Fall harvest

Monhegan Sunset

I’m harvesting a bounty of creative projects and activities this fall. The highlight was my 5 week residency on Monhegan Island .

My island studio home

I’ve posted many images on my Instagram and FaceBook pages – so be sure to check those out. I suspect that this time and the work I accomplished out there will have significant affect on my work moving forward. I’ll do my best to share my work as it progresses!

detail of work in progress

Beyond my studio I am in shows this fall:  Cahoon Museum of American Art, Cotuit, MA. “Twisted, Twined, and Woven”  Opening November 2, 2018 4:30 – 6 PMCenter for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockland ME – Biennial Show   Opening November 3, 2018 5 – 7 PM

Lobstering on Trap Day.

In an effort to bring closure to “Well Used, Well Loved” I have begun to return towels and journals to the participants in the community art project.

Well used and loved towels and journals going home.

And FiberArt Now magazine just published a feature article about my work. I am honored and so excited for this exposure. Thank you to writer Janet Mendelsohn for her well-crafted piece about my journey and vision.Now it’s time to get back to work…….

Spring is bursting forth!

Each One: The Button Project at the 9/11 Museum

NOW: Letters By Hand

After the coldest spring I can recall in decades, we finally have the delicious days of spring that we dream of all winter.  Not only are the buds luscious and full, but my calendar is ripe with shows, new art and other events. Here are the highlights:

• “Well Used, Well Loved”. – this two year community project will be exhibited at George Marshall Gallery. Opening May 26 from 5-7. 
• Artist Talk - Sunday June 24th, 3 PM, George Marshall Gallery
• Members Juried Biennial, Fuller Craft Museum,  Opening May 20th, 2-5 PM
• Monhegan Island Artist’s Residency - I have been awarded a 5 week residency for the fall!
• “Each One:The Button Project, a 9/11 Memorial” is on exhibit at the September 11th Museum and Memorial. I was finally able to visit the museum last month.

In the studio,  I am exploring new works, weaving, stitching and dyeing. More images and updates will follow soon!

Samples with indigo and rust dyes

Patience

Letter L emerges from under the snow.

 Of all the seasons here in New England, Spring requires the most patience. This year Mother Nature teased us with unseasonably warm days in January….and then slammed us with a series of Nor’Easters in March. We had over 2 feet of snow dumped on us in less than two weeks!During one of those blizzards, Letter L blew off the tree where it had been weathering in situ along with letters OV ands E. I’ve been patiently waiting for the huge snow drift to melt. And  when it finally did… look what I found!

Letter L completes LOVE.

These indigo dyed weavings are part of on-going experiments that I’m doing with my woven fabrics. Recently, I have been curious about the aging and weathering processes of my textiles. For years I resisted these changes by framing, scotch-guarding and protecting my works from sunlight, dust and humidity. Now I am consciously subjecting pieces to wind, water rust and sunlight.I find this intentional abuse and breaking down of my “precious” fabrics confronts my own attachment to permanence and my futile attempts to stop the aging process within my own body.

Patience is inherent to the process of threading a loom.

If anything, these weathering and aging processes require patience. Patience is a skill that I have honed over decades. Both as a weaver and mediator, I have learned to be comfortable in the slow, methodical techniques that comprise the textiles arts.Now, as I watch the receding snow piles and the budding crocuses, I am comfortable in this waiting-space. Waiting for Spring, witnessing the metamorphosis of nature and blossoming creativity.

The heart, the voice and a vision.

Love: a visit with village elders

I am back from a five week pilgrimage to southern India. This is my third trip to Tamil Nadu, each time I feel a deeper connection to my own heart as well as the heart of the world. Even though I visited many of the same temples, the same ashram and the same villages – my heart and my eyes were opened anew.Back home in my studio I feel a stronger connection to my creative voice and vision. I know without a doubt that the depth of my connection to truth, love and reality while in India is playing out in my art work.

Sketchbook: A quiet time with the ashram cows

An invesigation of impermanence has captivated me for a decade and driven my two most recent community art projects.    This awareness of impermanence is part of a Hindu’s daily life – and makes the present moment so alive and expansive.So here I am home….with a heart that has had time for deep reflection as well as being broken open by the devotion and love of these beautiful people. I have a wide horizon of time to create, to make new art and give voice to these new stirrings in my heart. Stay tuned for works in progress and continued reflections on this trip!

