questions I can’t really answer

Porch banners 2

Originally uploaded by SOFennell

One of the things that came out of conversation yesterday was, what’s the best way to learn? What did I recommend? Workshop or working on one’s own? My response was, basically, independent study. Later, I had to reconsider.

I don’t have the answer because, I have to admit, there’s nothing like a workshop, where you’re working and learning with a community. You receive and give inspiration, things happen spontaneously, and there’s the sharing (which may already be implied here). When I teach, I learn from my students. I’m trying to see through their eyes and it’s refreshing.

On the other hand, I like the isolation and quiet of working in my home studio where I can focus on specific ‘problems’ or aspects of research and practice.

Maybe it’s both. I did “get started” by attending a workshop. It’s what jump started the whole thing. I might have arrived there eventually anyway. I was already intrigued with the color, the pigment, the “stuff” for probably most of my life (cultural environment). It was going to happen. When it did, I knew it was the thing I wanted to work with.

To go back to that question, though, experience (practice) is always the best teacher. The student can teach him or herself in isolation or learn it with others. Either way…or both….I’m back to the that topic we often addressed at school, “Approaches to Learning” – there are so many ways. So, one has to find one’s own way – whatever suits.

Beaufort, NC Indigo Workshop

August is nearly here and it’s a month crammed with events and activity.  Beginning next week, I teach rising middle school students the art of indigo dyeing and shibori at Artspace (downtown Raleigh).  It will be a full week of dyeing, learning about itajime, binding, wrapping and a lot of nui (stitching).

Following that is a second week at Artspace working with rising 3rd – 5th graders doing a workshop titled Matsuri! 祭り！(festivals!).  We will be looking at crafts (textile) related to that theme as summer is one of the best times to explore that topic (can’t imagine why!).

After a week’s break in Tampa with family, I’ll be returning home to teach aizome shibori with Janine LeBlanc in Beaufort, NC.  I’ve posted more about that below:

Dates:  August 28th & 29th

Place:  Beaufort Art Center

Instructors:  Janine LeBlanc and Susan Fennell

For further details scroll down to p. 8 in the Arts Alive Newsletter for southeast NC.

Kite practice

Kite practice

Originally uploaded by SOFennell

I’m back to preparing for spring workshops, as I have several elementary schools I’ll be visiting. I find I must begin several months out – gathering the materials, finishing some edges (ie. hachi maki or wall hangings), or putting them in “kit” form. I also often need to make samples or just need to “play” and practice with some of the forms, as with kite making.

In the past, students have had several days to make them, so my approach has been slower and much more complicated. I’ve recently found that it really wasn’t necessary. In this upcoming series, in April, students will have roughly 45 minutes to put them together and perhaps add an image to the sail. So, the approach has changed and I like it so much more. I’m looking forward to further experimentation, working with other materials and I might even fly a few.

On the whole, this school year was an experiment to see how things would sort out in terms of numbers and what I could handle. It was my first year away from the classroom and really had no idea what it would feel like working as a teaching artist on a more “full time” or at least working with a full calendar – that is, responding to every school that called. In this case, on the average I had at least one/month and some were whole school (300-600 students).

I’m finding already, that I overbooked and that it’s physically challenging. If I was younger it would be a different story perhaps. However all of that is, I’m reassessing approaches to the activities I offer (including my current springtime workshops) and the number I take on (as well as the numbers of students involved) in the next school year. It’s a learning process for sure.

Another thing that I also think about is my personal studio time – prepping takes away from it and it affects my own work, my attitude and ability to approach it at all sometimes. When I’ve had the time for it, things flowed, I felt creative and it basically affirmed that’s where I really want to spend my time. This year though, things were a bit out of balance, so finding that is going to take some fine tuning.

Warming up for Indigo

Sq5

Originally uploaded by SOFennell

The only warmth in the outdoor studio today came from the Indigo. Otherwise, it was too cold for this activity. I think I was restless, since we are anticipating a snowstorm this evening.

It was a good way to spend part of the afternoon, at any rate. I only managed a few pieces, but it helped to begin working through some ideas for an upcoming workshop in a Cary high school.

Blue Surprise

Blue Surprise

Originally uploaded by SOFennell

So yesterday, we got serious with color. The kids had their introduction to shibori with itajime (clamping) and some binding. They worked with muslin scraps, moved up to 12 inch squares, then tenugui (hand towel) or hachi maki (headband) sized pieces. We used RIT dyes for this particular activity. However, I plan to use Procion as well as indigo as the week moves on.

This particular piece was a complete surprise. The student had initially forgotten to add her “back” pieces for clamping. So, I sent her back to do that and this is the final result. I think “we” are still “cool.”

Sea green banners

W8

Originally uploaded by SOFennell

On Tuesday after class, I rushed home from school for a quick lunch, then manipulated (shibori) a few hachi maki and put them in a turquoise and yellow dyebath. They soaked for an hour (after adding soda ash). Then they were washed to remove the excess dye and hung on the line until damp (I was expecting rain at any minute and there was a good breeze).
After ironing, the edges were finished with a serger (rolled hem) and a 1 inch casing (done on my sewing machine) at the top.

