Great news... We've outgrown our Blogspot and invite you to our new website www.flockworks.org
Monday, 2 July 2018
Thursday, 22 February 2018
Closings & Openings...Moving forward.
A door closes, other openings appear... Amazing ... For over a decade, Art@OddFellows series featured unique exhibits each month of local arts presented by local artists. Over 2,000 adults and thousands of local children & young people have been part of the series. As many as 15,000 visitors each year enjoyed the shows and over $600,000 in sales meant local art found its way into homes near and far. Funds have been raised for local concerns like Otsuchi Recovery, raising local food, Ocean issues, children's needs and much, much more. And music, poetry, writing, dance, film and more, have been woven in along with visual arts over the years.
It all began by asking to borrow the space for one show...
Thanks to the generosity of the owner, historic Odd Fellows hall, built in 1878, has been a magnificent community gathering place for all this! Now the owner's interest to sell means Art@OddFellows wrapped in February 2018 with a final show called "Creative Voices". With over 300 markers, age 5 to 7, the exuberance of children's paper mache masks and team paintings, combined with the Women's March in placards & photos, stunning Harvest Coats of Susan B. Wood and special Flockworks new projects. These diverse "voices" were a perfect ending, reflecting our dedication to creative community.
So what is coming next for Flockworks? Here are a few initiatives.
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| "The Rhododendron: Pink Delight" |
The Alleyway Art project is making Fort Bragg come alive with art in unexpected places. Locals and visitors can begin to “discover” the edges of community alleyways and back spaces, as they hunt for artwork, and connect with the wit, warmth, creativity, and spirit of our community. The 1st Alleyway installation "The Rhododendron" will be unveiled May 24th, behind Coast Hardware off Redwood Avenue. The project is led by Flockworks Community Artist Lia Wilson.
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| Worry Dolls made by Dana Grey Students |
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| Orca skeleton @CVStarr Center with Flockworks Mural "Bridge over Noyo" |
Upwelling Initiative is our partnership with the Noyo Center for Marine Science, to foster understanding of our coastal and marine environment. The annual Art & Science Fair in March 2018 will see children and youth from local schools share projects and activities.
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| Plastic trash fashion and "Bottles" installation. |
“Oceans of Plastics” is our special focus exploring the impact of plastics on our ocean eco-system and engaging people in “Re-Thinking Plastics" & our choices as consumers. Led by Janet Self and Sue Coulter, we have three student interns involved in the installations and special outreach project on this theme.
Such new initiatives along with others reach out into our community. Closing Art@OddFellows has meant the challenge to find new ways to support such creative outreach... Grant proposals, events, and sponsorships are part of the picture, but individuals who share our vision and add their financial support make all the difference! We need you! And together, we nurture creative community.
Such new initiatives along with others reach out into our community. Closing Art@OddFellows has meant the challenge to find new ways to support such creative outreach... Grant proposals, events, and sponsorships are part of the picture, but individuals who share our vision and add their financial support make all the difference! We need you! And together, we nurture creative community.
Thursday, 30 November 2017
Time Flies...
For over a decade, Flockworks' Art@OddFellows has hosted monthly shows of Art by local Artists--more than 2,500 adults and thousands of local children have been part of these exhibits. The art along with special events including music, films, fund raisers, auctions, dance performances, poetry and more made OddFellows a "must" for visitors and locals. We also incubated The Gallery Mendocino, now on Main street, which features work by over 40 local artists! Overall, we helped strengthen the "arts identity" of the Mendocino Coast...
But Change is in the wind... beautiful OddFellows is "on the market", up for sale, asking $1.5 million. Yet, despite the uncertainty, Art@ OddFellows continues and conversations have begun about how to keep this extraordinary space in community hands.
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| Did you see us in the 4th of July Parade Float? Created by our Kids Float Camp @ Flockworks Studio in partnership with Noyo Center for Marine Science? |
What began by asking to "borrow" a space for one show, blossomed. From that initial "Yes!" in 2006, Flockworks became a non-profit framework for creative community initiative. Art@OddFellows was our most visible project and it enabled us to launch other efforts. A focus on children has been woven throughout, with large-scale murals, banners, classroom projects, playground art, installation projects, children's art in exhibits, Gallery field trips and much, much more. Our SAIL Youth Project led by artist Ariela Marshall targets high risk students of the Fort Bragg Alternative Campus and is a deepening commitment in the future. Recent support by the Cummings Foundation will help us add other creative Pop-Ups with children and youth. And other new initiatives are focusing on the power of arts to help bridge cultural divides, combine art & science to deepen understanding of our environment and address other community needs.