The Ashram weave shed where they weave shawls and saris

Namaste ~ Sarah

The Button Project goes to NYC

The Button Project in NYC. Photo by Jin S. Lee, 9/11 Memorial

The Button Project in NYC

The Button Project a 9/11 Memorial

Seventeen years ago I designed and created “The Button project: a 9/11 Memorial.”  It was through the making of this piece piece that I came to know what it means to be a community artist.Last winter the National September 11th Memorial and Museum asked to borrow the piece from the the City of Portsmouth.The piece is  now installed in a special exhibit with three other pieces inspired by the events of 9/11. Needless to say – I am thrilled to have this piece here.All photos by Jin S. Lee 9/11 Memorial

When words become thread

cut kozo paper ready to spin

When words become thread – text becomes textile. This is a process that has captivated me for over a decade. I recently wrote a blog about my current community art project “Well Used, Well Loved” that is grounded in this process. Please visit he blog to see and read more!

So many loose ends

Sometimes there are so many loose ends that it is hard to know where to begin.

Shifu threads, spun and unpsun

This summer has been a season of intense family highs and lows and as a result my art work has taken a backseat.  Here it is October, with many loose ends left from projects, news to catch up on plus a shift in my professional and creative focus.

Mary Louise Williams Haskell

Where to begin? Perhaps a word about my personal transitions. This June I lost my dear Mother, Mary Louise Haskell, who died on June 19th just days shy of turning 95. I had been one of her part time caregivers for over 2 years, living with her and sharing the challenges of growing old. Her passing has left a large space in my heart.In September our son Robin married his long time sweetheart Becky. My husband officiated the ceremony in Prescott Park, Portsmouth, NH. The reception was held in our backyard with a New Orleans style band. Creating an environment for 150 people to gather, celebrate, eat and dance was a huge effort and joy!

Oh happy day!

Shifu spinning is so portable

Well Love and Used towels, journals and shifu papers

Work in progress: One of Many #2

For a few years I have reduced the amount of time I spend presenting school residences and workshops. This year I am officially stepping back from teaching. HOWEVER -  I will always be an educator and my arm might be twisted to do a special project for your school or community.  This shift will allow me to focus on my community art projects such as “Well Used, Well Loved” plus my own creative journey. Check out the project blog to learn more. Currently I am working on a series I began last Spring – continuing to explore the human form in silhouette, stitched on to my hand dyed/woven indigo cloth. I am grateful for every day – thank you Universe for this amazing life! 

Thank you.

Letter L is for love.

“THANK YOU LETTERS” is an interactive community art project that I completed stitching in January of 2014 as I was heading off to India.

Letter Z goes to India

Here’s how it works -  I ask people to think about something or someone or that they are thankful for. Then I ask them to spell it using an alphabet that I embroidered with cotton floss on lobster flags. Then I photograph the person with their word.This project never really got the light it deserved. So now 2 years later I will travel with it to France – hoping that I can engage people with my elementary French!

Keep Calm and travel on

Stay tuned for photos  – check out my FB page and Instagram: sdhaskell and Twitter @sarahhaskell #thankyouletters

“Thank you Letters” ready to travel!

Between Us

To create art with others – in community – requires interaction with others. It is in this space that the real community ART is made.

Martel School Lewiston ME

Hands create together

This spring I am continuing my transition from teaching in schools to focusing on my own art.  Soon I will remove the artist in residence/teaching portion of my website. I will not be closing that door entirely as  I will entertain special requests for the Mandala Community Weaving as well as other intergenerational projects.In this new chapter of my creative life - I will put a greater weight on developing my own art work.  It is here in my studio that I dig deep into my personal narrative. I have the good fortune this month of being in a show at the George Marshall Gallery in York, ME.

Detail: “One of Many”

This month I worked with The Cotting School in Lexington to create a beautiful and expressive Community Mandala. In addition I traveled up to Lewsiton ME to work with 3rd and 4th grades at Martel School to create a joyful Mandala. My website gallery is long over due for some new art – so stay tuned – it is coming!

