will disappear on Friday when the third artist returns and creates her final installation. What an amazing process!This winter I am also bringing to an end”Woven Voices: Messages from the Heart”. Please check out my blog and learn more about the closure of this four year global community art project. I am in the final stages of completing my Masters of Art and Healing, with a non-traditional thesis on this project.

the last prayer flag

All is well, even without the snow.Namaste ~ Sarah

Circles or spirals?

This Sunday in church the theme for the music, children’s story and the homily was about returning or rather circling about. The metaphor of goats versus sheep was used. Sheep travel as a flock or herd and usually stick together; while goats tend to be a bit more chaotic, independent and circular in their movements.The message was very clear, there is a wisdom to going in circles, to returning again and again to the familiar, and to the repetition of lessons. As a weaver, I love repetition, pattern and yes circles! As an independent self employed artist, I  guess I really am a goat.This week, I am returning to work on my master’s thesis. This project was dropped after Weston’s death. Now I am ready to return, to circle back, with a transformed point of view. There have been many doors closed in the past three months. Now I am ready to open one and step over the threshold.

"From the perspective of a pine tree"

Now here’s the thing, I embrace the concept that traveling in circles, of repeating lessons brings wisdom. But I do not believe that each time I return to the beginning that I am the same person. Each time I return, I am new, I am different. So I believe that in truth I travel in a spiral.This piece “From the perspective of a pine tree” addresses this notion. Along the right edge of the piece, there are several large fish all traveling upward. There are two smaller fish swimming in the opposite direction. There are two spirals. I won’t go into a long analysis of what I was thinking, but I suspect it is obvious. Be it a goat or a fish, we have a choice. Swim with the crowd or head out on your own. Celebrate the spiraling path that is at the core of learning and living in this world.   

Falling and flying

Prayer flag flying at Two Medicine Lake, Glacier Park, Montana

November has swept into my heart and my home. Leaves are falling. Rain is falling. The temperature is not falling however. It has been unseasonably warm for the past week, which is rather odd considering that we had a 6″ of snow fall about 2 weeks ago.

Prayer flag at The World Friendship Center, Hiroshima, Japan

Woven Voices prayer flags are flying all over the globe. This image of a flag at Two Medicine Lake has to be one of my favorites. We have sent flags to fly in France, Guatemala, New Zealand, Africa, New York/Occupy Wall Street, Japan and Italy. So far over 1200 flags of peace, love and hope fly world wide.  I will be offering directions to those who want to do this project on their own. Contact me for these directions.

Gil and his prayer flag in St Remy de Provence, France

I have been busy teaching in schools again this month.  Here is a fabulous Mandala Community Weaving done by the students at Woodland School in Weston, MA.

Mandala Community Weaving, Woodland School, Weston, MA

I am so proud of the hard work this whole school community put into this project.

All smiles for this amazing global Mandala Community Weaving!

That’s all the news for this rainy day!

Summer of Love, Peace and Grief

I know from experience that the wider my heart gets stretched the more deeply I feel every breath, witness the smallest details and am able to be present. This summer events in my life stretched my heart wider, deeper and taller than I thought possible. On August 18th my dear brother Weston, my traveling soul mate on our trans-Atlantic crossing, was tragically killed. Please go to my Woven Voices blog to learn and read more.

Wes in his ever present welder's hat

Along with the enormity of this event, I have been weaving hundreds of prayer flags and sending them out across the lands and waters to fly in homes, gardens, schools and churches. Thank you again to all my Kickstarter backers who have supported this project. We have woven over 600 prayer flags just this summer!Wes would be among the first to say “Life goes on.” And on.Another milestone is that “Each One: The Button Project, a 9/11 Memorial has been purchased and has a permanent home!  On September 6th,  the city councilors of Portsmouth NH voted to use gifted funds to purchase the art work in honor and recognition of  Mayor Sirrell, Portsmouth mayor from 1997-2005.

"Each One: The Button Project, a 9/11 Memorial" at City Hall Portsmouth, NH

This posting will be brief, because truthfully I am often at a loss for words.As the healing and transformation continue, I trust that my words will return. Meanwhile I make art, weave and draw in an attempt to navigate this new landscape. My expanded heart is my north star.

Keep moving!

