The color blue

The blues slay me

I believe that there is something powerful and energetically uplifting to the color blue – which is an odd contradiction to the musical or emotional blues.Just look at this horizon – this layering of turquoise, aqua and periwinkle just slays me.Indigo blue has been the foundation color for most of my artwork for well over a decade. Not only does this color have deep historical and cross-cultural roots – to me it has a time honored and innate wisdom.Tomorrow I head back home and I am eager to dive back into studio work. There’s something about being away that lights a fire in my creative juices. I’m rested and renewed, filled with fresh ideas and more clear on themes and pieces that have been on my mind for months.And yes — there will be more blue. Aqua, ultramarine, teal, indigo, navy, robin’s egg and the rest of the blues will keep me smiling.

Secrets of the Infinite Panel #2

I’m glad I wore a T shirt today.

Each One: The Button Project – detail

Sitting in the brilliant sun, lap top in my lap (how ironic) in the waiting area of a windshield replacement shop – I am feeling grateful for small measures. I am glad that I wore a t-shirt today – it’s hot here. Life offers multiple opportunities for gratitude – and I’ll certainly step into this simple gesture right now.There are a many of other things I am grateful for as well – and that’s where this blog post will go.1. “Each One: The Button Project: a 9/11 Memorial” has been invited for exhibit at the September 11th Memorial and Museum in New York City! The curator Jan Ramirez reached out to me this winter – and the piece will travel to NYC for exhibit from March until September. I’ll post more information when the details are settled. Thanks to the City of Portsmouth NH (who owns the piece) for graciously loaning the work to the 9/11 Museum.2. “Well Used, Well Loved” my current and on-going community art project is in a winter phase – meaning I am germinating ideas and closure – even though there appears to be not much happening on the surface. Check out the blog link to learn more about this long term community art project that focuses on age, beauty, attachment and impermanence.

Detail of new art with Shifu embroidery

3. Pecha Kucha is a local presentation of 10 area creatives who each get 20 slides for 20 seconds each image. I will be a presenter this week – February 23rd. 7:30 at 3S ArtSpace My topic is “Across the Divide: community art in turbulent times”. It’s free, it’s local and it’s creative. Hope to see you there!4. New art – Last month I was an artist in residence at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson VT. For an entire month I had the space, time and opportunity to focus on my work. In preparation,  I spent time last fall weaving works that I hoped to complete with embroidery and other details during my time at VSC. I was able to complete two large works as well as 5 smaller pieces.  I hope to have these news works up in my gallery soon.

Shifu paper prior to cutting and spinning

5. The process of making thread from paper – Shifu - continues to fascinate and motivate my work. The act of writing or drawing on kozo paper – then carefully cutting it into strips and spinning it into thread has held magic for me for over a decade. Most of my current works employ this thread – so each piece has some hidden text or image embedded into the cloth. This technique is also an easy way for me to include the thoughts, images and words of others into my work. And this work is portable – when I travel for the next month I will be taking my drop spindle and papers to spin.

Drop spindle and papers for spinning

Enough is enough

For the month of January I am an artist in residence at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, VT.  I get three meals a day, a studio that is spacious and well lit and a comfy room in a house only steps away from everything.

Enough is enough

This retreat is a true gift. Each week there are visiting artists who present their own work as well as visit our studios for conversations and critique. It’s been decades since I’ve had this opportunity.This morning I had the opportunity to speak with VT Studio Center visiting sculptor David Hess about Well Used, Well Loved.

Text on kozo paper prior to spinning

He loved the simplicity of the Shifu spun threads wrapped on the mat board – with each persons name – the elegant beauty and unique character of each bundle of threads.“Why do anything with them?” he suggested “— they are perfect just as they are.”I am reminded of this poem by David Whyte:ENOUGH -This few words are enough.If not these words this breath.If not this breath, this sitting here.This opening to the lifewe have refusedagain and againuntil now.Until Now.”With these words – I will honor that these threads are ENOUGH. They will stand on their own as beauty and wisdom.

Solstice, pause and patience

Shuttles pause

Many of the things I love to do (gardening, weaving, sailing, walking) are a slower route of travel or creating.I’ve found over the years that this more measured or deliberate path offers an expanse for self reflection. This self review is also a pause – a way station, a layover from my busy world.I am writing this post just two days past the Winter Solstice. The Solstice is a time when planet Earth stops — pauses in its movement around the sun. As someone who tries to lives close to Nature – I find myself mirroring this pause. I pause, I wait and I witness.In my chosen medium of weaving there is a huge element of patience required. Weaving is slow, methodical and the work in progress cannot easily be viewed until competed. This past week I removed a piece that has been on the loom for three weeks. This is always a moment of apprehension — will my design and my effort be what I had hoped for?  What I envisioned?

