Stitched Art at the Little Art

That is the Little Art Theatre  lobby in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Most of the work was in my Stitch Gasp! exhibit but this one below is new and is a stitched photograph. Not a new concept, as there are many who do it, such as Maurizio Anzeri (got to see his exhibit at the Baltic in Gateshead-wow), Jessica Wohl, and the fabulous Inge Jacobsen.

Muy Cottage fb has a link to a site that offers a drawing with stitch challenge  some of you might be interested in.

Anyway, I wanted to explore the idea of taking a photograph of a vintage embroidery transfer from the 40′s or 50′s,  add a bit tie dye using adobe, and then hand embroidery it.  The comment is by Rush L, a view that was prevalent BACK in the 50′s, yet is being regurgitated in 2012, arg!  I crossed the quite well for obvious reasons. He is the one that coined the term feminazi, a propaganda technique of guilt by association – Reductio ad Hitlerum . Name calling and demonization seems par for the course with feminists being accused as  filthy, hairy, smelly hippies and  feminazi’s, just to name a few,  phew! I have never met one, but then I have never met a pig that fly’s either

Jafabrit’s Embroidery 

Knots on the Lawn by Mill’s Lawn Students

Can I just say that the Jafagirls are chuffed as mintballs, happy as larks, and LOVE the textile tree the students did in front of their school. There I said it.

Thank You.

Urban Design: Public Art was one of 6 classes offered this spring in the After School Enrichment Program at Mills Lawn School in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Taught by Deb Housh, this class toured art sites in Yellow Springs such as Keith’s Alley, Dayton St. Art Park, and the YS Train Station. Students were particularly interested in the “textile totems” on Dayton Street made by JafaGirls Corrine Bayraktaroglu and Nancy Mellon. The students emulated their work with their own public art piece entitled “Knots on the Lawn”, which can be seen in front of Mills Lawn through June.

Yarnboming: Marmite Tree

Art Park, Dayton Street , Yellow Springs, Ohio

Oh yes, this jafa the brit loves her Marmite, and in honor of my fave elixir of life , (tar in a jar as Marmite dictionary author Maggie Hall calls it)  Nancy and I whipped it up in no time. We had fun sharing info all about it with curious visitors to town who seemed to love catching us in action.

Yarn Storming Article

by Sass Brown, author of Eco  Fashion, in ABOVE Magazine

and including your very own Jafagirls

Sass Brown’s Blog

Curator’s Corner: Little Art Theatre

I’ve been saying since I moved in to Yellow Springs that the whole town is an art gallery.  And it’s true! Even our movie theater has a gallery!  For many years The Little Art Theater in Yellow Springs has had a mini art gallery in their lobby.

It’s thanks to Sue Brezine, who has been lining up local artists and hanging the art there for years.  Sue is passing on this special job to me and I am starting my new job off with the best.  ”Who” sayest thou?  Corrine Bayraktaroglu of course, Jafagirl artist extroardinaire.

Corrine is putting up a collection of her fab Embroidered Art.  If you haven’t had a chance to see them they are amazing-the detail, the colors, the concepts, the warped sense of humor (well maybe not warped…well maybe a little warped…well) are not to be missed.  So now you have two reasons to come to the Little Art Theater this month.  Wonderful shows, great snacks, wine and Corrine’s Embroidered Art. Ok, that’s more than two but that only makes it better!

See you at the theater

 I’ll be the one clutching a small brown paper bag of chocolate covered malted milk balls, almonds and raisins, ( that has the chocolate an inch thick around each yummy piece.)

Nancy

Nancy is also Gallery Coordinator for the Yellow Springs Arts Council, so if you are interested in doing a show  at  either space please contact Nancy at: nancymellon.jafa (at) gmail.com

Corrine Sez:  Thanks Nancy  I want to extend a personal thank you to Sue Brezine for her 25 years of  curating the art exhibits in the Little Art Theatre lobby.  My very first show in Yellow Springs was  because of Sue, who saw my work and encouraged me to show my stone portraits.

My embroidery work will be up for the month of May. I hope everyone visiting enjoys seeing it and if you have any questions just contact me at jafagirlart (at) yahoo.com .