This summer my mother, Mary Louise, will turn 90. Look at her in this photo with my sister. Believe it or not, this photo was taken this weekend, one month before her birthday!

Lucia and Mary Louise in South Freeport Maine, June 2011

Doesn’t she look amazing?? I know her secret……she has always been an advocate of “move it or loose it”. Back in the 1960s she started taking yoga. I know for a fact that the daily practice of her exercise kept her from being bed ridden the couple of times that she had to be hospitalized.She is an living example of how important it is to keep moving.I try to keep moving in all aspects of my life. Most specifically right now I am trying to keep the momentum moving on the Woven Voices Kickstarter fundThe Grand Finale is now at 37% funding. Since Kickstarter is an all or nothing funding, I must meet the $4000 goal or no funds are dispersed!So in the spirit of Mary Louise, I ask you to take a peek at the Kickstarter video and make a pledge from $1 to $1000. Let’s keep this project moving.Thread by thread we can build a more peaceful world.Ok, gotta run….Sarah

Something old and something new

It is June after all…something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue…..cheers for all the June brides! I was not a June bride, but it is  my birthday this month and blue is my favorite color!The something new is that last Friday I launched a Kickstarter project. If you’ve never heard of Kickstarter…check it out! It is an on line funding site for some really really cool projects.I launched a Grand Finale for Woven Voices. There is a really short video to introduce the project.  I hope you will check it out…and I hope you will make a pledge. Every pledge gets a reward! And every pledge helps to meet the all-or-nothing goal!The something old for this post is I am finally getting around to posting images of a  commission that I completed last year. In July of 2010 I installed at Temple Israel a 4ft by 7ft hand dyed/woven weaving called “Tree of Life”.

"Tree of Life" Temple Israel, Portsmouth, NH

Here’s what I wrote about the piece:  “The Tree of Life is an ancient symbol present in many cultures and spiritual traditions. This version seeks to honor life and to illustrate the continuum of the past, present and the future.”“The lessons and wisdom of the past are represented by the deep roots of the tree. The joy of this present moment is represented by the strong and solid trunk. The hopes of the future are represented by the upwardly extending branches. The leaves represent our individual spirits. The golden vine that weaves up the tree is the Divine love that connects all human beings.”

"Tree of Life" detail

"Tree of Life" detail

Bursting, reaching, green

Yup. It is clearly Spring here in Maine. Actually late Spring.  But what the heck…it has been raining for about 12 straight days. And we finally have sun. So everything is bursting, growing, exploding and green.  Just want to share a few images from a residency that I did last month down in Connecticut.

Great Oaks School

This Mandala Community Weaving is the largest one that I have done to date. It has 500 clothes pin people on it, and is about 4 feet across. I am not sure how much it weights, but it is heavy! It has a special cross structure in the back to support the weight of the clothes pins. Isn’t it amazing?

Great Oaks Mandala detail

Wake Up!

It is SO beautiful outside right now, I could almost cry. The angle of the sun as it highlights each tender green blade of new grass makes my heart vibrate with joy. The peas are up about an inch. The daffodils and hyacinth are still blooming. The leaves are not quite fully out, which makes the view through the woods like a lace scrim.  Glory is visible in every direction.

friends and family supporters of the Woven Voices project

Yesterday I went to Market Square in Portsmouth, NH to read messages for the “Woven Voices: Messages from the Heart” project. It was an interesting experience, even though I have been doing this for three years. Read more about it on the project blog. Here in my studio I am working on several things. I feel sort of like my gardens with life exploding in every corner.  And because I have so much still to share from my Atlantic passage…here is a journal entry.  Peace, Sarah

Atlantic passage journal entry

Join me

This week on May 11th, I will be back in Market Square in Portsmouth, NH. It has been several months since I have been there to read the messages of hope and peace that I gather for the Woven Voices Project.

messages of hope and peace

I have about 200 messages that I collected during my recent travels to South Africa, St. Helena and Barbados. I hope that you will join me to read and/or simply listen and witness these personal prayers.

giving away the prayer flags in South Africa

After these messages have been read on Wednesday they will come back here to my stdio and be woven into prayer flags.I am in need of weavers too! No experience necessary to weave, just call/email me and we will set up a date/time for you to come. I ask for only a two hour commitment.

