Author Archives: janeingramallen

“Living Quilt” in Sacramento Survives recent California Storm

01 Monday Feb 2021

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I am happy to report that my art installation “Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth” at Sojourner Truth Community Garden in Sacramento has survived the recent storm last week that caused power outages, lots of rain, high winds and even mudslides and highway damages in northern California. Friends in Sacramento sent me photos to show the “bed” still in place and the sprouting wildflowers continuing to grow. More snow in higher elevations and more rain is expected this week. We will be waiting to see some blooming wildflowers here when the weather gets warmer and Spring arrives. Here is a photo taken on January 27 after the high winds and heavy rains in Sacramento by Bill Maynard of the Sacramento Parks Department.

This photo was taken by Corky Gas on January 29 and shows that the handmade paper has almost all disappeared with the rain and weather, and the wildflower seeds have sprouted and are continuing to grow. Corky lives near the Sojourner Truth Community Garden and wrote about this art project for the Sacramento News & Review publication. It is great to have these photos to document the progress of the transforming art installation.

Sprouting Seeds in 2021 – Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth art installation in Sacramento, CA

05 Tuesday Jan 2021

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Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth installed on Nov. 21, 2020

Seeds are sprouting already in my most recent “living quilt” public art installation in Sacramento at Sojourner Truth Community Garden in Sacramento, CA. “Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth” has seeds for wildflowers in the same colors and pattern as the handmade paper quilt, and it is transforming into a living blooming bed of wildflowers.

This photo was taken by Bill Maynard on January 4, 2021, and the “quilt” is turning green as the wildflower seedlings begin to grow. I will continue to post photos of this art installation as it changes over time, and we hope to see a blooming wildflower bed sometime in late March 2021.

This art project was part of the City of Sacramento’s Office of Arts & Culture 2020 Artist-in-Residency Program, and previous posts on this Blog give more information and more photos about the creation and installation.

Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth on January 4, 2021.

Here is a link to another article about the installation of “Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth” in the January 2021 INSIDE SACRAMENTO: https://insidesacramento.com/pocket-life-january-2021/

Happy Holidays and Updates on Art Projects

21 Monday Dec 2020

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On this day of the Winter Solstice I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season! It is the longest day of the year, and this year the date is especially special since Jupiter and Saturn are aligned and appear in the southwestern sky as almost one big star! I hope all of you are staying safe and healthy and happy to be hopefully coming out of this pandemic year and into a better future in 2021.

My art projects have mostly been on hold in 2020 due to the pandemic, but I did complete the installation of “Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth” in Sacramento at Sojourner Truth Community Garden. This public art work consisting of a handmade paper quilt with wildflower seeds in the pulp was installed on Nov. 21, and it is already beginning to transform with the seeds sprouting and growing. We hope to see a bed of blooming flowers in early Spring. These photos show the “quilt” when installed on Nov. 21 and also how it looked on Dec. 16. Thanks to Bill Maynard, Sacramento Parks Supervisor for taking this photo to show the changes.

Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth on 11/21/2020
Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth on 12/16/2020

I am planning to teach papermaking art workshops this summer at various organizations around the US. One workshop will be at Sierra Nevada University, Incline Village, NV.

https://www.sierranevada.edu/academics/summer-art-workshops-2/ingram-allen/

I am also invited to teach a workshop at Pacific Northwest Art School in Washington State https://pacificnorthwestartschool.org/product/ingram-allen-jane-6154-paper-making-from-scratch-with-local-plants-anytime-anywhere-july-13-16-2021/) and at Sitka Center for Art & Ecology, Otis, Oregon (www.sitkacenter.org). Keep watching this Blog for updates about the workshops. I am also planning to do some private workshops at my Santa Rosa studio in the coming year. It all depends on how things go with the vaccine and the pandemic outlook.

I also hope to travel later in 2021 to France (Cour Commune, Voulx, France) and to Switzerland (Haus zur Glocke, Steckborn, Switzerland) for artist in residency projects.

Happy Holidays to All! These stars bring hope for a better 2021. The installation is on 4th Street in downtown Santa Rosa, CA, through January 2021.

Stars of Hope Installation in Santa Rosa, CA

05 Saturday Dec 2020

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“Stars of Hope”
an art installation by Jane Ingram Allen
at 620 4th Street, Santa Rosa, California
Installed on November 25, 2020

“Stars of Hope” is part of the Downtown Chamber’s “Open and Out” series of 2020 art and cultural activities in downtown Santa Rosa. In this time of a pandemic and an economic downturn, these stars of colorful handmade paper with seeds for wildflowers in them express hope for a brighter future in 2021. After the installation comes down in early 2021, these stars will be given out to residents to plant in their own yard or keep as a remembrance of this time and our hopes for a better world.

There are so many things we hope for as we approach the holiday season and the end of 2020 and start of 2021. We hope for an end to the pandemic and a cure or a vaccine for the Coronavirus that is still affecting us all around the world. We hope for more economic opportunities and a fairer distribution of wealth and good jobs for everyone. We hope for a better environment and a positive response to climate change and other issues affecting our relationship with the earth. We hope for a better understanding and a coming together for our country and a renewal of our commitment to the ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all people. We can wish upon these “Stars of Hope” and work together for a better 2021.
“Only in the darkness can you see the stars.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sutter Health in Santa Rosa liked the idea of this art installation and agreed to sponsor it for the Chamber’s “Winter Lights” public artworks this season. Words of hope by Sutter employees are included in signage for this installation.
This photo by Timothy S. Allen shows the installation with twinkling lights bringing light to the downtown area.

