ARTISTS VILLAGE with City Hall in Center

Alternate view of ARTISTS VILLAGE

I first heard about this collaborative project from artist Margaret Dessell in March of this year when I taught workshops in Long Beach, Washington, when the project was just getting under way. Margaret is the driving force behind ‘Escape Artists’, a creative paper and mixed media art group.

I wondered about this project over the ensuing months, but never heard another word about it, until I received photographs of the magnificent finished project from participating artist Cheryl Torbet. With permission from the Escape Artists, I am pleased to present photos of ARTISTS VILLAGE for your viewing pleasure and inspiration.

Margaret Dessell- Istanbol Carpets

Juanita Murray - back view of Gallery

Cornealia Bragg, Betty Schlicting and Cheryl Torbet originated the ‘Village’ concept, after participating in my class titled ‘Telescope Book’ in January, 2008. Participants in this 3-hr class make a 3-part articulated telescope, add tiny books to the fronts of each section and create a pocket to house the telescope. I provide cardstock patterns for the class project, and once the mechanics are understood, it’s simple to make telescopes in larger (or smaller) sizes, and to add additional sections.

Betty Schlicting - Stitch 'N Time

Shelly Burnett - Shelby Building

Cornealia, Betty and Cheryl, the village ‘founders’, presented their idea to create a village to the ESCAPE ARTISTS with these parameters:

A. The telescope pattern from my class would be used as the structural basis for each building

B. Each artist starts with a 5″ square foam core block upon which to build their chosen storefront/s theme/s

C. The height of each storefront was to be no more than 8″ using the basic telescope pattern. Each artist can alter the pattern by making it smaller in height and/or wider but still keeping it within the boundaries of the 5″ square block

D. The three ‘founders’ would create the municipal buildings for the village ’square’. These buildings could be larger than 8″, but each - library, post office, fire station and city hall - had to fit on a 5″ foam core block

Cheryl Torbet - GiGi's Gems

Ruth Campbell - Scottie's Pet Shop

Here’s a list of the twelve participating artists and the buildings each created:

Cornealia Bragg - Artist Village Library (village center), Holy Cross Church on Kindred Spirits Lane, Mahoney Elementary and Bragg Middle Schools located on Cranium Court, and Pike Place Park

Shelley Burnett - Movie Theatrer and Book Store on Arts Ave, and Shelby Building on Shelby Court

Ruth Campbell - Scottie’s Pet Shop, Pretzel Bakery and Locksmith on Campbell Court

Judy Castle - Liberty Bank and Bebop Music on Asset Ave

Margaret Dessell - Istanbol Carpets, Pic Point Paper Arts, Dr. LM Puller Dental Care on DeCelle Drive, and Marnie’s Ice Cream Parlor and Kolde Bldg on Picnic Point Pt. Rd

Mary Lee - Mary’s Flowers and Ann’s Sweets on Giving Alley

Wanda McWilliams - Funny Bone Theatre, Take A Break Coffee Shop on Jadwin Street, and C# Music and Dance Studio on Music Row

Juanita Murray - Art Center and Gallery on Juanita Drive

Betty Schlicting - Post Office, Artists Village City Hall (village center), Hill St. Blues Police Station, Pike Place Park, Stitch N’ Time Sewing Center on Quilting B Lane, and Harmony Barber Shop on Harmony Way

Bonnie Taylor - Coffee Shop, Bon Bakery and Wine Shop on Taylor Place

Cheryl  Torbet - Fire Station # 41 (village center), GiGi’s Gems on Emerald Alley and Boudoir Beads on Tanzanite Lane

Geri Wilgus - Sisters Antique Shop, Bargain Boutique Thrift Shop and Lil People World Child Care on Salleys Alley

Bonnie Taylor - Coffee Shop

Wanda McWilliams - Funny Bone Theater

STATS

• Time frame was approximately 4 months; the project was completed in June 2008
• Official name, voted by the group, is ARTISTS VILLAGE
• Size of base is 21.5″ X 28″
• Tallest building is 13.5″
• Four Municipal buildings are hinged together to form the    village ’square’
• Foam core board, cardstock, paper, cardboard and adhesives are the basic materials used to create the structures
(and, as Betty Schlicting stated in an email to me, ‘Of course there are many, many embellishments added’)

Judy Castle - Bebop Music

Cornealia Bragg - Holy Cross Church

Note from Betty:

ARTISTS VILLAGE is booked for two displays:

Francis Anderson Center, Edmonds, WA, from Dec. 1 through December 14, hosted by the Edmonds Art Commission

Lynnwood Public Library, Lynnwood, WA, for the month of Feb. 2009

Our goal is to have the village displayed in various community venues for the public’s enjoyment.

When working on the village I, as the others just did whatever it took to make the houses stand, etc. After I had my three together I managed to insert a small wood rod/tongue depresser to make the buildings stand upright  on my acreage. I also folded the bottom or added an additional foot so they would stand.

As I cannot see a project from beginning to the end I just added whatever came to mind as I progressed - always make a much better item the second time around. I named the store and streets after my nickname, ‘Marne’, DeCelle street, etc. I hit the miniature stores at first but didn’t find much there or what I did find was too large for our project. I did find street lamps, foliage, bricks at the miniature railroad stores. The garbage can came from an antique store.  The other items were from the collections here at the house.

The ladies surprised themselves by this project, even though they agonized a bit at first. But as a group, we are attempting to work more ‘out of the box’ and that is difficult for some of us, including myself.

I wanted to tell you that as one of the ‘founders’ my biggest challenge was making all the blocks (13- 5″ square blocks & 4 triangle ‘filler’ blocks) fit on the base while still making it as aestetically pleasing as possible.

This was trial and error. We used the 4 triangle blocks as fillers, (police station, park, schools, and barber shop). I believe I and other artists tended to work by the seat of our pants, if one thing didn’t work we would make changes until it did work. It was a fun and challenging project and isn’t that what creativity is all about!

Mary Lee - Mary's Flowers

Geri Wilgus - Bargain Boutique Thrift Shop