Sailors Duncan and Irene from Canada about to hoist up their prayer flag on board "Moose"

After the flags are woven, I will send them out to the world. At this point there are over 500 flags flying from East to West and from North to South.There are even some prayer flags that are traveling on sail boats!

"Moose" picks up a mooring arriving at St. Helena.

My friends Duncan and Irene aboard “Moose” sailed near us from South Africa to St. Helena. They had a grueling passage as their auto-pilot stopped working only a few days out from Simonstown. They hand steered for 11 days, arriving in St. Helena exhausted. What heroes! Look closely and you can see the prayer flag still flies high after over 1400 miles at sea.So if you are able and interested, please join me Wednesday at noon. I so appreciate everyone’s support of this global peace project.Peace ~ Sarah

Hot Flash!

Well, not a real hot flash in the menopausal sense, but a hot news flash! There is a really terrific article in The Wire, a local paper about my exhibit at the York Art Association.

one view of the show at the York Arts Association

I continue to be so pleased with this exhibit. It feels like there is room to breath around the art work. The space is sunny and bright. The York Art Association has been wonderful about getting the word out about the show, and the installation was a breeze. We had an amazing opening on Friday night with 83 people in attendance!

"The Village" series on the left and two of "Four Houses" on the right

"Beyond Home" (sold) on left and two screen art works on right

detail of "Great Blue and the Moon Rise" (screen art work)

Sea Change ~ 5000 nautical miles, Cape Town to Barbados

Table MT in Cape Town with the traditional January "table cloth" cloud

On December 29th, 2010 I flew to Cape Town, South Africa with my brother Weston. We had signed on as crew on Bahati a 43′ Montevideo cutter rig sail boat from S. Freeport Maine. The skipper/owner of this boat is an old friend who is completing his 5 year circumnavigation of the globe.  We were in South Africa for about a month preparing for the trans-Atlantic passage as well as getting some time to sight see. It was hot and beautiful I especially loved the people of South Africa.

Cape Town, BoKap area where mostly Muslims live.

The Egg Man in Green Market, Cape Town

the Egg Man with the prayer flag on his shoulder

The Egg Man is a world known street artist from Benin who wears this ridiculously tall creation on his head made out of found objects and eggs! He is a sparkling personality and a wonderful “street ambassador” for all the tourists.I gave him a blue prayer flag, you can see it tied to his left shoulder. I loved his smile, so typical of the radiant grins we saw on many faces as we traveled. We also had the opportunity to travel up to Kruger Park, an immense  game preserve up near Johannesburg.

the giraffe that greeted us when we first entered the park

We spent about 5 days there sightseeing. It was amazing to be able to be so close to these large wild beautiful creatures.

an elephant who munched his way past us, ripping whole tree up for dinner

At the first game lodge that we visited, Monwana I gave each of the staff a prayer flag. They were so sweet, even though most of them did not speak English and had no real clue what these prayer flags were all about. Didn’t matter to me, I just had a feeling that this was a place and the people where the flags belonged.

the Monwana staff with prayer flags

After our safari we return to Simonstown, just south east of Cape Town where we prepared the boat for the 5000 mile voyage back to the Caribbean.

jackass penguins live in Simonstown

South Africa has a very dramatic coast line with tall rugged mountains that drop right to the frigid ocean

Diaz Beach, Cape of Good Hope

Before we left Africa, we went to the Cape of Good Hope. It used to be called Misery Cape, because of the storms and wind. It was very windy when we were there, making it hard to relax in the sun. Diaz Beach was amazing, you can see how big it is by the size of the person (our captain) walking in the distance.

sun rise

We sailed from Simonstown on January 26th, heading North West towards St. Helena, a tiny British island mid-Atlantic. On the 14th day, we landed at this rugged isolated island.We spent 4 days here, resting, visiting, provisioning, and making repairs. I will share more on my

dramatic skies over the horizon

next posting…it was magical.

approaching St Helena

Off to Africa !

weaving a prayer flag for Africa

Wednesday morning, December 29th I will be heading out the door, bags packed, ready to fly to South Africa.Please read all about this trip on my Woven Voices blog.I am so blessed to be traveling on this mission ~Art-ambassador of peace and love from Maine.See you in March ~ Sarah

Closing in

She who breathes

This week we had seven weavers in the studio. Women who came and breathed their energy into this project. I thought this prayer flag message particularly appropriate!Each flag is woven with messages that come from all over the world. Many voices for peace, for hope, for love.

