The Art Seeds Exchange idea originated at the 2014 Annual Art Therapy Conference and has been on the back burner of cool things to do. Several LAFTA members who are art therapists – Amy Sloboda, Sue Sobel, Becky Hunger, Judi Magder and Fran Englander- have been getting together for several years on a regular basis to create art and support each other professionally and personally. Theresa Adamchik, another art therapist, is also in our meet up.
Like many groups we have not been able to meet in person due to the Covid 19 restrictions but we felt the need to connect with each other. Finally, the Art Seed Exchange idea made it to the front burner as we decided to challenge ourselves.
Each person mailed Art Seeds, a packet of seven random items such as fabric, yarn, collage materials, quotes, old jewelry (from the stuff we have stashed away in our studios) to another person in our group. The challenge was to create an art piece using the Art Seeds materials in a media of our choice. Our guidelines stated that one item could be deleted and other items could be added to round out the artwork. Included in the guideline was a mail-by date for the Art Seeds and a deadline of six weeks for completing the piece.
With social distancing and wearing masks, we met June 14th in a covered shelter at Mount St. Francis to present our art. We were amazed and delighted with the use of the Art Seeds in a variety of media. Several of the art works reflected the tumultuous time we are living in. We agreed that receiving the Art Seeds in the mail was novel and having a deadline was helpful.
Sue Sobel
THERESA ADAMCHICK
The image of Hildegard of Bingen (b. 1098, d. 1179) stands out in the center, surrounded by a rainbow of colors. She was a Christian mystic and philosopher who embodied the "Divine Energy" of the universe. She was a healer, a hospice worker, and the founder of scientific natural history in Germany.
Other elements in "Hildegard" include beads, buttons, yarn, fabric, paper, words and a fortune from a cookie.
This piece represents the overlapping of time between Hildegard's world and mine, how we are the same, living in different time periods but being a part of the same Divine Energy that pulses through everything.
Sue Sobel's Seeds
SUE SOBEL
“Systemic Problems Burning”
Listening to the news of unfolding events, I discerned that our societal systems are systemically weakened, corrupted and outdated. All need change and the Covid 19 Pandemic struck the final match! Only our Political Will can bring needed changes! Ideas and solutions abound, but the selfishness, greed and short sightedness of people in power have prevented them. I have faith that changes to our systemic problems are possible and inevitable because the alternative is more strife and burning. I envisioned a burning bush, igniting and burning up the old systems. Gold lame, yarns and gold mesh were backed with felt and stitched to give contours to the burning bush.The Covid 19 Pandemic match box with the match is igniting the change. The cooling drops of doing what is best for the people will extinguish the burning flames. A symbol of Faith glows using the pearly earring to show changes to our systems are possible.
Judi Magder's Seeds
JUDI MAGDER
I found the “art seed” project to be a fun challenge. I chose to make a collage using the various paper images, and then I sewed the yarn around the edge of a handmade paper circle. Initially, I did not see the picture of the face ..until I turned over the paper and looked at the other side. Then, that image became the focal point of the collage. Also, there was a large glittery number six in the art seed packet and I wasn’t sure how to use it until a friend reminded me I could cut it up..so I did that and used the “glitter” for shiny accents. This process was a reminder to me that making art is full of surprises….and opportunities to look for new possibilities.
Becky Hunger's Seeds
BECKY HUNGER
I received my "art seed" packet from Fran. It included a cotton ball, wire, colorful string, blue ribbon, a small shell, a small piece of fabric and white netting. I immediately thought of making an affirmation doll with the cotton ball as the head. I enjoyed the process and when the doll was finished decided she needed to be actively doing something. I made a large bowl of fruit for her to hold as an offering. I decided she was a muse bringing peace into a chaotic world. With Covid 19 and police shootings filling our world narrative, she represented a generous and supportive part of humankind that will help pull us through the chaos.
