Reimagined Landscape:
A Community Stitch Project
Reimagined Landscape: a Community Stitch Project draws attention to the beauty of nature and single-use plastic which is polluting and causing devastation in our rivers, oceans and landscape.
Reimagined Landscape is a community project to stitch a mixed media art quilt using soft single-use plastic packaging - such as shopping bags, wrapping from paper towels and other items. Akin to a quilting bee, together with the community we will collect materials, cut the pieces, pin and sew a large scale collage which reflects the landscape that surrounds us.
Let’s join together to go through all the stages of art making one step at a time. First we collect the materials, whether we forage in the community space or bring from home, single-use plastic is plentiful all around us.
Then we will choose our scene - will it be the view right outside the door or shall we choose a local landmark, park or mountain preserve?
After research and conversation we will make a sketch on a large “canvas”. Then we will sort and cut our materials, collage and pin together the different portions of the artwork. Once our Reimagined Landscape is pinned together, we will stitch the artwork. Decorative stitches will be taught to help enhance the details of our “quilt” as it gets closer to completion.
It will be the modern day quilting bee stitching together soft plastic. We will gather to have conversations, make connections and create a beautiful artwork which will be displayed for everyone to see. We’ll have conversations about our planet, what we can do better for it and how doing even small things daily is an important part of our lives. Included in the workshop will be a guide - Five Small Steps One Can Take To Reduce Plastic Use.
The beauty of nature
just outside the windows
is a view worth celebrating in art.
American landscape painting from the mid-nineteenth to early twentieth century is a long standing tradition of capturing the diverse and pristine wilderness which is this land. The conquest of this wilderness and materialistic pursuits of the American Dream have brought about our new landscape, full of litter, pollution, ecological depletion and clear evidence of how much we have taken for granted.
Reimagined Landscape: a Community Stitch Project will bring attention to the beauty of the natural landscape, and to all that needs to be done to protect and reverse the damage already done. The added benefit is that hands-on participation in a group project like this supports better mental health, reduces anxiety, manages stress, enhances sleep and concentration.
Logistics:
Sizing:
The smallest size for the community stitch project piece can be is 3 feet by 4 feet, if the number of participants is 5 or less.
For 5 to 7 participants, the size of the project must be at least 4 feet by 5 feet.
For 7 or more participants, the size must be at least 6 feet by 8 feet to accommodate everyone.
The beauty of a mixed media art quilt like this is that it can go larger and larger!
Timing:
Smallest size projects with 5 and under participants can be accomplished in six 90 minute sessions.
Medium size projects with 5 to 7 participants can be accomplished in eight 90 minute sessions.
Large size projects with 7 or more participants can be accomplished in twelve 90 minute sessions.
It is possible that an additional session or two may need to be added in order to complete the artwork.
Experience:
No sewing or art experience is needed, as all basic skills will be taught.
Yet experienced artists and stitchers are always welcome!
The community stitch project can be adjusted to many age groups, from 10 to 110.
Cost:
Each 90 minute session is $275.
Embroidery floss, needles, pins, scissors, glue sticks are all provided by the artist.
All single-use plastic materials must be collected by the participants, with additional plastic provided by the artist if needed.
Work space, tables, chairs and lights must be provided by the venue.
Approximate cost of small size community stitch project is $1,650; medium size community stitch project is $2,200; large size community stitch project is $3,300
