Assemblage: The Re-contextualizing of Objects

Assemblage: The Re-contextualizing of Objects

Jun 7, 2020 | Classes, Uncategorized

Holly Badgley teaching a class of students

Assemblage: The Re-contextualizing of Objects

There is an affliction some artists have of seeing potential and beauty in everything. Now that I have taken a plastic fusing class, a bookmaking workshop and an assemblage class—will I ever throw anything away again? This affliction also involves picking up trash from off the streets and highways.

A San Francisco artist friend of mine, Helen Cohen, told me she was signing up for this class and I jumped right on it. Not just to hang with her but the possibility of moving into more 3 dimensional work.  It must be said clothing is naturally dimensional, but in my “fine art” side of life, I wanted the freedom to come off the wall.  The teacher, James Sansing, has been running this class for many years. He is a patient, insightful, low key man and has done installations at many locales. 

The first couple of classes were so noisy! James dumps out bin after bin of “junk” from the dump on the tables and students paw through it. So, it’s a cacophony at first, searching for the gems and objects that are calling your name. All of a sudden your bag is full and ideas are flowing.

As the weeks go by the room gets quieter as minds are concentrating. I let myself move from one project to another, the compositions forming almost effortlessly. I worked on several at a time. You watch others at work. You watch what they put back on the table that looks cool and a new piece forms.

What is a girl to do? Make ART not WAR!

I learned about gluing, sawing, piercing, screwing. It is not rocket science, but having a teacher to be there in his quiet way to support the process and other students dedicatedly putting together their work is fun and rewarding. The last class is the big reveal. Many surprises come from the back corners of the room.

Now of course, the material I have left is sitting in a topless plastic tub leftover from the dump. To go with my bag of collected plastic and my bag of paper! Alas. What’s a girl to do?

 

Resources to Learn More

Helen Cohen, Artist:

Visit Helen's Website

James Sansing, Artist:

Visit James' Website

Love Fest @ PenWag: Winter Presentation & Workshop

Love Fest @ PenWag: Winter Presentation & Workshop

May 17, 2020 | Classes, Uncategorized

Holly Badgley teaching a class of students

Love Fest @ PenWag: Winter Presentation & Workshop

My friend Marcia Manzo called me last year to see if I would be interested in sharing pictures of my trip to Japan, two years ago, for the Peninsula Wearable Art Group. I love sharing things that are so dear to my heart.  This was maybe my one and only trip with the Chigyo sisters, so I was happy to revisit the experience! See previous blog.

She also invited me to teach a workshop in the afternoon that day. Looking at what I taught last time, maybe five years ago, we decided that embellishing a finished garment would be the ticket.

For the talk, I brought samples of the Kasuri fabrics I bought from the indigo dye master, cloth I purchased from the Temple market and clothing made combining my indigos from around the world. Who doesn’t love a show and tell? I was nervous my slideshow would be too long, but people seemed to enjoy the images: details of buildings, food and traveling. And the leitmotif of the honey badger, my favorite totem animal from Japan, got some laughs! One woman said she was moved to tears by the presentation. You can’t ask for more than that.

I was nervous my slideshow would be too long, but people seemed to enjoy the images: details of buildings, food and traveling.

The class in the afternoon was in a large room, but to start we gathered in close to talk technique and I showed ideas for printing, stitching and appliqué. There was an adjacent room that is a kitchen with nice high tables for printing, and a large sink. I brought ample bags of scraps, though not too much organza, as last time my stash of organza was decimated by enthusiastic sewers!

It is always frustrating to only have three hours to work, as I don’t get to see any of the finished products. I realize the class really just serves as a guideline for my approach to embellishment. I try not to make too many suggestions, mainly offering a possible direction or placement of a scrap. I really learn a lot from watching everyone’s own process of play. It’s a lovely give and take.

It is a privilege to see the amount of creativity in this group. Michelle Panganini is in charge of programs now and she is an up-cycling powerhouse. There are the many other makers, who uphold high standards of finishing and ideas. I am hoping to keep connected with this fine group in the years to come.

Dorothy Caldwell: Human Marks at Shakerag

Dorothy Caldwell: Human Marks at Shakerag

Jul 3, 2017 | Classes

Dorothy Caldwell: Human Marks at Shakerag

Back in September at the Eco dyeing class with Pia Best, my Santa Cruz friends told me they were signed up for a class in Tennessee from a woman whose work I admire: Dorothy Caldwell. I often find out about work and artists through Pinterest, or my art group. And I have long “pinned” Dorothy’s work. I love her sensibility, colors and simple forms.

So, I said I’m in!

My husband and I planned to go a week ahead of the class for exploring and a roots tour, as my grandfather was born in Cocke County, the heart of deep Appalachia. Not knowing what to expect makes me nervous, and the thought of moonshiners and meth dealers made me even more nervous!

