Visiting Artist At Common Ground

I'm super excited to be invited to work on an art project with high schoolers at Common Ground High School in New Haven!  This is part of their visiting artist/artists-in-residence program and there are four other local artists who are also participating. 

I was asked to come up with a project that uses recycled materials while simultaneously bringing awareness to climate change for the students.  In my research, I discovered several examples of projects that use colored stripes chronologically ordered to visually portray long-term temperature trends, most notably The Tempestry Project, as well as Professor Ed Hawkins' Warming Stripes climate data visualization work.

I decided to create a weaving project, one I'm calling The Warming Stripes Weaving Project (WSWP), that provides a visual representation of historical temperature data for New Haven, Connecticut.  Students will collect local temperature data for a given year, match the data to a specific color, and then individually weave one year's worth of daily high temperatures.  Weavings will be displayed side by side so that viewers can determine temperature trends over time and decide for themselves whether they see evidence of climate change.

Last week, students tried out the weaving process, using different shapes and sizes of looms, and various weaving materials.

Using the fingers to beat the weft in place.

Colorful t-shirt yarns make great patterns.

Trying out a tapestry needle for weaving.

Weaving is such an accessible art form.  I love how it can be adapted to all ages, interest levels and kinds of materials.  I'm looking forward to seeing what these high schoolers can do with this project!

Helping to Save the Planet, One Ball of Yarn at a Time

What a wonderful time at Mitchell Library!  We sampled many new yarns and talked about some others that are out there, including yarn made with paper.  THANKS to all who came out, despite the drizzling rain and the difficult parking situation.  If anyone would like a copy of my notes (with a full listing of all the yarns displayed and manufacturing information), please email me at marsha@marshamakes.com and I will get those right out to you.

Trying yarn made with denim, with t-shirts, and with plastic water bottles. 

Checking out this oddly-shaped skein of yarn, made from t-shirt remnants

This yarn, made from eucalyptus trees, was the crowd favorite!

All of pictured yarns, with the exception of the t-shirt yarns, were made by Wool and the Gang, a yarn company committed to sustainability in fashion.  The t-shirt yarn in the photo is from Lion Brand and has been discontinued.  BUT you can make your own t-shirt yarn.  Its fast, fun and easy!  Previous workshops of mine have focused on this very skill.  E-mail me at marsha@marshamakes if you would like more information about how to make t-shirt yarn.  

And by the way, there is SO much going on the the awesome Westville neighborhood of New Haven. Check out This Week in Westville HERE.

Keep on knitting and crocheting!  One ball at a time, we can make a difference!

Exhibition - Harmonious Discord

It's been AMAZING to be a part of Ely Center of Contemporary Art's "off-site" gallery show, Harmonious Discord, at Perspectives @Whitney Center, Hamden, CT.  My work was chosen from an open call of 300+ artists for this exhibition. The exhibition space is wonderful - a large, open space that's perfect for large works.  It's the perfect venue to showcase my large upcycled plastic wall sculptures.

I was honored to do an artist's talk for the show's opening - Powerpoint, podium, microphone, audience - the whole nine yards, and quite a thrill!

Joining me in the show are four other amazing artists - Heidi Lewis Coleman, Phyllis Crowley, Stephen Klema and Alan Neider. 

Here are some highlights.

Artist Talk, Perspectives Gallery at Whitney Center, Hamden, CT

Foyer, Perspectives Gallery at Whitney Center, Hamden, CT

 The show runs through May 7, 2020.  Local folks, stop by!