Sarah Applebaum joined us on Tuesday, coming from Oakland, California on her first trip ever to Michigan. She got a chance to tour around Grand Rapids for most of her first day, visiting the studio of macrame master Sally England, and doing a little shopping at Have Company.
At the studio she started to experiment with clay, and after an evening of tending the fire pit at our homestead in the meadow, she decided to make new fire pit decor with her small ceramic sculptures and gathered stones.
On Sunday she graced us with what she called her best artist talk ever, and the crowd was smitten with her psychedelic and sensory installation work, influenced by her dreams and meditations.
At the studio she started to experiment with clay, and after an evening of tending the fire pit at our homestead in the meadow, she decided to make new fire pit decor with her small ceramic sculptures and gathered stones.
On Sunday she graced us with what she called her best artist talk ever, and the crowd was smitten with her psychedelic and sensory installation work, influenced by her dreams and meditations.
Sarah is inspired by the fire pit, and our massive pile of fire wood
Our other Sarah, Sarah Haas, was working studiously this week at writing, drawing, and compiling a chap book to add to our library of self-published goodies by resident artists. With her charming dog Sugar, she has been walking the back trails of our surrounding woodlands, and discovering hidden places. She also took the opportunity to learn how to sail a 28-foot sailboat, and admired the boat for it's efficient use of compact space.
Sarah is hosting an interactive event on her mobile stage this week. Home Share is an open forum for visitors to share their stories and anecdotes about home. Inspired by The Poetics of Space and her own self-contained traveling home, she aims to start conversations about how we perceive domestic space and form ideas of home.
Sarah is hosting an interactive event on her mobile stage this week. Home Share is an open forum for visitors to share their stories and anecdotes about home. Inspired by The Poetics of Space and her own self-contained traveling home, she aims to start conversations about how we perceive domestic space and form ideas of home.
Rose catches the old school house in a good light All four residents made a field trip to the small town of Hart, to visit the Hart Historic District. After a two-hour tour of animatronic dolls, taxidermied animals, tiny pianos, hundreds of tools and cultural artifacts, and historic buildings preserved and transferred to the site from all over town, our cameras were full of images and we were astonished at the dedication of the volunteers who have built and maintain the collections.
Rose Beerhorst diligently stitched on her quilt all week, and punctuated the monotony by making one of her signature rag rugs. She uses old clothing and bedding, cut into strips and wound into balls, to crochet her durable designs. We will be arranging a workshop where she teaches the technique. We are also shooting a time-lapse video of her process in the meadow next week.
Rose Beerhorst diligently stitched on her quilt all week, and punctuated the monotony by making one of her signature rag rugs. She uses old clothing and bedding, cut into strips and wound into balls, to crochet her durable designs. We will be arranging a workshop where she teaches the technique. We are also shooting a time-lapse video of her process in the meadow next week.
Among all other adventures, this week was Pentwater's 83rd Annual Homecoming Celebration, and for Shared Space, that meant participating in a sand sculpture contest and a parade. Amy Johnquest, The Banner Queen, was here as a resident artist during homecoming last year, and decided to come back as our official Homecoming Director. She painted an official Shared Space Studio banner to present in the parade, joining our work party at the studio and making friends with this year's crew of residents.
Eliza made signs to represent the triad of priorities at the studio, and we all worked on brainstorming ideas for the sand sculpture on Friday. Amy lead us to glory in the contest, and we went home with a 3rd place trophy to join our 2nd place trophy from last year. The next day we dressed up and joined family and friends in goofy hats to march in the Grand Parade- the biggest annual event in Pentwater. Our first year participating in the parade, we set out to promote the studio, and we all had rather surreal and impressive experiences that will no doubt lead to more elaborate preparations next year....
The 'Keep it Wet' team with their trophy at the beach
Some called our parade outfits 'kicky', others called us 'freak show', but we all had a good time
A grand banner for a grand parade!
Grant Heaps continued to add to his ever-growing fabric-mosaic mural this week, picking and choosing bits of fabric from the share pile to add to the sentimental pastiche of reclaimed fibers.
He wowed the crowd along with Sarah at our Sunday slide talk, giving us a peek at his obsessive collections, and explaining his oversized quilts, tedious yet hilarious Halloween costumes, and collaborative sewing relationship with his mother.
He wowed the crowd along with Sarah at our Sunday slide talk, giving us a peek at his obsessive collections, and explaining his oversized quilts, tedious yet hilarious Halloween costumes, and collaborative sewing relationship with his mother.
Grant at a much-deserved break at the beach
Our fifth resident artist, Jeffrey Kriksciun, missed the hub-bub at the parade, but got to town just in time to witness the spectacular fireworks at the beach on Saturday night.
He plans to make one or more drawing and painting zines during his stay, and has been busy reading books from our studio library and drawing in his sketchbook.
All and all, it was a very stimulating and exhausting week!
He plans to make one or more drawing and painting zines during his stay, and has been busy reading books from our studio library and drawing in his sketchbook.
All and all, it was a very stimulating and exhausting week!
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