Jafa’s Rocking it

 Nancy roped Jafa T and moi (Jafabrit) into making Pet Rocks today. Nancy is organizing some fun things for the April exhibit at the Yellow Springs Arts Council and the theme is the 70′ and 80′s.  Pet Rocks were a huge fad in the 70′s, don’t ask me why, but I suppose for the same reason yarnbombing is now,it’s goofy and fun, and heaven knows we need a bit of that in life.

Yarnbombing Chores

As in cutting some down and putting some up. Every Tuesday the Jafagirls get together and often do walkabout. This week  we cut down a very special craftbomb that was dedicated to local artist Eddie Eckenrode almost two years ago.  Part of the crochet and knitting on the mellow yellow pole was also cut down and will be replaced.   I will admit that the Jafagirl spirit for doing public art was dampened by recent kerfuffles about art in the village office building, and the recent attempt to break up our yarnbombing cell by the local Police Chief, but DARN IT, us jafagirls can’t seem to help ourselves.

AND SO

Art Park (Corry Street)

I had some spare crochet squares and thought they would compliment Susan’s bead string. It’s a rather modest little bit of yarnbombing, BUT it’s sweet and doesn’t take away from the string beads.  Two young men visiting town came up to us  and asked if we were the one’s putting up the yarnbombing and when we said yes, shook our hands and said they LOVED visiting and seeing it, so I guess we are doing something right, eh  and we love seeing people happy.

NOTE

For those who may question or wonder about how it impacts the trees, what happens to it when it gets old, or wet, ect.  Before you  get yer knickers in a knot here is some information to ponder. In regards to the trees, we did consult with tree professionals when we started doing this 5 or 6 years ago ( there is a tree committee in town that would let us know if there were any concerns) and  it has not proven to be an issue. To  date I have never heard of yarnbombing “actually causing” any damage. Lots of “MIGHT” but no evidence to date. The only things that seem to be hurting trees so far are urban pollutants, trucks/cars bashing into them, kids climbing them, owners cutting them down, ice storms, road salt (that scientists says kills our trees), weed killers, etc. All the trees/posts we have yarnbombed years ago are fine, as are the poles and benches.,  When it gets old it gets cut down (doesn’t cost the village or tax payers money for removal), when it gets wet it dries. Not seen any bug infestations due to a yarnbombing either.

If you are worried about the homeless, please do check out our links and discussion titled Breaking a Fallacy

 In other NEWS

Nancy (Yellow Springs Arts Council Gallery Curator) is very busy preparing for the upcoming re-opening  event and the Photographic Survey Exhibit. Of course whatever Nancy does, her little elf helper (moi) is along for the ride and doing odd jobs and helping out.

Hero Pole: My Single Parent

Every now and again Nancy and I go and read the tags on the Hero Pole, and fill the bag with empty one’s ready for people to add their own hero’s.  This one made us go aaaaaah! that is so sweet and what a loving gesture of recognition for all those single parents out there.

Hairy Mary showing at the John Bryan Community Center Gallery

in Yellow Springs, Ohio

as part of the

Women’s Voices Out Loud 

RECEPTION March 17th more info HERE

The Jafagirls would like to thank the Bryan Center for allowing women to have a voice and hosting Women’s Voices Out Loud for the 33rd year (I believe that is the correct number)

We couldn’t think of a more appropriate event and month (Women’s History Month)  to share Hairy Mary and  in honor of Mary Wollstonecraft ,  a pioneer and advocate for women’s rights and  wrote  A Vindication of the Rights of Woman in 1792. 

Hairy Mary Hairy Mary is a work in progress and is a Protest Mannequin.   She stands for a women’s right to be perfect just the way they are.

“One person’s expression of what it means to be human is for someone else the manifestation of something so repugnant or offensive it must be removed or destroyed.” 
-Jennifer Higgie, The Art Newspaper, “Free Speech”, June-August 2011

Complaints of obscenity by village employees

History of the Name Hairy Mary

Craft Activism Protest with Knitted Poos

Are you wanting to send a message, a protest as an individual or a group. There is some very poopy behaviour going on, let’s just say I am one of those who is not happy about the way women are being treated, called sluts/whores because they use birth control, confronting riot police at peaceful protest, or having to defend their right to healthcare they pay for through their insurance.  Knitting a Poo is very easy, and I have the instructions if you want them, just leave a message with your email addy OR you can buy a kit with all the parts ready to put together if you don’t knit.