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
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
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
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
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
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!
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.