I am just back from an intense and educational experience with Nancy Crow at the facility on her property near Columbus, Ohio. The barn was moved there and repurposed to create a marvellous teaching facility, with a wet studio for dyeing, and two huge classrooms, one up and one down, as well as a kitchen with dining areas inside and out. Margaret Wolf was our chef and the food was fabulous. Nathaniel and John, Nancy's son and husband, were always nearby to help facilitate and take care of us in the friendliest way possible. Nathaniel even fixed my broken extension table!
My learning curve was steep. Our two weeks of classes were about line, shape, colour and contemporary construction, with a strong emphasis on classical design principals. We worked/struggled through lots of enlightening exercises and I had many "aha!" moments, often at 2 am. I tried to sleep but my brain was buzzing most of the time. Nancy alternated between leaving us to sort things out for ourselves and staying close to answer questions. She would come by and ask, "Pass or talk?" Both were helpful. We had access to the barn from 7am until 10pm and I worked through these hours most days, with short breaks for meals, as did many students. Using solid fabrics was a new process, after years of working with my surface designs, but I liked it. There is a freshness to it, and a challenge to create surface and design in new ways. I haven't posted many pix of the work I did as it is still unfamiliar and I need time to make these ideas emerge in ways that are my own.
I am home now, coming down slowly from the high of being in a room full of talented, hard-working textile artists from around the world. It was magical to watch their ideas emerge on our huge design walls, and I so appreciate all their encouragement and camaraderie!
All in all, this is highly recommended experience, but be prepared for tough feedback. Nancy Crow is an international icon and trailblazer in our textile art world, and she wastes no time on platitudes. I feel most fortunate to have been in her aura, in her home teaching arena, just for a brief moment in time.
WELCOME TO THE NANCY CROW TIMBER FRAME BARN DESIGN STUDIO!
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THE 90 ACRE PROPERTY IS BEAUTIFUL.
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EARLY MORNING LIGHT
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NATHANIEL |
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THE TIMBER FRAME LADDER |
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NOT JUST FOR PIZZAS! |
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THE TERROR OF THE BLANK WALL.... my best deer in the headlights look!
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BLACK AND WHITE WORK |
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...NOW COLOUR |
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NANCY OFFERING DESIGN SUGGESTIONS WITH MY BLOCKS |
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EARLY STARTS AT A NEW EXERCISE - 80"x80" |
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ELIZABETH AND I GOT THE MEMO FOR THE DAY'S DRESS CODE! |
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SO MANY POSSIBILITIES!!!!!! |
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FEELING MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE BEGINNING STAGES |
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MEXICAN TRAIN DOMINOS GAME, WHICH WENT ON AFTER SUPPER EVERY NIGHT IN THE KITCHEN, ACCOMPANIED BY GREAT WHOOPS AND GROANS! |
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SATURDAY IN COLUMBUS |
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A MOVING HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL |
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MY LOVELY NEW ART BUDDIES - NANCY AND MARIJO
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THIS WAS CONFUSING... |
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BACK AT THE BARN |
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SEEN ON THE WAY
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I ENDED WITH A VISIT TO THE SPECTACULAR QUILT NATIONAL SHOW IN ATHENS, OHIO |
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DRIVING HOME, FILLED WITH GRATITUDE FOR MY WONDERFUL LIFE AND THE BEAUTY OF THIS WORLD |
So envious ... Sounds like a fantastic experience 😊
ReplyDeleteHi Maggie,
ReplyDeletehave you recovered yet! I think taking Nancy's workshop is life changing. At least in your artistic life. I am, years later, still looking for figure/ground.
I still have all my sets from my two workshops with Nancy. I did one at her barn which is lovely.My dream is to one day have a barn retreat here in Ontario. My husband says he will drive the bus from the airport!
The other week was at quilting by the lake.
Your pictures are fabulous BTW.
the other Maggie ;)
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