They will eventually hang in the school’s library (with a vertical orientation) or other places around the school.

Wendell – Gyotaku

W4

Originally uploaded by SOFennell

Once again, I’ve been on the road with my fish this week. This time, I’m in Wendell. It’s roughly a half hour drive when the traffic is good. I make a point of leaving early to avoid heavy traffic. I’ve been arriving a good hour or more early some days and it has afforded me time to take short walks with some picture taking. I’ve found it a refreshing way to begin the day especially when the world is still waking up. The countryside is wonderfully still that time of day.

Of course, once the students arrive, the intensity begins. I tend to talk too much in the beginning as there’s a lot of information to give and then I also give a short demo. It’s an area that I feel needs some work. Sometimes I teach a little vocabulary, a few greetings, topical vocabulary along with the cultural explanation.The students work quickly, too quickly for my taste, as I want them to enjoy the process.

Before I know it they’re finished, ready to clean up and move on. I’m seeing four classes a day at this school.

It goes without saying that the regular art room teacher is also there to give aid, support and many other things that are needed to keep things moving smoothly. He knows his students and has his expectations. On the whole, I think it’s going well.

毎日・The daily

This has been one of those weeks where, in spite of planning, not much gets done.  It feels like it has been a bow to the administration (or something).  I only teach every other day as we’re on an “A/B” schedule and I teach in the mornings on A days.  I was in class only 2 days this week.  Next week I’ll teach 3.  Tuesday, we had a late start due to early a.m. meetings (collaboration & departmental).  Our classes were shortened and I also had to hand out interim reports as we are half way through the quarter.  That took time, as some students questioned their grades.  Then, today, was an early release.  Classes were shortened again, so my J1s had group work and a short peek at a culture video (they were mesmerized).  The J2s performed their Jugemu recitations and viewed most of the first episode of Atsuhime.   I want to give them some exposure to history and this seems one way to do it.  It was a relatively easy prep week, and gave me a chance to work on my other assignments-Artist in Schools workshops.

Schools are contacting me, setting dates and sending contracts for workshops and residencies.  I had at least one surprise yesterday which I’m sure I documented, but couldn’t find.  So, I had to be refreshed.  It’s a good thing it happened though, since I found that my paper and computer calendars weren’t completely in sync. It looks like it will be a busy fall and winter for my gyotaku (fish models).  I’m not complaining, but I need to come up with another kind of hour long workshop (other than gyotaku), for variety, if anything.  My other offerings are a bit time consuming so I need to find a way to alter them and that will take a little practice.

毎日・まいにち・mainichi/everyday

毎（まい）mai=every      日（にち）nichi=day

Red Herring Puppets

Red Herring Puppets

Originally uploaded by SOFennell

I was rubbing elbows with some auspicious folks yesterday at the Artist in the Schools Arts Fest. My “neighbor” was Red Herring, Inc.and I enjoyed talking with them and watching them work. I was also taken with costuming and dress there, so made a point of taking pictures this year.

I took in samples of shibori and images from workshops and residencies but still felt like I could have done more. It didn’t deter people talking to me though, and I had more attention this year than last. I wasn’t at all disappointed. With the few residencies I had last year plus working in my own school, I was quite busy.

Attending this festival (for me) really marks the beginning of a new school year and new possibilities (another form of New Year!). Sadly, though, it also marks the end of summer, those activities (though not completely!) and those special sounds, those of the cicada. By the time June rolls around each year, I’m looking forward to their loud whine. So, as we are still in Risshu, I think of this well-known haiku by Basho:

やがて死ぬ/　Yagate shinu/ Soon to die

けしきは見えず/ Keshiki wa miezu / not knowing it

蝉の声/ Semi no koe/ the cicada’s sound (cry).

Lone Artist

Lone Artist

Originally uploaded by SOFennell

This little girl waited patiently until finally, today I gave permission to paint or color in their kite images. The most difficult task for them was to make the frames, which included my having them draw up a grid on which they would place their dowel pieces. There were a lot of sticky fingers and it required a lot of patience from all of us to get past this point. It could have been asking them too much, to cut the patterned edges of their kite skins for final attachment today. They walked through it though and finished their pieces in good time. They had time leftover to play games or draw.

I’ve been teaching another “Mukashi” class at Artspace this summer. It’s only for this week. I wrap up my part tomorrow. We’ve started every class with a folktale or part of one, or a story relating to topic. I think they’ve enjoyed it. I would have thrown in a song or two, but the class next door (we’re separated only by canvas curtains) was one in cut glass mosaics. There was a lot of grinding, cutting and pounding so that aspect of things seemed unwise. Apart from that, the students put their focus on their tasks and seem pleased with their results.