Sinking House #2 – work in progress

When I removed this warp — I as not disappointed. This piece will still get some embroidery and embellishment — but this foundation is all that I had hoped for. Now I pause, contemplate my next steps on this piece.Next month I head to  the VT Studio Center for a whole month’s retreat. I received a partial fellowship for this experience – and boy do I feel blessed!! Along side my work on the “Sinking House” and “One of Many” series, I will also be working on my “Well Used, Well Loved” project. I will be posting images and updates on to my Face Book page as well as Instagram — so please keep checking! 

Patience and perseverence

Hand dyed rayon threads for my new series.

As a weaver for over 40 years, I am well acquainted with patience and perseverance. To create my artwork requires massive amounts of both of these attributes.I believe that by following this pattern of consistent and steady work I not only create strong and weighty work, but my personal character and my artistic vision are strengthened. The rewards for this path are never immediate – but they do show up (think of the turtle in the Tortoise and the Hare fable).

Journals and towels from WUWL

“Well Used , Well Loved” (WUWL) my on-going community art project is one such pathway of persistence and patience. Currently this project is in a nesting phase.  This resting is perfectly aligned with the seasons. We are about 3 weeks away from the Winter Solstice and the word Solstice comes from the Latin for “sun” and “to stand still”.  My latest WUWL blog post explores this period of creativity – this time of pausing, a fertile suspension of time and effort.Winter has always been a deeply reflective and creative period in my life. This winter will be no exception. I’ve been working on a new series currently titled “Sinking Houses” -  expanding on images that I sketched out last fall during the first waves of the European/Syrian refugee crisis. I am weaving several pieces that I will bring with me when I go to VT in January. I have had the good fortune of being a recipient of a fellowship to the VT Studio Center for one month! I will have a whole month to embroider and embellish these pieces.

Sinking House #1 in progress

When words become thread

cut kozo paper ready to spin

When words become thread – text becomes textile. This is a process that has captivated me for over a decade. I recently wrote a blog about my current community art project “Well Used, Well Loved” that is grounded in this process. Please visit he blog to see and read more!

So many loose ends

Sometimes there are so many loose ends that it is hard to know where to begin.

Shifu threads, spun and unpsun

This summer has been a season of intense family highs and lows and as a result my art work has taken a backseat.  Here it is October, with many loose ends left from projects, news to catch up on plus a shift in my professional and creative focus.

Mary Louise Williams Haskell

Where to begin? Perhaps a word about my personal transitions. This June I lost my dear Mother, Mary Louise Haskell, who died on June 19th just days shy of turning 95. I had been one of her part time caregivers for over 2 years, living with her and sharing the challenges of growing old. Her passing has left a large space in my heart.In September our son Robin married his long time sweetheart Becky. My husband officiated the ceremony in Prescott Park, Portsmouth, NH. The reception was held in our backyard with a New Orleans style band. Creating an environment for 150 people to gather, celebrate, eat and dance was a huge effort and joy!

Oh happy day!

Shifu spinning is so portable

Well Love and Used towels, journals and shifu papers

Work in progress: One of Many #2

For a few years I have reduced the amount of time I spend presenting school residences and workshops. This year I am officially stepping back from teaching. HOWEVER -  I will always be an educator and my arm might be twisted to do a special project for your school or community.  This shift will allow me to focus on my community art projects such as “Well Used, Well Loved” plus my own creative journey. Check out the project blog to learn more. Currently I am working on a series I began last Spring – continuing to explore the human form in silhouette, stitched on to my hand dyed/woven indigo cloth. I am grateful for every day – thank you Universe for this amazing life! 

Merci and Thanks

“Thank you Letters” is a community art project that is on-going. This means that I use it as a platform to engage people in conversation about gratitude. The project is made of 26 hand embroidered letters on plastic net lobster buoy flags. Sometimes I ask people to spell something that they feel thankful for. Sometimes I spell words myself.I am just back from a wonderful 3 weeks in France – where I used the flags to spell “Merci” (thank you in French). I took these flags around my travels and photographed it in a variety of settings. My favorite is at Charles De Gaulle airport security in  Paris. My bag was being searched and inside the bag was the string of Merci flags. I asked the agent to hold the up so I could take her picture…and she was quite happy to do so. What a HUGE contrast to the attitude of our TSA officials here in the USA.

