we are artistes

This afternoon we got to do something really special.  Through a friend we were able to go into GOMA and help an artist make a soft sculpture called the 'Pistil' installation.  Hiromi Tango has been working on this since 2005, and many people have contributed to its construction.  She says 'this work represents the incomplete and unstable nature of existence and interaction - our complex realities'.  She weaves chords made by the public, local artists and herself into a 7m structure in the foyer at GOMA.  And now our little cord constructions are part of it.

We were invited into the backroom creative space and we made lots of different chords.  We used great grandma buttons, different fabrics, wool, string and bubble wrap and tied it all together.

  A pile made by the Pines.  I titled my works 'Chicken Lemur Tail', 'Medieval Ruff' and 'Teatime with Nanna' (a doily construction with lace and buttons).

Pine girls with the artist Hiromi.  She was super generous and kind and made us hot chocolates while we were making art for her!

We installed out chords into the massive structure in the foyer of GOMA.  The girls (and I) feel very special because we were allowed to stand inside the barrier and converse knowledgeably with the artist.

We also headed downstairs to the always excellent children's art section and made little birds for the Fly Away Home exhibition.  They are living at the gallery now.  Not just because I encouraged the children strongly to leave them there so we do no have so much art at our house.  Thy had lovely little nests in the wall to leave the birdies in.

We were encouraged to name the birds and give them character.  I called mine Siegfried.  He enjoys Wagnerian opera and large hens.

It was an awesome way to spend a Saturday afternoon immersed in art and interacting with artists.  I always think they are dramatic tragic types who swoon around and make imperious demands (cerise paint NOW), but our time with Hiromi was exactly the opposite.  She welcomed our little efforts and made them part of her work, and made sure we were acknowledged and the girls were affirmed.  Their creativity blossomed and they felt engaged with the art work.

And since we have come home the girls have started making their own art installation chords in their room.  I may need to build a foyer art space for them....