I finished my last art class last night at my local art museum. I've already mentioned my weaving and devoré classes (photos still to come on the weaving). This last class was on fiber wrapping--all in conjunction with the (now finished) Sheila Hicks exhibit. It was an inspiring exhibit and the works were absolutely gorgeous. I am lucky to have been able to see it several times and then learn how to weave as a result. The projects I completed for all three classes are still at the museum as they may go into a student exhibit. If any of the works end on display it will be the only time anything I have made will end up in a museum, which is a cool thought. So no photos yet of those projects, but I brought home a couple of mini boules!
My Sheila Hicks-inspired boules measure about 3" around. The photo above is from the exhibit catalog (which, yes, I had to buy and am happy to have it) and shows Sheila's "Grand Boules" from 2009. They are part of an installation and range in size from 33-1/2 to 45-5/16 in. in diameter. They are made up of linen, cotton, synthetic raffia and metallic fiber.
In the exhibit she had a wall of much smaller boules created from "found material". I believe the small boules contained bits and pieces of clothing from her children--whatever was inside the boules was particular to her life and family and really only she knows what they contain. I like the idea as it is her own personal past that she had carried with her from place to place and now they make up her artwork.
At the end of the last class (we had been making larger wrapped fiber wall hangings) we had a little extra time to make our own little boules (actually mine are pretty small, most of the other students opted for larger size boules). My instructor has bins and bins of fabric and fibers and fuzzy, shiny bits and bobs that we could choose from.
We started with a piece of paper on which we wrote something personal--some wish or hope or dream or anything we wanted to have inside and then crumpled the paper and over that paper, which forms the base, wrapped fabric strips and then fibers--working from larger materials to smaller.
It was fun and I could see how given time and thought and a chance to gather just the right sort of materials you could make something very special and personal. As a matter of fact I am now contemplating making a few to pass along to friends for the holidays or just some other special time (or for no particular reason at all even). The thought inside is meant to remain a secret--so the boule contains some special memory or hope. It is a nice sentiment and the perfect way to end my classes. And now the exhibit is down and the next one will open next month.
I love working with fibers and textiles so this was all very special. The next exhibit, which I am looking forward to seeing, has a few themed classes but I am likely not going to take any as they are mostly photography related. I might however, give this Plaster Sculpture class a try in December (it is inspired by the museum's George Segal installation). I love doing my needlework, but it is nice to take classes and get inspiration from other students and have a talented instructor give guidance. Until something else comes along it is back to my needlework and hopefully I can find a way to continue on with my weaving!