Reflecting on the Special Visiting Artist Workshop with Sarah Ann Austin
April 16, 2024
The recent Special Visiting Artist Workshop with Sarah Ann Austin, titled “From Tool to Treasure,” held on April 13th and 14th, 2024, was a transformative exploration into the art of brushmaking. Attendees embarked on a journey into the fascinating world of crafting brushes, witnessing the magical transformation of raw materials into cherished pieces of functional art.

Sarah Ann Austin’s expertise and passion for brushmaking illuminated each step of the process, from sourcing and harvesting natural materials like hair, fur, and fibers, to crafting personalized brush handles using locally-sourced bamboo. Participants were empowered to unleash their creativity and imbue their brushes with unique character and personality.

This workshop held particular significance for ceramic artists, offering a fresh perspective on the intersection of clay and custom brushmaking. Attendees discovered exciting possibilities for incorporating handmade brushes into their ceramic practice, elevating their work with bespoke tools crafted with care and intention.

Throughout the workshop, a sense of wonder and camaraderie permeated the studio, as participants shared insights, discoveries, and laughter. Sarah Ann Austin’s guidance and encouragement fostered an atmosphere of creativity and exploration, inspiring attendees to push the boundaries of their artistic endeavors.

Source :
https://baltimoreclayworks.org/reflecting-on-the-special-visiting-artist-workshop-with-sarah-ann-austin/

You are invited to learn about the rich variety of techniques and crafts that constitute the book arts by making projects at four stations at your own pace. With Sarah Ann Austin, you will learn to make paper from cotton rag and Abaca fibers. With Janet Guertin, you will learn a map fold and incorporate it into an accordion book. With Paul Keene, you will learn to sew a single-section binding with your choice of a variety of types of pamphlet stitches and put it in a cover to make an attractive book with decorative paper. Paul will also teach participants how to make a radial hinge/volvelle if there’s time. At the fourth table, you can fold a zine two different ways, see examples of a variety of book art, and talk to the leaders of the local volunteer organization Triangle Book Arts. You will come away with some cool things you have made and lots of ideas for your own handmade publishing.

https://arts.duke.edu/workshop/triangle-book-arts-march-4-2024/

I was invited to be one of the 10 Artist vendors at the annual Ackland Art Musuem Holiday Sale in downtown Chapel Hill, NC.
My brushes are now being sold in the museums gift shop.
https://ackland.org/

PAPER TIDES
During the process of papermaking, water moves like oscillating currents. Fiber, pulp, equipment, and tools come together with the flow of water in the hands of a papermaker. In the water, fibers circulate and then connect and form bonds. In papermaking, water ebbs and flows, like river currents or the tide, making things completely different. Just as important, water plays a significant role in moving and connecting material, similar to its effect on Rhode Island’s topography, spanning 400 miles of shoreline and miles of intersecting rivers. Water is the driving force of reinvention and innovation in textiles, craft, and paper.

RISD
Providence, Rhode Island
October 19 – 21, 2023

Pullen and Sertoma Arts fair
Fred Fletcher Park
802 Clay St, Raleigh, NC 27605

November 4th, 2023 10am-5pm

END PAPER North Carolina Museum of Art
Sarah Ann will be a vendor on Sunday
September 24th, 2023 10-4 pm
East Building; Plaza; and West Building, Museum Store
The final day of End Paper brings together professional book artists from across the state to share the artistry of their work, lead workshops and demonstrations, and participate in a juried competition with works selected being acquired by the NCMA Library.

Celebrate the artists that make North Carolina a hub for contemporary print culture. This family-friendly weekend is packed with special tours, film screenings, and artist vendors from across the state. A wide selection of workshops and demonstrations are available, including block printing, bookbinding, papermaking, calligraphy, risograph printing, zine making, linocut, and more.

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PARTY IN THE PEAK
Saturday, September 23, 2023 - 10 am to 5 pm
See you at the Party!
The Party in the Peak is a once-in-a-lifetime festival celebrating the Town of Apex’s 150th anniversary of incorporation!
Join us as we transform Apex Town Campus (73 Hunter Street) into an interactive museum for all ages.
This event is organized by the Town of Apex.

Past exhibit
View large displays of Apex history and items shared by community members. The displays focus on five main categories: agriculture, downtown/small business, childhood play, homemaking, and communities.
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