But what we found in our travels were cities in the process of revitalization and with that, great food and culture. And outside of the big towns were winding roads and pastoral scenes, tidy farms for the most part.

That scenario prevailed as we drove up to St. Andrews/ Seawanee, the campus where Shakerag offers it’s two week summer classes. Atop one of the bluffs, next door to University of the South, the rolling campus is a calm spot for letting down ones inhibitions and preparing to be creative.

Dorothy’s class was one of five classes being offered that session and there were 17 women participating in hers.

She presented in the morning and afternoon. The exercises we did were simple, mark making, painting with India ink, Kantha stitching, batik/discharge, and finally book making. I had done some of them before, but this context made them fresh again.

45 Women at the Studio

45 Women at the Studio

Sep 6, 2016 | Classes

45 Women at the Studio

A good excuse to clean and organize one’s studio is to have invited 45 women to come over! Back in April at the Style ’16 Show, Mary Ann Behrens asked if her group, the Haute Couture Societiè, could come for a studio visit. Yes! Of course. And after we would go to the American Craft Council show at Fort Mason.

Oh the sorting. Oh the clean up. I was happy to have an excuse to work the place over. When I am in full production mode or demi mode, I never have the time. And the fabric multiplies. Positively breeds. Spills out from the wall. I had the satisfaction of arranging the whole mess so I could find things, remember things, see things and be excited by them. To find why I kept them in the first place.

I also started to finish some ancient projects, way down deep in the project pile. All of that “finishing” helps me move forward and loosens up energy for the next phase. Even though I might feel guilty for sewing something for myself, it is part of the whole “making” process and can inform the next cool piece.

Anyway- back to the 45 women! So I met them downstairs and up they filed, a long continuous line of women. I wasn’t entirely sure they would really all fit. But I had taken quite a lot out of the studio.

When they were all squeezed in Mary Ann asked me to talk about my clothing. And you know, I did. It just came flowing out. It felt so natural. I love sharing my work and how it came to be. And it is very comfortable to be in the studio where it all happens.

Thank you Jonelle Tannahill for the lovely photos!

Number of Attendees

3 Cruzianas: Winter Painting

3 Cruzianas: Winter Painting

Jan 22, 2016 | Classes, Creative Space, Creativity, Process

3 Cruzianas: Winter Painting

The group is getting distilled. From eleven to five to three. And the three are passionate painters. Because they have already been en studio, there was an idea of what was possible. Sharon brought a packet of images to be made into silk screens she had designed. Each had brought pre-washed fabrics to sample. I had mixed 3 large jars of “chem”,  the thickened mixture we add the dyes to for flat painting. And I had extra mesh for making the silk screens. Set to go.

The 1st day was getting our priorities established.  Silk screening first so it can “batch” and soak up the black dye. Then getting started on painting yardage of different fabrics. They had purchased some natural wool flannel at my source, and had bought the striped cotton/linen they had fallen in love with at the last workshop. Plus bits and pieces of other interesting cottons and velvet. Lisa brought a dynamite shantung organza. I’m going to go right out and get me some! Such body and texture. Love it!

The time seemed to tear by at a rapid clip. Every available rack and ladder was covered with drying fabrics. We ran out of painting tables. I mixed more dye. There was still more to work on. So much so that we added on a day  in order to let the pieces dry, make the silk screens  and possibly paint one more hunk of fabric.

All the while I was fighting a cold, and what I noticed was as the days progressed and  the excitement of sharing in the creative process, by the last day I felt healed. It was amazing. There was such a flow and sympatico between us, these women who have spent time together in a creative container. I was very honored to be part of their history and provide new horizons for their work.

Cruzianas au studio!

Cruzianas au studio!

Aug 17, 2015 | Classes, Process

Cruzianas au studio!

A painting with thickened dye workshop-handouts, masks, gloves lined up and ready for the Cruzianas to come paint their hearts out. 5 women came, so I moved some tables around to make room and washed off the formica skins.

We had 3 days.

The first to get oriented and clear about fibers and activators, mixing dye recipes and chemical medium. Swatching out the dyes (painting small amounts) on all the fabrics they brought. Waiting for the drying process to complete to see how much lighter the colors would be. Doing our silk screening before painting.

The 2nd, demos from me and laying out of printed work and painting over those and many more pieces. I also created many buckets of dye for men’s shirts and various swatches for vat dyeing. What I love is to see how differently everyone approaches their work. And also to see how the energy builds and gets so high and productive.

The 3rd day we washed out all we had done, did some discharging, and pushed to get a bit more painted and then cleaned up.

I think the information coalesced at the end. I spent time with Sharon fine tuning my class notes to really clarify the process. All in all a very fun, satisfying and edifying time. They are a great tightly knit group of women and I love spending time with them. The ideas flow and everyone is totally engaged. Thanks Cruzianas!