Week ONE: Jafagirl Residency at Dayton Metro Library Northwest Branch

Our first week of a 6 week residency and we were exhausted, but it had more to do with carting two car loads of supplies etc, and my car deciding it doesn't want to have air conditioning, arg!

Explore Craft Activism with the JafaGirls

The Jafagirls are Corrine Bayraktaroglu and Nancy Mellon, mischievous creators of public art. From August 1 through September 10, they are the artists-in-residence at the Northwest Branch of the Dayton Metro Library, 2410 Philadelphia Drive in Dayton. During their residence at the Library, they will offer community drop-in hours with ongoing collaborative projects for all ages.

The library is gorgeous, the staff are wonderful, and the creative space is a dream. Love talking to the public and answering questions, although many parents thought we would be doing traditional crafts or teaching crochet or sewing. 

Our focus is on doing crafts that are used in a non traditional way, like yarnbombing. The first 3 weeks we are working with the library patrons on flowers that we will incorporate into a installation in the children's area of the library. Meanwhile on our closed studio time Nancy and I are getting several projects going. This is next to the cafe near the entrance and 

we will try to cover as much as the pole that we can reach. The black and white felt motif is meant to compliment the beautiful ceiling installation by Virginia Kistler in the cafe.

As per my usual mischief it goes without saying that this will happen.

We would have put more butterflies in the play area outside but the heat got too much.

Hats next week AND an air conditioned car.

How to Make Rain Sticks and Jafagirl Updates

Nancy and I have been working on using the bamboo we cut down to make small sample rain sticks in preparation for our library residency at the Dayton Metro Library Northwest Branch.

 You don't need bamboo to make these as this great video tutorial from expertvillage shows, any kind of a tube will do.

Jafagirl Updates

In between jafagirl projects Nancy and I continue working/volunteering at the Yellow Springs Arts Council.

Tonight we will be working at the opening reception for Ann Gayek & Michele BonDurant.

AND

We have just hung two new pieces by Mary J. Cargan and Parvis Dadras in the Yellow Springs Permanent Collection at AUM.

We were excited to have an interview this morning with a reporter, Karen Ander Francis, from the Dayton City Paper regarding our POWA! Blog. 

POWA!

As if dealing with sexism in the arts isn't enough, older women face another ism that gets little attention, ageism. Older women artists continue to be overlooked, ignored or presumed past their prime or ability.

A Good Yarn : Jafagirls at the Dayton Metro Library Northwest Branch

Starting in August we will be at the  Dayton Metro Library (Northwest Branch)

A Good Yarn: Learn about the fun art of Yarn Bombing - public art in unexpected ways and places - from the Jafagirls.

ITINERARY

Craft Activism Community Drop-In Artists-in-residence the Jafagirls invite you to join them for various art projects, including a collaborative installation for the Library. 

TUE, 8/2 1-4 PM 

FRI, 8/5  10 AM-1 PM

 MON 8/8  10 AM-1 PM

 SAT 8/13  1-4 PM

 TUE, 8/16  5-8 PM 

THUR, 8/18 1-4 PM

 MON, 8/22  1-4 PM 

WED, 8/24  10 AM-1 PM 
THUR, 8/25  7-8 PM
TUE, 8/30  1-4 PM 

WED, 8/31  10 AM-1 PM

 MON, 9/5  10 AM-1 PM

 FRI, 9/9  1-4 PM

Free Little Library for Children

Nancy was asked to paint an old large mailbox for a Free Children's Library and I think Nancy fulfilled the mission beautifully.

Keep your eye's peeled for it on Walnut Street in the near future.

Bog Art: Mini Art Exhibits in Restrooms

An Ongoing project brought to you by Nancy Mellon, Corrine Bayraktaroglu and Talitha Greene. Mini Art Exhibits in local loos in 

Yellow Springs, Ohio

Lost Bear's Boobtastic cuddlefest with Yarnbombing Boobs and Knit A Tits

I would like to say I originated the term Knit a Tit but after checking the almighty oracle, google, well there is a GREAT group  called Knitted Knockers already knitting them, NOT for yarnbombing though.
Check my link and you will see why I need a boobie tree.

Thanks to Gale Zucker for the word boobtastic ♥  So what is a jafagal to do eh!  

WHY YARN/Craft bomb a tree of course, RIGHT next to my mailbox.  

Much Thanks to Bosom Pals 

for my textile/craft tata's

Nancy Mellon
Susan Gartner 
Beyhan Springborn
Carla Steiger

Joanne Caputo

Maxine Scuba
Karen Jane Russell
The fabulous Zsa Zsa
Holly Underwood 
Kirsty Robson
Marianne Rabb Britton
Sondy Kai
Deb
Betty Kelly and Pals
Gary Pierson
Joan Horn
Knitted Knockers (breast cancer support org)

Lost Bear modeling fab crochet from
DS pal of ferdie at the curb club

Jafagirls and Hairy Armpits at Wright State University

No not ours LOL! well sort of ours. You see back in 2011 when Nancy and I were putting together our Hairy Art Palace exhibit we made a bunch or portable hairy armpits to go with our protest mannequin "Hairy Mary"

Their art bristles with intent

The funny thing is that last year it was reported in the New York Times that women were dying their armpit hair, so I guess we were way ahead of the curve with our colourful knitted versions lol.

We took a few of them to our talk at Wright State University and Cindy and Linda decided to model them. 

I was very nervous before the talk and felt I needed CHOCOLATE, but it ended up being so much fun. Big thanks to Cindy and Linda for inviting us to present and to those that attended. It was such a pleasure meeting you all and the quilt exhibit was fantastic.