FUN with Graph Paper

The artwork of Charles Gaines, GRIDWORK 1974 - 1989 is currently on display at the Studio Museum in Harlem and his work has truly inspired me to re-think the use of graph paper. Below are images of different kinds of projects I have created for workshops all inspired by the beautiful work of Charles Gaines.

As stated on the Studio Museum website: Highly regarded as both a leading practitioner of conceptualism and an influential educator at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), Charles Gaines is celebrated primarily for his photographs, drawings and works on paper that investigate systems, cognition and language. His early experiments examined the roles that systems and rule-based procedures play in the construction of forms, objects and meaning. - See more at: http://www.studiomuseum.org/exhibition/charles-gaines-gridwork-1974-1989#sthash.cmUlEq4a.dpuf

Numbers and Trees VI, Landscape, #7, 1989 Collection of Sheri and Arnold Schlessinger Courtesy Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects Photo: Robert Wedemeyer 

Numbers and Trees VI, Landscape, #7, 1989 Collection of Sheri and Arnold Schlessinger Courtesy Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects Photo: Robert Wedemeyer

Numbers and Trees VI, Landscape, #7, 1989 Collection of Sheri and Arnold Schlessinger Courtesy Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects Photo: Robert Wedemeyer

Numbers and Trees VI, Landscape, #7, 1989 Collection of Sheri and Arnold Schlessinger Courtesy Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects Photo: Robert Wedemeyer

Above are photos from my visit to the exhibition. These are just one of 4 other parts of Charles Gaines Gridwork 1974 - 1989 show. Below are photos from the Target Free Sundays workshop.

Zemi Dolls

A zemi or cemi is a deity or ancestral spirit, and a sculptural object that houses the spirit, among the Taino.  They were also created by neighboring tribes in theCaribbean and northern South America. I like to think that the dolls I create house kind ancestor spirits that protect the child the doll is for. This is one I had made for a fellow colleague of mine.

LOL I know one of her legs is bigger than the other.

Family Day with No Longer Empty...

The If You Build It exhibition, coordinated by No Longer Empty, in the Sugar Hill section of Harlem has and will be offering free family art workshops for the community. I facilitaed the first one June 28th. Below are images from the workshop. Families had a great time listening to stories and creating their cityscapes.
I look forward to the next two free fun art workshops on Saturday July 12th and August 2nd. Check out the link for more information: http://www.nolongerempty.org/nc/home/what-we-do/exhibitions/exhibition/if-you-build-it/

I read Uptown by Bryan Collier, The Tin Forest by Helen Ward, Anansi the Spider by Gerald McDermott, I Love Collage by me Elan and We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past by Jacqueline Woodson.

All really great books!

Paper Doll Project

When working with children 2.5 to 4 years old, its best to do things in steps and never worry about staying in the lines. I began this Lil' Studio with a book entitled, Lucille by Arnold Lobel. Lucille is a horse that's tired of being dull and dirty. The farmer's wife takes an interest in Lucille and takes her shopping. She buys Lucille a hat, shoes and dress. Lucille soon learns that she rather be herself.  

 

  

 

 In this paper doll workshop we began with coloring the clothes for their paper doll.

 

After coloring, parents cut out clothing while I hand out a 8 x 10 piece of white cardstock to create a backdrop for the paper doll. They are instructed to pick a green for grass and we create short vertical lines then we pick a blue to make swirly round lines and then they were instructed to make a home for their paper doll.