December de Young Museum Residency!

Last week I learned that I was selected to be the Artist in Residence at the de Young Museum for the month of December 2008. I am very excited and a bit anxious. There is a lot to do to get ready! My residency's tentative title is "Rhythms and Space" and will feature my mixed media tapestries created from recycled materials from the grounds of the de Young Museum as well as from my collection of wrappers. The visitor participatory activity will engage the visitor in creating wire and paper tapestry tiles to add to a visitor created tapestry. Below are studies for some of the tapestries of wire, fabric, wrappers and paper.

My reception will be December 13th from 3-5 pm.
It will feature live music as well as original scores by Scott Perry http://jspguitarsoundstudio.com/index.html
and a fashion show with Colleen Quen http://www.colleenquencouture.com/
The fashion show will highlight the hat elements that come off of the tapestries. My son will also be performing a few pieces on his guitar. Details to come!
See samples of my hats at:
http://www.okadadesign.com/hats.html
and at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/corinne_o/sets/72157605547855980/

(If you are a visual artist and are interested in applying to this residency, click on the title of this blog entry and it will take you to their residency information page.)

Study of tapestry 1



















Inspirations for tapestry 1 (English silk textile from de Young collection)














Study of Tapestry 2




















Inspirations for tapestry 2 (Japanese textile from de Young collection, chairs of cafe, flowers on grounds and round sky viewing structure)

Study of Tapestry 3


























Inspirations for tapestry 3 (Japanese textile from de Young collection, de Young Museum lights and Ginko leave of grounds)










Below is my original proposal submitted to the residency in 2006:

The project I propose to make is a large airy three dimensional mixed media tapestry sculpture made of found objects from Golden Gate Park. Squares made of twisted enameled wire are covered in fragmented paper skins and sheer silks. The papers are pressed of recycled materials found in the park (i.e.: ticket stubs, newspapers and food wrappers) as well as from mulberry pulp and shredded maps and postcards of Golden Gate Park. Colorful wax impressions of found objects from the park are then suspended inside these tiles. Each square incorporates debris found in a particular region of Golden Gate Park. This way, each tile is a sort of snapshot in discards of a certain section. A conceptual sketch of this tapestry is attached. Abstract floral elements, interpretations of flowers and plants from the park, will overlay the geometric grid of the tapestry. Dark background shapes will echo the contours of paths in the park.

The process of making such a tapestry involves the creation of the individual wire squares using electrician wire twisters, needle nose pliers and enameled wire. Each square is formed against a cardboard template. It is removed from the template and then wire is added to give it dimension and pattern. Hand made paper pulled from fragments of maps and wrappers are glued and stitched to each square. Some squares are then filled with produce netting or stitched over with sheer silks. Found objects or their wax impressions are suspended inside some squares by fishing line. The squares attach to each other with wire hooks and the resulting mixed media tapestry suspends from the ceiling from a bamboo pole.

The interactive project I propose to accompany my residency project invites the visitor to create a three dimensional tapestry square of floral wire, paper, produce netting and other recycled materials. This square is then linked with those made by other visitors forming an ongoing work on progress. These tiles would be similar in construction to the more complex tapestry tiles that build my tapestry sculptures. Several templates for the design will be provided for the viewer to follow. The project illustrates to the viewer how a modular element can be incorporated into a more complex pattern. It also invites the viewer to look at the detritus of everyday life a little closer, find the beauty in the texture and form and reflect on what our trash says about us.