The Bicyclist

I found this wooden part with the sweet little face when I was sorting out materials. I don't know if it was drawn by someone in the recent class or someone in an earlier class but I just had to give her a "life". Thank you unknown artist child. I hope you like our collaboration!

 

The Friends School Residency, March 15-17,2023

 What a wonderful three days I had with 13 students at the Friends School in Portland making Galimotos. These kinetic folk toys are made in Africa, especially Kenya, by children who use salvaged wire, cloth, and basic hand tools ingeniously to handmake models of bicyles and cars.

I decided to use 18 gauge wire in this class due to a number of very young children and a worry about their post covid hand strength. I also made new jigs for shaping the aluminum wire. Although the bikes were more fragile with the lighter wire, all the children were able to fabricate the basic parts.

They learned a simple manufacturing process for creating duplicate shapes of parts in the same size, how to use pliers and wire cutters, how to make a moving model, a brief history of bicycle design and facts about bicycle culture.  We also talked about how children worldwide make their own toys when they have few resources and how we have a wealth of materials in our own society waiting to be transformed into new items.

They were able to use their imaginations to create the riders for their bicycles, also with recycled material from a local business.  I was so thrilled to see their engagement, enthusiasm, creativity and curiosity. They problem solved and asked important questions! Great job kids!

Hashi

 So excited that Year 4 of the Hashi,Children's Maine/Japan Printmaking Exchange will be shipped to Japan this week!

I helped Lynda McCann Olson, President of Friends of Aomori https://maine-aomori.org/ , prep the prints from Maine school children for shipping yesterday and they are wonderful!

Watch for more news about this important exchange to come!

*Hashi is "Bridges" in Japanese.

No bikes for girls in Afghanistan

 I was so sad to hear this:

https://www.npr.org/2022/11/30/1139848255/post-taliban-takeover-riding-a-bike-is-out-of-the-question-for-afghan-women

Bicycles have always been important to the independence of women in many parts of the world, a history that is part of Bike Part Art workshops where we can make these versions of the Galimoto, an African folk toy.

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Bee puppet, under construction!

 

Summer Art Making at the Kennebunk Beach Improvement Association

 

We had a great summer of art making at KBIA with printmaking,jewelry,drawing, painting, bookmaking and of course PUPPETS!