Merci for Joie de Vie

Merci for Life

Merci for Picasso

Merci for the Canal du Midi

Spring into summer

George Marshall Gallery

Today is June 15th. We are almost at the summer Solstice – my favorite time of year. The peas are up, lettuce needs thinning and I smell the freshly mowed grass. Ah-h-h-h!Just a few newsy items – my work is at the George Marshall Gallery here in York until July 9th. The exhibit is Momentum XIV – honoring the recipient and finalists for the NH Charitable Foundation’s Artist Advancement award. I was one of two finalists.

Longley School Mandala Community Weaving

I was artist in residence at the Longley school in Lewiston this month. I love this Mandala Community Weaving woven in red, white and blue – and covered with the hands who wove it (mostly immigrants from war torn countries). This image feel poignant considering what is going on in our country right now.

Well Used, Well Loved Towel

“Well Used, Well Loved” my current community art project is rolling along with a closed Facebook group where participants safely post responses to my prompts and questions. We also have a blog about the project - please check it out! 

Thank you.

Letter L is for love.

“THANK YOU LETTERS” is an interactive community art project that I completed stitching in January of 2014 as I was heading off to India.

Letter Z goes to India

Here’s how it works -  I ask people to think about something or someone or that they are thankful for. Then I ask them to spell it using an alphabet that I embroidered with cotton floss on lobster flags. Then I photograph the person with their word.This project never really got the light it deserved. So now 2 years later I will travel with it to France – hoping that I can engage people with my elementary French!

Keep Calm and travel on

Stay tuned for photos  – check out my FB page and Instagram: sdhaskell and Twitter @sarahhaskell #thankyouletters

“Thank you Letters” ready to travel!

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

Slow Spring

The house we rented.

This winter my husband Ben retired from both of his jobs ~ University teaching and part-time ministry. To celebrate we went to the Bahamas for a whole month. We rented a little house on Long Island - part of the Lower Bahamas. The island is a little rough and rugged – having born the brunt of Hurricane Joaquin last fall. But the people were wonderful and the beaches were outstanding.It was a fantastic month of swimming, reading, and yes -embroidery on my linens. I got two pieces finished and 7 books read!

“HELP”- Embroidery on hand-woven linen

Now I am back home, deep in to studio work, teaching a few residencies, dreaming about gardens (it’s very cold out!) and writing proposals for grants and fellowships.Since I’ve been back I have been continuing to guide Well Used, Well Loved – the community art project I launched in January. Check out the blog link to learn more.  In April I taught a Shifu paper spinning workshop so that the Paper Team could spin their words and images into thread.  I am working on creating a Shifu tutorial for those project participants who are far away.

Shifu spinning workshop

Unfolding lives, color effects

color effects our well being

Jacob Hiatt Community Mandala

Last week I was artist in residence at Jacob Hiatt Magnet School in Worcester, MA. I worked with 150 1st and 3rd graders to create a Community Mandala Weaving. This school community is rich with diversity and enthusiasm from principal Datta all the way down to the pre-K students, including all the staff and faculty. We worked hard for three days to create this magnificent, radiant Mandala which will adorn their school walls for generations to enjoy.While I was at Jacob Hiatt School I was snowed in for one day – and enjoyed the time to catch up on other on-going projects – including Well Used, Well Loved This community art project has brought forth a deep engagement among many of the 43 participants. We have a (closed) Face Book group where we can safely share photos and words in response to my prompts and questions.We also have a blog that is where I anonymously share stories and photo. Some of the questions I have asked are ~What/who in your life do you perceive as old? What/who do you perceive as beautiful? Do you see any connection between feeling attractive and feeling loved? The answers have been wide ranging – some surprises too!

creative response to Well Used Well Loved prompt #1

“I found prompt #3 a challenge.”

Prompt #3 was -What connections do you see between being attractive/beautiful and being loved?If I feel beautiful/attractive/appealing to others – will this mean I will be loved? Here’s a quote from one of the project participants “I encourage everyone to ask young children and the men in your lives what their response was to writing prompt #3. My family’s responses were drastically different compared to my response. Tonight i realized that the passing of time, our society, and our own inner demons create our insecurities related to female beauty.” 

Softly Landing

Hands in Brooklyn

The towels, journals and kozo papers for Well Used, Well Loved (community art project) have all been sent out. From London, England to the West coast (Washington and Oregon), from Arizona to Florida, from Brooklyn, NY to Corea Maine ~~ the towels, journals and paper have traveled far and wide.These materials have reached across borders to link people with a common inquiry about beauty and age. More images to follow, more stories to be told.

Handwoven towel from Guatemala

Out the door!

Ready to ship!

Today I shipped all the towels and journals for the Linen Team for my latest community art project “Well Used, Well Loved”. Letting go is often the hardest part of creating and guiding a community project – but it is part of the process and what makes this journey into community art so rewarding.In the next few days I will ship the packages to the Paper Team – the kozo paper for writing and spinning.Be sure to check out the project blog !

