Monthly Archives: August 2020

My “California Petals” Installation Now on View in Santa Rosa, CA

07 Friday Aug 2020

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Yesterday I installed my “California Petals” installation in a vacant storefront window at 620 Fourth Street in downtown Santa Rosa, CA. The installation is part of the Santa Rosa Chamber’s “Open and Out” program of public art & culture activities in the downtown area during this Covid 19 time.  See this link for more information about the “Open & Out” programs in Santa Rosa: https://www.openandoutsr.com/art/art1-cbcmw

My art installation is right next to Beer Baron Bar & Kitchen, and many of the restaurants are open for take out or outdoor service (masks and social distancing still required).  Several blocks of Fourth Street in the downtown area are blocked off for pedestrian only traffic, and more art is planned for the “Art Walk” in downtown Santa Rosa. My art installation remains on view through October 15, 2020. I am hoping to “plant” the petals somewhere on vacant land in a park or other public place after the installation comes down. The “California Petals” have seeds for California wildflowers in the handmade paper petals that will grow and bloom in the same colors. See the previous post for more photos of how the “petals” were made. Hope you get a chance to see this installation!

Public Art Installation Going Up August 6, 2020, in Santa Rosa, CA

03 Monday Aug 2020

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 CALIFORNIA PETALS is my latest public art installation using handmade paper and seeds for wildflowers. This installation is part of the 2020 Santa Rosa Metro Chamber’s “Open and Out” program of art events in downtown Santa Rosa, California.  The many colorful handmade paper flower petals that make up the installation represent different wildflower species of northern California.  The giant petals, each unique and handmade using plant fibers dyed with non-toxic dyes, contain seeds for that color of wildflowers.  After this window display comes down, I will “plant” the petals in an outdoor space to transform over time and produce living blooming wildflowers. With its potential for new life, this art installation expresses hope for the future and brings new beauty and color to the downtown area of Santa Rosa. “California Petals” will be on view at the storefront windows of 620 Fourth Street through Oct. 15, 2020. 

For more information:  www.openandoutsr.com

The photos below show me making some of the handmade paper “petals” for the installation in my studio.  Photos were taken by my husband Timothy S. Allen (https://allentimphotos2.wordpress.com).  I used buttercut stencils on my papermaking molds to get the different shapes of the handmade paper petals.  I colored the paper pulp (a combination of abaca, linen, cotton and paper mulberry fibers) with fiber reactive non toxic dyes.  The seeds for wildflowers in each color of pulp will produce California wildflowers in the same color as the handmade paper.  

     

Photos of the downtown storefront installation will be posted here after I install the many “petals” on August 6, and “California Petals” will remain on view through October 15, 2020.  Hope you get a chance to take a stroll through downtown Santa Rosa in the newly designated car free pedestrian only blocks of Fourth Street. Other installations and art events are also planned for this area. Many downtown restaurants and bars are open now for takeout and outdoor seating; wearing masks and keeping safe social distances is required. My installation is at 620 Fourth Street in the vacant storefront windows next to the Beer Baron Bar & Kitchen.

For more information:  www.openandoutsr.com