Cotting School Mandala

Unfolding lives, color effects

color effects our well being

Jacob Hiatt Community Mandala

Last week I was artist in residence at Jacob Hiatt Magnet School in Worcester, MA. I worked with 150 1st and 3rd graders to create a Community Mandala Weaving. This school community is rich with diversity and enthusiasm from principal Datta all the way down to the pre-K students, including all the staff and faculty. We worked hard for three days to create this magnificent, radiant Mandala which will adorn their school walls for generations to enjoy.While I was at Jacob Hiatt School I was snowed in for one day – and enjoyed the time to catch up on other on-going projects – including Well Used, Well Loved This community art project has brought forth a deep engagement among many of the 43 participants. We have a (closed) Face Book group where we can safely share photos and words in response to my prompts and questions.We also have a blog that is where I anonymously share stories and photo. Some of the questions I have asked are ~What/who in your life do you perceive as old? What/who do you perceive as beautiful? Do you see any connection between feeling attractive and feeling loved? The answers have been wide ranging – some surprises too!

creative response to Well Used Well Loved prompt #1

“I found prompt #3 a challenge.”

Prompt #3 was -What connections do you see between being attractive/beautiful and being loved?If I feel beautiful/attractive/appealing to others – will this mean I will be loved? Here’s a quote from one of the project participants “I encourage everyone to ask young children and the men in your lives what their response was to writing prompt #3. My family’s responses were drastically different compared to my response. Tonight i realized that the passing of time, our society, and our own inner demons create our insecurities related to female beauty.” 

Softly Landing

Hands in Brooklyn

The towels, journals and kozo papers for Well Used, Well Loved (community art project) have all been sent out. From London, England to the West coast (Washington and Oregon), from Arizona to Florida, from Brooklyn, NY to Corea Maine ~~ the towels, journals and paper have traveled far and wide.These materials have reached across borders to link people with a common inquiry about beauty and age. More images to follow, more stories to be told.

Handwoven towel from Guatemala

Out the door!

Ready to ship!

Today I shipped all the towels and journals for the Linen Team for my latest community art project “Well Used, Well Loved”. Letting go is often the hardest part of creating and guiding a community project – but it is part of the process and what makes this journey into community art so rewarding.In the next few days I will ship the packages to the Paper Team – the kozo paper for writing and spinning.Be sure to check out the project blog !

Ready to be used and loved!

Well Used, Well Loved has legs!

Eight towels – ready to live large!

The heart of “Well Used, Well Loved” (WUWL) is an inquiry into  thoughts, feelings and reflections on age and beauty.From its inception this community art project has had two legs – The Linen Team: which reflects on age and beauty through the use of a hand-woven linen towel and The Paper Team: which records personal reflections and conversations around age and beauty on Japanese Kozo paper that will eventually be spun into thread and woven in to a textile art work.Today I contacted folks who expressed interest in this project – the two legs have come to life – and the project is taking off on its own journey!  

Well Used, Well Loved – project launch!

Well Used, Well Loved Journals

Well Used, Well LovedA community art project that explores age and beautyWill you consider joining me in this reflection on age and beauty?I am seeking 8 individuals or households to “adopt” a hand-woven linen towel to use for six months. You will be asked to record periodic reflections and observations in a small journal that will be provided. Each site will be invited to have a “kitchen table conversation” with me at least once during the time period.At the end of the six months, I will collect the used towel, exchanging it for a new towel as a thank you for participating in the project.The eight Well Used and Well Loved towels will be the centerpiece for an installation grounded in an exploration of aging and beauty.  The journals (or text from them) will also be a part of the final installation.If you are interested I will ask you to sign a participation agreement. You will agree to use the towel, to communicate during the project’s 6 months, to write in a journal, to return the towel at the end of six months.Please visit the project blog and my website for more info.www.wellusedwellloved.blogspot.comhttp://sarahhaskell.comPlease contact me if you are interested in participating in this project.Thank you!  

Beautiful happy fresh NEW YEAR!

Happy beautiful New Year to all!I LOVE the month of January – it is a time that feels unencumbered by holidays (apologies to MLK) and the weather  often shuts down the frenzy of modern life. This is a time I hunker down in the studio,  dig deep, inquire within and seek fresh solutions to old sticky habits. This fall has been particularly busy with my part time care-giving for my 94 year old mother. I am away from home and studio for two full days a week – thus portable art work is vital to my creative health.

“HELP” Letter H Fire

My current portable project is titled “HELP”. It is a series of 4 panels of white hand-woven linen  – actually a re-purposed piece from the 90′s. Each panel has a hand sign for a letter (H-E-L-P) and each panel has an illustration of one of the 4 elements ( fire, water, earth, air). The inspiration for this work grew from the emerging refugee crisis and the relationship of this crisis to climate change.I’m still working on this project – but feel ready to share the first two letters – H and E.

