Haystack is a world renowned arts retreat located on Deer Isle, Maine. Bemidji State University enabled me to attend a creativity conference which featured several original thinkers and at least one TedTalking genius. The following people changed my world and contributed to the collaborative art work Nos-Otros which will be headed for Guatemala next week.
The Jewish Temple in Poland
Handshouse My first connection was with Laura and Rick Brown who are professors at the Massachusetts College of Art and recreate historical buildings and artifacts using traditional materials, techniques and
tools. http://www.handshouse.org/ Meeting Laura and Rick Brown was a transformational experience for me These two professors share my passion for the power of community building through actual BUILDING! Rather than chase after the “Never Before Seen” as many solo voice artists do, they are reconstructing the “Forever Lost”and doing it employing the materials and techniques of the original creators. The 1776 submarine and human powered catapult were my favorite.
Barbara and Krista
Their assistants, Matt and Krista, taught me to grind WOAD and gave me hope for the future!
Rick Brown
Laura Brown
The teacher look
They are now worldwide experts in this new field of teaching and learning which Laura and Rick Brown have invented. As we used glass grinders to grind, and grind, and grind the WOAD, my little distractible heart was screaming for diversion
Grinding WOAD
When I asked Matt how he kept people at the grinding table he shared many stories and insights which the somewhat meditative grinding process produced as a byproduct of the WOAD grinding. To clarify: The dialogue built community and as indicated by the statement from Matt and Krista… a new menu for WOADISMS. “We are WOAD Warriors” “WOAD is me ”“The WOAD less traveled”
Dr. Ingold and Barbara
Artists as Intervenors: The Social Practice art form: My Artist Statement:Barbara Bridges seeks to empower all people to embrace the creative process. She makes art from artist fabricated components in a variety of media and rescued power objects. She organizes the objects to create meaning and provoke discussions and reflection on a wide variety of social topics including Ode to Gluten (agricultural practices), Onion/Academia Nuts, (Hi Tech/HiTouch in academia) Found In Our Water (water quality), and Talking Chairs (recovery/worldview truths). http://bridgescreate.com/
One of the Haystack presenters was Cambridge educated philosophy professor, Tim Ingold, who holds a unique theory on art making. Dr. Ingold suggests that artists are simply “interveners” on the journey of the particular materials and/or objects the artist manipulates. http://www.abdn.ac.uk/socsci/people/profiles/tim.ingold If you read my artist statement above you can see that theory would have a certain appeal for me.
Michael Strand and EL-bowls
Sandbag Civil Disobedience in the Dakotas Michael Strand, Social Practice Artist, Chair South Dakota State art department “I am always encouraged by the potential of many minds coming together” How many miles can this stick travel in one week? Michael presented this lesson at Haystack. His Sandbag and Cup Exchange Projects exemplify the power of social practice art http://www michaeljstrand com
An el-bowl made from using your elbow
Saul Griffith in the Fab LAb
Last but certainly MOST! Saul Griffith, Ted-TALKER, inventor and genius of Other Lab https://otherlab com/ in California. Other Lab shelters another dozen start up companies with 80+ people changing our world in small and large ways. After listening to Saul speak, I told him I felt I was in the presence of greatness Never said it before- probably never will again
“The digital and the analog are not in opposition Digital tools will expand our library of opportunities”
The great Griffith’s computer
BArbara so starstruck that a wet hair photo worked.
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