One voice, One world

Each message is read many times before it finally gets woven into the prayer flag. Then the message is often fractured and the language becomes mixed with other language.This prayer flags reads: “I love music for awake people to be awake.” Interpret this however you like.

I love music

I see compassion and joy.

Forgiveness forever

Forgiveness Forever. Yes to that.This week we are closing in on the 100 prayer flag goal. Many many thanks to everyone for the support, words of encouragement and energy.

Weave Hope

84 prayer flags

Our world is moving like the sun; moving ever so slowly and steadily toward a new horizon.Happy Solstice ~ Sarah

54 and counting….

Weaving messages of peace

This week nine lovely weavers came to the studio to weave prayer flags.These weavers came in response to my challenge/invitation to the community to help me create 100 prayer flags to take on my travels to South Africa and crossing the Atlantic to the Caribbean.

What color is hope?

Some weavers came in the company of an old friend or two. Some came as individuals.

Weaving in the spirit

Some had never woven before, some had woven as younger people.All came with an open heart and open mind. Giving the gift of time and effort to unknown friends. So far we have 54 prayer flags woven and ready to go!

Hands for peace

Sewing the prayer flags after weaving

Many thanks to all who lend support through time, effort and voices.~ Sarah

100 Prayer Flags for the world

On December 29th 2010, I will be flying to Cape Town, South Africa. This will be the starting place for a very amazing journey.

Bahati

I will spend about two weeks in Southern Africa and then get aboard the yacht  Bahati, a 43′ Montevideo owned by dear friends from Maine who have been circumnavigating the globe since 2005.During my two weeks in South Africa, I plan to share handwoven prayer flags from the Woven Voices project.My goal is to have at least 100 community woven prayer flags to distribute freely both in South Africa and en route to the Caribbean.

Pile of hand woven prayer flags

Please go the the project blog ~ Woven Voices: Messages from the Heart to learn more.And please contact me if you are able and interested in coming to the studio to weave. All I ask is a two hour commitment of your time. No experience necessary!Namaste ~ Sarah

Openings, closings, beginnings, endings

December 3, 2010. The third candle of Hanukkah is lit tonight. In nineteen days we will celebrate the Winter Solstice; the tilting of the earth back towards the sun, the return of warmth and light to the northern hemisphere. Transition, change, ritual, celebration and tradition are all apart of our environment as well as our culture.

The sun returns

In my teaching and studio work, these patterns hold true. Wednesday the show at Maine FiberArts and the exhibit at USM Lewiston came down. I spent the better part of this morning repacking, rehanging and storing the exhibited works.On Tuesday I completed my eight week residency at Sweetser School in Saco. I LOVED teaching at this school! Our last day we made birds…birds because I believe that birds are a symbol for being uplifted, for hope and imagination. It is a documented fact that making art can build resiliency. Our felt birds are lifting us up while we are creating them.

a bird in the hand

I am so inspired by the work that these students create. Full of light, love and SO imaginative.

American Kestral

With each ending there are good byes, thanks yous and hopes for future projects, opportunities.Moving on. Just like the sun, we keep moving on with our lives.So in the spirit of light, love, letting go, and moving on, I salute the sun.The sun inspires me to rise each day, to move, to smile even if clouds block my ability to see the light.Namaste, Sarah

Community Mandala, Nov 2010

Welcome

Studio in York Maine

Greetings and welcome to my website! This is where you will find a wide variety of information about my art work, my community teaching, artist in residency programs, travels, awards and what’s the latest news from my studio.Be sure to check out my calendar to see events, exhibitions and opportunities to participate in community art projects.Explore my website to see art in the gallery.

detail of "Mother Daughter Tryptich"

Check out my three other blogs ~ “Woven Voices Messages from the Heart” , a blog about my global community art project started in 2007 and “Macomber Looms and Me” a blog about looms built right here in York, Maine and “Well Used, Well Loved” a community art project that explores age and beauty.

Artist in residence Children's Hospital

Be sure to sign my visitor book. I appreciate your feedback and comments. Thanks!

