Galimotos

 One of my favorite Workshops!

See what William is up to now here:  http://www.williamkamkwamba.com/

Recycled knitting looms

 Sliced document tubes and other thick cardboard tubes can be combined with de-laminated corrugation and bamboo skewers to make custom knitting looms.These have been decorated with left over printmaking scraps.

Water wheels and water turbines, Summer 2021

About Dams

 Hydroelectricity is very much in the news and I have been developing some "hands on" projects to illustrate how dams create hydro power.  Hydro power was so important to economic development in Maine but also came at a price for waterways. This project engages students in the creation of a water wheel/water turbine toy that can also generate energy. They can learn the history of  these two forms of energy production --one that powered machinery and another that generated electricity. 

An additional function can illustrate optical science. The property of the "persistence of vision" was used in the 19th century Victorian Toy, the thaumatrope, an early form of animation. Students can create animations to appear when the side wheels spin.

URBAN HEAT ISLAND BOOK

 Another idea, still being tweaked!, is a simple book illustrated with stamps- or drawings by students-- to illustrate FAQ's about Heat Islands and ideas for mitigating the effects.

 How do you make a "hands on project" about Urban Heat Islands" ??   I scoured what is currently being offered and cobbled together two ideas into this Tin Can Green Roof project. Placed in the hot sun, students can measure the difference in temperature between the dark sides of the Tin Can with the coolness of the moss covered green roof.  

Monarch Season

 Magical Monarchs! It's hard not to be in awe of these creatures. Here is a video of one that hatched on our back deck recently:

https://youtu.be/3a-6YCyyG4A

Thanks to Chip Kaufmann for filming.

I fell in love with this children's book  that tells the story of the international collaboration between scientists and citizen scientists that led to the discovery of the winter habitat of Monarchs in central Mexico. 

Projects this Fall included Monarch Butterfly puppets and stamp books and cards.

Biddeford Art Walk

 Pollinators at the Art Walk

Holly Culloton from Biddeford Community Gardens shared a table with me at the Biddeford Art Walk this month and we promoted pollinators with Monarch Butterfly puppets and Mason Bee Hotels made from Japanese Knotweed and recycled coffee tins. 

Wearable Monarch Butterfly wings coming soon!

Julie's Bicycle

 I've been introduced to the climate emergency non-profit from the U.K., Julie's Bicycle by the International Teaching Artist Collaborative.

You can hop on Julie's Bicycle here: https://juliesbicycle.com/

Lots of great information and inspiring, creative projects.

Birchbark  Workshops

My latest workshops have explored birchbark as a material and a valuable tree with a rich history in human culture around the world.

Particularly valuable as one of the first trees to appear after a wildfire. Seeds and bark provide food for forest animals and the waterproof bark has been used for canoes, in housing , and has medicinal properties.

The Gear Project

The New England Mosaic Society virtual exhibition at the Charles River Museum of Industry.Waltham,MA. The gears will be installed at the Ruins Project in PA this spring.https://ruins.sagermosaics.com/ My gear honors the legacy of coal which built our industries but often at a price. The red glass is symbolic of lives lost in mine disasters and is surrounded by hematite named after the greek word for blood and sometimes called the Iron Rose. Each section of the gear contains a piece of polished jet, which is lignite coal and used in Victorian times in mourning jewelry. The rose in the center is an enduring symbol of passion but also of sacrifice.

Rising from the Rails

The story that inspired the Saco Transportation murals appears in "Rising from the Rails", by Larry Tye, chapter 5! There are many good resources for learning more about the important history of the Pullman Porters. You can start learning more

about them by watching these videos available online: “Miles of Smiles,Years of Struggle” “The Road Taken” “Ordinary Men,Extraordinary History"

STEAM for transportation history!

 A big thanks to the Sedgwick Elementary School students and their teacher,

jeweler Sarah Doremus for acting as "testers" on a cardboard cable car model project I designed for the Seashore Trolley Museum.  They did a spectacular job and I really appreciate their feedback.

Pullman Porter story mural installed!

We were finally able to install the two mural panes created by students in the APEX afterschool program.They illustrate a true story about some white children playing baseball in a field in Freeport in 1918. One of the boys hit a fly ball that happened to coincide with a train enroute to Halifax,Nova Scotia.A tall black Pullman Porter standing in the vestibule caught the ball and that started a relationship between a group of young,white children and possibly the only black man they ever met. Stop by and see the murals! On view from the Train platform 24/7. Thanks to the City of Saco for supporting this installation! and to Andrew Dickinson for these photographs.

 I'm really excited to be sending a Gear to the RUINS PROJECT https://ruins.sagermosaics.com/as part of a member collaboration with the New England Mosaic Society. All of our Gears will be displayed on a wall of the project with others from around the country and around the world.

Images to come.....

 Planning for summer 2021 and hope to be in person for small groups!

Current projects:

Arts Integration 2021

February

Installation mural project on the history of the Pullman Porters for Black Heritage Month.

June

Legacy Exhibition on the Life and Career of Maine jeweler Peggy Johnson who died in August.

In collaboration with the Brick Store Museum in Kennebunk. The exhibition is aimed at establishing a scholarship fund for Maine jewelers and metalsmiths (TBD) and an archive in Maine for the records of Maine artisans.