Ready to be used and loved!

Well Used, Well Loved has legs!

Eight towels – ready to live large!

The heart of “Well Used, Well Loved” (WUWL) is an inquiry into  thoughts, feelings and reflections on age and beauty.From its inception this community art project has had two legs – The Linen Team: which reflects on age and beauty through the use of a hand-woven linen towel and The Paper Team: which records personal reflections and conversations around age and beauty on Japanese Kozo paper that will eventually be spun into thread and woven in to a textile art work.Today I contacted folks who expressed interest in this project – the two legs have come to life – and the project is taking off on its own journey!  

Well Used, Well Loved – project launch!

Well Used, Well Loved Journals

Well Used, Well LovedA community art project that explores age and beautyWill you consider joining me in this reflection on age and beauty?I am seeking 8 individuals or households to “adopt” a hand-woven linen towel to use for six months. You will be asked to record periodic reflections and observations in a small journal that will be provided. Each site will be invited to have a “kitchen table conversation” with me at least once during the time period.At the end of the six months, I will collect the used towel, exchanging it for a new towel as a thank you for participating in the project.The eight Well Used and Well Loved towels will be the centerpiece for an installation grounded in an exploration of aging and beauty.  The journals (or text from them) will also be a part of the final installation.If you are interested I will ask you to sign a participation agreement. You will agree to use the towel, to communicate during the project’s 6 months, to write in a journal, to return the towel at the end of six months.Please visit the project blog and my website for more info.www.wellusedwellloved.blogspot.comhttp://sarahhaskell.comPlease contact me if you are interested in participating in this project.Thank you!  

Beautiful happy fresh NEW YEAR!

Happy beautiful New Year to all!I LOVE the month of January – it is a time that feels unencumbered by holidays (apologies to MLK) and the weather  often shuts down the frenzy of modern life. This is a time I hunker down in the studio,  dig deep, inquire within and seek fresh solutions to old sticky habits. This fall has been particularly busy with my part time care-giving for my 94 year old mother. I am away from home and studio for two full days a week – thus portable art work is vital to my creative health.

“HELP” Letter H Fire

My current portable project is titled “HELP”. It is a series of 4 panels of white hand-woven linen  – actually a re-purposed piece from the 90′s. Each panel has a hand sign for a letter (H-E-L-P) and each panel has an illustration of one of the 4 elements ( fire, water, earth, air). The inspiration for this work grew from the emerging refugee crisis and the relationship of this crisis to climate change.I’m still working on this project – but feel ready to share the first two letters – H and E.

“HELP” Letter E Water

On January 6th I will launch “Well Used, Well Loved” a community art project that explores age and beauty. I will put out a call to participate on that date – seeking 8 households (individuals or families). Check out the project blog to learn more!May you all enjoy a healthy and happy year ahead!

“HELP” Letter E Water.detail

Well Used, Well Loved – launches January 6th!

Well Used, Well Loved Journals

The eight custom made journals by Whimsy Scribble arrived today! They are an absolutely perfect match for the hand towels. I am so pleased!All the pieces of the project are now ready to go – but I will wait until the busyness of the holidays has quieted down to launch the project. My launch date is now January 6th. I’ll be doing an email blast as well as posting on -Twitter #wellusedwellloved @sarahdhaskellFaceBook Sarah D. Haskellproject blog at www.wellusedwellloved.blogspot.comI am looking for 8 households to adopt a towel and be willing to participate in journaling for the duration of the project (6-9 months). So if this interest you – stay tuned and be ready to speak up on January 6th!  

Well Used, Well Loved

Eight towels – ready to be well used and loved!

“Well Used, Well Loved”A community art project that explores age and beautyEight hand-woven linen hand towels will go out to eight households (individuals and families).Over the duration of nine months these households will be asked to use these towels as they please and to record periodic reflections and observations in a small journal that will be provided.  Each household will be invited to have a “kitchen table conversation” with me at least once during the time period.At the end of the nine months, I will collect the used towel, exchanging it for a new towel as a thank you for participating in the project.The eight Well Used and Well Loved towels will be the centerpiece for an installation grounded in an exploration of age and beauty.  The journals (and/or text from them) will also be a part of the final installation.Each participating household will be asked to sign a participation agreement:  to agree to use the towel, to communicate during the project’s 9 months, to write in a journal, to return the towel at the end of 9 nine months

• Project blog – http://wellusedwellloved.blogspot.com/

I will be doing an official launch of this project very soon – and an invitation to participate!