Fran Englander's Seeds
FRAN ENGLANDER
"Corona-tion"
is a reflection on this time of pandemic, brutality, and social and economic unrest. Pieces are fragile and barely hold together, like a house of cards, but they can also be balanced and rearranged in as many ways as we can discover. The predominant color palette of red, white, black, and blue is reminiscent of pain and bruising, but with touches of gold and green, also incorporates primary hues not currently part of our national flag. The crowned container is Pandora's Box. The "gum balls" on top and inside resemble models of the coronavirus, but when the container is opened, just under the lid is the last item to escape after all the ills of the world are released, hope.
AMY SLOBODA
“Standing Strong”
This piece became a source of reassurance for me as I had moments of despair in coping with the Covid lockdown. As I manipulated the materials, the quote on the bottom, which was a scrap sitting on my desk, spoke to me. “Life is not somewhere else. See how fully you can accept the life that presents itself to you right now. “I made the assemblage to stand upright on its own so I could place it where I could refer to it often. Each element represents a different part of life for me. Daily, this image reminds me that everything is temporary, that I am strong, that I must accept what each day brings while maintaining hope for the future.
THERESA ADAMCHICK
The image of Hildegard of Bingen (b. 1098, d. 1179) stands out in the center, surrounded by a rainbow of colors. She was a Christian mystic and philosopher who embodied the "Divine Energy" of the universe. She was a healer, a hospice worker, and the founder of scientific natural history in Germany.
Other elements in "Hildegard" include beads, buttons, yarn, fabric, paper, words and a fortune from a cookie.
This piece represents the overlapping of time between Hildegard's world and mine, how we are the same, living in different time periods but being a part of the same Divine Energy that pulses through everything.
Sue Sobel's Seeds
SUE SOBEL
“Systemic Problems Burning”
Listening to the news of unfolding events, I discerned that our societal systems are systemically weakened, corrupted and outdated. All need change and the Covid 19 Pandemic struck the final match! Only our Political Will can bring needed changes! Ideas and solutions abound, but the selfishness, greed and short sightedness of people in power have prevented them. I have faith that changes to our systemic problems are possible and inevitable because the alternative is more strife and burning. I envisioned a burning bush, igniting and burning up the old systems. Gold lame, yarns and gold mesh were backed with felt and stitched to give contours to the burning bush.The Covid 19 Pandemic match box with the match is igniting the change. The cooling drops of doing what is best for the people will extinguish the burning flames. A symbol of Faith glows using the pearly earring to show changes to our systems are possible.
Judi Magder's Seeds
JUDI MAGDER
I found the “art seed” project to be a fun challenge. I chose to make a collage using the various paper images, and then I sewed the yarn around the edge of a handmade paper circle. Initially, I did not see the picture of the face ..until I turned over the paper and looked at the other side. Then, that image became the focal point of the collage. Also, there was a large glittery number six in the art seed packet and I wasn’t sure how to use it until a friend reminded me I could cut it up..so I did that and used the “glitter” for shiny accents. This process was a reminder to me that making art is full of surprises….and opportunities to look for new possibilities.
Becky Hunger's Seeds
BECKY HUNGER
I received my "art seed" packet from Fran. It included a cotton ball, wire, colorful string, blue ribbon, a small shell, a small piece of fabric and white netting. I immediately thought of making an affirmation doll with the cotton ball as the head. I enjoyed the process and when the doll was finished decided she needed to be actively doing something. I made a large bowl of fruit for her to hold as an offering. I decided she was a muse bringing peace into a chaotic world. With Covid 19 and police shootings filling our world narrative, she represented a generous and supportive part of humankind that will help pull us through the chaos.
Fran Englander's Seeds
FRAN ENGLANDER
"Corona-tion"
is a reflection on this time of pandemic, brutality, and social and economic unrest. Pieces are fragile and barely hold together, like a house of cards, but they can also be balanced and rearranged in as many ways as we can discover. The predominant color palette of red, white, black, and blue is reminiscent of pain and bruising, but with touches of gold and green, also incorporates primary hues not currently part of our national flag. The crowned container is Pandora's Box. The "gum balls" on top and inside resemble models of the coronavirus, but when the container is opened, just under the lid is the last item to escape after all the ills of the world are released, hope.