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Over the years, our collaborative efforts meant creative support for many other community priorities with hands-on arts as well as raising over $50,000 for others. My favorite is remains "STONE SOUP", which we hope to do again in 2018. Mendocino Coast Children's Fund, Community Center of Mendocino, Noyo Food Forest, Noyo Center for Marine Science, Ft Bragg-Otsuchi Cultural Exchange, Leadership Mendocino, Mendocino Coast Writer's Conference, MUSE, and Mendocino Film Festival are some of those we've worked. And our own Noyo Printworks in Ft. Bragg is another lively addition for community arts.
From the beginning, I volunteered my time to lead Flockworks, put the focus on "doing" and accomplished much on a very, very small margin. We found space & opportunity for creative ventures and people gave time to make things happen. You are likely among them; "Thank you! as exhibit participant, visitor, collaborator, project volunteer, classroom teacher or contributor in other ways. My 10 year role as a "Community Artist" combined my passions for creativity and community. I learned so much, met so many, and stretched in so many ways, but now change is definitely afoot.
Flockworks' Board of Directors is looking at the next decade. We are sharpening our focus on creativity with children, youth and "others" out of the main stream of the arts. We are deepening our commitment to Fort Bragg as a population & cultural center. We are ready to be innovative in how we bring together talents, interests and resources to strengthen the creativity and resilience of our Mendocino Coast community. We need your support--financially as well as ideas, talent and time to continue to move forward! Several celebrations and gathering are in the works: we look forward to seeing you soon.
With Warm Regards,
Janet Self
Flockworks Executive Director
Monday, 8 May 2017
"Art of Letter, Word & Book" Exhibit opens
Delightfully Rich Exhibit Celebrating Language Awaits...Daily @OddFellows thru Memorial Day
Flockworks 5th Annual "Art of Letter Word & Book" exhibit opens with work of 40 artists plus children from Pt. Arena. Calligraphy, letterpress, artists books, book binding, book humor, book chair, book moths, alphabet play, deconstructed books and much, much more...
Learn about the Little Free Library movement, consider the "Secretary's Nightmare", knock over Book Dominos and talk on a WIND PHONE to those lost and loved. There is also a mini-Used Book Sale, and Otsuchi crafted Benefit items. The exhibit is deep, and you may find yourself needing to come back. Welcome... The show runs daily 11-5 through Memorial Day.
Here are some special opportunities for a special taste of the exhibit...
This Saturday May 13th is Mendocino Second Saturday... Art Walk... At Odd Fellows, we plan start early with a Mini-Workshop from 1-3; Create a Travel Journal with Saradevi Dillon. All supplies on hand for open participation; by donation. The Party opens 5-8: come by at 5:30 for an Artist Talk by Susan Barrows Wood called "Finding My Voice" and a chance to consider her unique installation project.
Come meet the artists as well as friends, neighbors and creative strangers as part of your evening Art Walk Around Mendocino.
Another Opportunity to Jump in...
May 25th from 4-8 an open Art-Make-It Event invites the Mendocino Coast Community to add to a national effort to send 100,000 pieces of original art to the White House on July 4th. Iota Press & North Bay Letterpress Artists in Sebastopol include: Eric Johnson, Lyn Dillin, Susan Amalia, Jami Taback, Rod Buchignani, Judi Goldberg, Chery Pfeil von der Heyde, Brooke Holve and Pauline Minser. Special thanks to Fort Bragg-Otsuchi Cultural Exchange for the Wind Phone and related display. Special thanks to Judy Detrick, Larry Thomas and the Calligraphy Studio Group. Special Thanks for Susan McKinney for her unwavering enthusiasm and support.
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| Book Moths |
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| Alphabet play |
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| ABC |
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| Calligraphic deight |
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| Photography Books and encased script |
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| Letterpress & Artists Books |
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| Fledged |
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| Wind Phone |
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| Waste Not |
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| Glacier Country |
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| Play with the ABCs |
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| Secretary's Nightmare |
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| Page by Page, Cover to Cover |
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| Excavating Nostalgia |
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| Telling Stories in a big way |
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| Student Crafted Books from Pt. Arena |
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| Travel Journals |
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| Taking Flight... |
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| Antique Book covers |
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| Book Dominos |
Tuesday, 24 January 2017
Journey through Contemporary Dance!
This Friday, and Saturday, provide the last chance to see this special performance. Tickets are $25 and include culinary delights, great art and exquisite dance movement.
Friday January 27th, featuring Panthea Wine and Julia Conway of Assagiare Mendocino
Saturday January 28th, featuring Frey Vineyards and James Sant of Living Light
Thanks also to Corners of the Mouth and Harvest Market for providing support for the food. Special appreciation to Larry Wagner for photos capturing the beauty of the premier performance last Friday.
Tickets are available at Twist in Mendocino, and Harvest Market in Fort Bragg or on line at Brown Paper Tickets.
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