“HELP” Letter E Water

On January 6th I will launch “Well Used, Well Loved” a community art project that explores age and beauty. I will put out a call to participate on that date – seeking 8 households (individuals or families). Check out the project blog to learn more!May you all enjoy a healthy and happy year ahead!

“HELP” Letter E Water.detail

Well Used, Well Loved – launches January 6th!

Well Used, Well Loved Journals

The eight custom made journals by Whimsy Scribble arrived today! They are an absolutely perfect match for the hand towels. I am so pleased!All the pieces of the project are now ready to go – but I will wait until the busyness of the holidays has quieted down to launch the project. My launch date is now January 6th. I’ll be doing an email blast as well as posting on -Twitter #wellusedwellloved @sarahdhaskellFaceBook Sarah D. Haskellproject blog at www.wellusedwellloved.blogspot.comI am looking for 8 households to adopt a towel and be willing to participate in journaling for the duration of the project (6-9 months). So if this interest you – stay tuned and be ready to speak up on January 6th!  

Well Used, Well Loved

Eight towels – ready to be well used and loved!

“Well Used, Well Loved”A community art project that explores age and beautyEight hand-woven linen hand towels will go out to eight households (individuals and families).Over the duration of nine months these households will be asked to use these towels as they please and to record periodic reflections and observations in a small journal that will be provided.  Each household will be invited to have a “kitchen table conversation” with me at least once during the time period.At the end of the nine months, I will collect the used towel, exchanging it for a new towel as a thank you for participating in the project.The eight Well Used and Well Loved towels will be the centerpiece for an installation grounded in an exploration of age and beauty.  The journals (and/or text from them) will also be a part of the final installation.Each participating household will be asked to sign a participation agreement:  to agree to use the towel, to communicate during the project’s 9 months, to write in a journal, to return the towel at the end of 9 nine months

• Project blog – http://wellusedwellloved.blogspot.com/

I will be doing an official launch of this project very soon – and an invitation to participate! 

Mandala means circle

Mandala means circle

Mandala means circle in Sanskrit. A Mandala design always has a center – a core, just like us. A Mandala is always a symmetrical design that radiates out from this center or core….just like our personality radiates out from us. And the weaving on a Mandala is a spiral – one that keeps growing from this central core. And just like that spiral of weft that grows from the original start – the Mandala Community Weaving has continued to grow and grow.The Mandala Community Weaving is a project that I designed about 20 years ago – and it has grown and grown and grown…just like the spiral weaving. This spring the project has experienced two milestones.

Rock Creek Forest Mandala

First – with the help of parents,staff and students at Rock Creek Forest Elementary School (Chevy Chase MD) we created the largest Mandala yet – over 650 clothes pin people. It is so full of people – the weaving is a small inner circle. There is such power in this image – the strength of numbers, of community, of wholeness and diversity. Thanks RCF for making this Mandala with me!!The second milestone – the Mandala Community Weaving has gone abroad! With the help of Kathy Kaknes, a volunteer who traveled to Haiti this month, the project was presented to the Be Like Brit Orphanage in Grand Goave, Haiti. With over 60 children living, growing and learning in this community, along side many dedicated adults ~ their Mandala has a very special glow to it.

Haiti – Mandala Community Weaving

Making clothespin people helps us feel better.

The completed Mandala

Weaving with friends

Art makes us smile!

Be Like Brit Mission statement.

Haiti colors!

Mandalas in Maryland

El Salvador pride

Community hands

Placing out the people

I am recently back from a week long residency in Chevy Chase MD at Rock Creek Forest Elementary. With a student body of nearly 600 plus staff and teachers, we created a large all school Mandala Community Weaving that will be stunning when fully assembled. The parent volunteers and organizers were amazing – and even with the large workshop sessions we cruised through the week with ease. At the end of the week, I left the final gluing assembly of the Mandala in the capable hands of the two parent organizers – thanks Tricia and Erica! I can’t wait to see it all together!!  

May days

Detail of Clothes pin people

Wonderful volunteers who assembled and glued together the Mandala Community Weaving for AW Cox School

Here are some  photos from the AW Cox Elementary School in Guilford, CT. We worked for two days with over 300 students to weave and make the clothes pin people. A few weeks later volunteers assembled the project. The completed Mandala will be installed in June.

This is how the Mandala got delivered to the school!