AMY SLOBODA
“Standing Strong”
This piece became a source of reassurance for me as I had moments of despair in coping with the Covid lockdown. As I manipulated the materials, the quote on the bottom, which was a scrap sitting on my desk, spoke to me. “Life is not somewhere else. See how fully you can accept the life that presents itself to you right now. “I made the assemblage to stand upright on its own so I could place it where I could refer to it often. Each element represents a different part of life for me. Daily, this image reminds me that everything is temporary, that I am strong, that I must accept what each day brings while maintaining hope for the future.
THERESA ADAMCHICK
The image of Hildegard of Bingen (b. 1098, d. 1179) stands out in the center, surrounded by a rainbow of colors. She was a Christian mystic and philosopher who embodied the "Divine Energy" of the universe. She was a healer, a hospice worker, and the founder of scientific natural history in Germany.
Other elements in "Hildegard" include beads, buttons, yarn, fabric, paper, words and a fortune from a cookie.
This piece represents the overlapping of time between Hildegard's world and mine, how we are the same, living in different time periods but being a part of the same Divine Energy that pulses through everything.
Sue Sobel's Seeds
SUE SOBEL
“Systemic Problems Burning”
Listening to the news of unfolding events, I discerned that our societal systems are systemically weakened, corrupted and outdated. All need change and the Covid 19 Pandemic struck the final match! Only our Political Will can bring needed changes! Ideas and solutions abound, but the selfishness, greed and short sightedness of people in power have prevented them. I have faith that changes to our systemic problems are possible and inevitable because the alternative is more strife and burning. I envisioned a burning bush, igniting and burning up the old systems. Gold lame, yarns and gold mesh were backed with felt and stitched to give contours to the burning bush.The Covid 19 Pandemic match box with the match is igniting the change. The cooling drops of doing what is best for the people will extinguish the burning flames. A symbol of Faith glows using the pearly earring to show changes to our systems are possible.
Judi Magder's Seeds
JUDI MAGDER
I found the “art seed” project to be a fun challenge. I chose to make a collage using the various paper images, and then I sewed the yarn around the edge of a handmade paper circle. Initially, I did not see the picture of the face ..until I turned over the paper and looked at the other side. Then, that image became the focal point of the collage. Also, there was a large glittery number six in the art seed packet and I wasn’t sure how to use it until a friend reminded me I could cut it up..so I did that and used the “glitter” for shiny accents. This process was a reminder to me that making art is full of surprises….and opportunities to look for new possibilities.
Becky Hunger's Seeds
BECKY HUNGER
I received my "art seed" packet from Fran. It included a cotton ball, wire, colorful string, blue ribbon, a small shell, a small piece of fabric and white netting. I immediately thought of making an affirmation doll with the cotton ball as the head. I enjoyed the process and when the doll was finished decided she needed to be actively doing something. I made a large bowl of fruit for her to hold as an offering. I decided she was a muse bringing peace into a chaotic world. With Covid 19 and police shootings filling our world narrative, she represented a generous and supportive part of humankind that will help pull us through the chaos.
Fran Englander's Seeds
FRAN ENGLANDER
"Corona-tion"
is a reflection on this time of pandemic, brutality, and social and economic unrest. Pieces are fragile and barely hold together, like a house of cards, but they can also be balanced and rearranged in as many ways as we can discover. The predominant color palette of red, white, black, and blue is reminiscent of pain and bruising, but with touches of gold and green, also incorporates primary hues not currently part of our national flag. The crowned container is Pandora's Box. The "gum balls" on top and inside resemble models of the coronavirus, but when the container is opened, just under the lid is the last item to escape after all the ills of the world are released, hope.
AMY SLOBODA
“Standing Strong”
This piece became a source of reassurance for me as I had moments of despair in coping with the Covid lockdown. As I manipulated the materials, the quote on the bottom, which was a scrap sitting on my desk, spoke to me. “Life is not somewhere else. See how fully you can accept the life that presents itself to you right now. “I made the assemblage to stand upright on its own so I could place it where I could refer to it often. Each element represents a different part of life for me. Daily, this image reminds me that everything is temporary, that I am strong, that I must accept what each day brings while maintaining hope for the future.