Autumn 2010 ~ Colors in my studio

The “Woven Voices: Messages from the Heart” project continues to grow and to captivate the attention of many individuals and communities. To date there have been close to 1,800 messages received and read out loud in Market Square, Portsmouth. Over 400 prayer flag have been woven by over 50 volunteers. These prayer flags hang from Italy to Indonesia, Africa to Oakland, CA and from New York to New Delhi, and more. I continue to learn personal and creative lessons as I extend this project into its third year. Check out the Woven Voices section on this website or the project blog to read the latest news and learn how to participate.

Sunset at Tanah Lot on the south western edge of Bali, June 2010

This past year has been quite busy with travel, new works of art, teaching, residencies, commissions and graduate course work. One highlight was a trip to Bali in June which I have written about in my two blogs, Macomber Looms and Me and Woven Voices.

In the small village of Tenganan Pegringsingan, Kadek supports her family by weaving on this simple loom

While in Bali, I had the opportunity to meet a few weavers. One special visit was to Ni Kadek Trisnawati a traditional ikat weaver in the village of Tenganan Pegringsingan. She is from a long lineage of weavers, and uses the loom that her grandfather built.

"Caught Between Us", Public art installation on the Hanover St. parking Garage

Another highlight of this spring was the installation of my large public art piece “Caught Between Us”.  This piece, inspired by the idea that the water that separates the shores of New Hampshire and Maine is also what unites us, was a part of the city of Portsmouth, NH’s OverNight Art event.  This site-specific work pays homage to the men and women who work on the Piscataqua River, the marine life that inhabits these waters, and the Memorial Bridge, which connects the communities of the Seacoast.

Detail of "Caught Between Us"

Built from fish and shrimp nets, this piece references the web of life and the net-like construction of the bridge. The title, “Caught Between Us,” evokes the uncertain future of the Memorial Bridge as well as the fragility of our marine environment. 

"Tree of Life" Temple Israel Portsmouth NH

Also this summer I completed and installed a large woven commission for the Temple Israel of Portsmouth.  This piece titled “Tree of Life”  was commissioned to celebrate the life of Kathy Krasker Ramras. This piece, hand dyed hand woven linen and four feet by seven feet was installed and dedicated on July 16th.

detail of "Tree of Life"

I have not yet had the opportunity to get this piece professional photographed…so please forgive my amateur attempt to capture this magnificent piece.And finally I am having a one person show this fall at Maine Fiberarts. “Thread by Thread” is up until November 30th. I am delighted to have this opportunity to gather art works from the past 20 years and exhibit them in one show.  Come to the reception and artist talk on November 6th.

Season of Light and Love

Receivng the Bahai Seacoast Peace Award August 2009

The “Woven Voices: Messages from the Heart” project continues to grow and to captivate the attention of many individuals and communities. In August I proudly received the “Sarah Farmer Peace Award” from the Seacoast Baha’i Community. Selected from several nominated organizations and individuals, I accepted the award in recognition for my global art project, “Woven Voices: Messages from the Heart.”This global art project continues to blossom and teach me lessons. Please participate and join the thousands of voices that speak for peace through this project. Check out the Woven Voices section on this website or the project blog to read the latest news and learn how to participate.My residency and teaching work continues to blossom and expand. I guided several major projects in schools this fall. Check out the Educator and Mandala sections of my website to see these in detail. My education work continues to bring personal as well as professional rewards and lessons.Back in my studio I am hard at work on several projects. I recently completed a small commission for the Krempels Brain Injury Foundation. Here is an image of the completed piece on my work table. I am in the process of sewing it to the mounting board, getting it ready for the frame. The piece includes hand-spun colored paper with writings of good wishes for the retiring executive director.I am also working on a commission for the Temple Israel in Portsmouth. This 4′ by 7′ Tree of Life weaving that will be dedicated and installed in the temple lobby in the spring. Here is a sneak preview of the piece on the loom.This winter and spring I will be taking two courses towards my Masters in Art and Healing through Wisdom University. I am excited and ready to deepen my commitment to this work.Besides this website and the Woven Voices blog, I also maintain a blog for Macomber Looms. Check out this blog for all kinds of information about these hand-looms, built right here in York, Maine!Please check out my gallery and send me a note with your thoughts about my work. I appreciate hearing from you!As ever, thank you for your interest and support of my artwork and teaching. I hope the beauty of this earth brings you joy.Peace to all in this season of light and love,