More Photos of the installation of Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth in Sacramento, CA

29 Sunday Nov 2020

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My art installation “Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth” was installed at Sojourner Truth Community Garden, 7365 Gloria Drive, Sacramento, CA, on Saturday, Nov. 21, with community participation. I created the “quilt” in the North Star pattern to honor the legacy of Sojourner Truth, a former slave who was a famous spokesperson for the Abolitionist Movement and the Women’s Suffrage Movement. The North Star has been used for centuries as a guiding light for travelers, and legend has it that the North Star quilt was one used during the time of the Underground Railroad to show escaping slaves the direction north to freedom. The “quilt” is created with handmade paper having seeds for wildflowers in the pulp in the same colors and patterns, and over time it will transform into a living blooming bed of wildflowers. The “bed” also has a headboard and footboard woven of trimmed mulberry branches and local grapevines. This project was part of the City of Sacramento’s 2020 Artist in Residency program. The installation ceremony at 2 pm on Nov. 21 was held outdoors in the community garden area with community people attending and helping to lay down the 20 quilt squares.
These photos were taken by my husband Timothy S. Allen at the ceremony. Check back here often for updated photos to show the transformation of the “quilt” over time.

Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth Installation Ceremony, Saturday, Nov, 21 in Sacramento, CA

24 Tuesday Nov 2020

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My public artwork “Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth” was installed on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 2 pm, in Sojourner Truth Community Garden, 7365 Gloria Drive, Sacramento, California. This art installation consists of a “living quilt” of 20 20-inch handmade paper quilt squares in the North Star pattern with seeds for wildflowers in the pulp in the same colors and pattern. Over time the “quilt” will dissolve into compost and the seeds sprout and grow into a living blooming bed of wildflowers. The installation is placed on a raised bed with a headboard and footboard woven of trimmed branches and local grape vines. The installation ceremony included participation by a small mask-wearing and socially-distanced group of local officials and volunteers who each laid down a square of the quilt. Attendees include Mayor of Sacramento Darrell Steinberg, Councilman for District 7 Rick Jennings, Parks Commissioner for District 7 Devin Lavelle and Shannon Brown, Youth, Parks and Community Enrichment Assistant Director. Melissa Cirone, City of Sacramento Office of Arts & Culture Program Manager gave an introduction to the City’s 2020 Artist in Residency Program and introduced the speakers. For more information about the City of Sacramento 2020 Artist in Residency Program: https://arts.cityofsacramento.org/Programs/Sacramento-AIR

At the ceremony on Saturday afternoon, I gave a short presentation about my art project and how it connects to Sojourner Truth, a former slave and abolitionist as well as a suffragist. Then the participants helped to lay down the quilt squares in the prepared “bed.”

Check back here often to see how the “quilt” changes over time, and we hope the first blooms will appear about early March 2021.

Here are some photos taken by my husband Timothy S. Allen, one showing the finished art installation and one showing me ready to stake down one of the quilt blocks.

LIVING QUILT FOR SOJOURNER TRUTH, 5TH PROGRAM NOW ONLINE

12 Thursday Nov 2020

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Here’s a link to the 5th Zoom Program about my Sacramento art installation “Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hibg179f9HY
This art project is for my artist in residency project with the City of Sacramento, CA, and will be installed on Nov. 21, 2020, at Sojourner Truth Community Garden in Sacramento. Other programs about this project will also be available online at YouTube.

Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth Installation Ceremony in Sacramento, CA, Nov 21, 2020

04 Wednesday Nov 2020

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The Installation Ceremony for my outdoor art installation “Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth is set for Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, at 2 PM. You can sign up to attend this open public event at this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/public-art-installation-living-quilt-for-sojourner-truth-tickets-126486978959
My art installation is part of the City of Sacramento’s 2020 Artist in Residency Program, and my installation is at Sojourner Truth Community Garden, 7365 Gloria Drive (District 7) in Sacramento, CA. Hope to see you there.

Quilt block for Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth with seeds for wildflowers in the handmade paper

“Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth” Artist in Residency Project in Sacramento, CA

18 Sunday Oct 2020

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Because the pandemic is making public participation impossible, I am offering a series of Zoom programs for sharing my hand papermaking process of creating an outdoor public art installation “Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth” at Sojourner Truth Community Garden, 7365 Gloria Drive, Sacramento, CA. The Community Garden is in the Pocket-Greenhaven area (District 7) next to the Robbie Waters Library and the School of Engineering & Sciences and the Sojourner Truth Park in Sacramento.

Schedule of Zoom Programs (If you would like an invitation to the programs, please send email to info@janeingramallen.com)

Wed., Oct. 14, 2 – 2:40 pm (from my Santa Rosa studio)
Introduction to the project (If you missed the 1st program, watch it now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRA1Kb4eifY&t=7s)

Wed. Oct. 21, 2-2:40pm (from my Santa Rosa studio)
Making the pulp and making stencils for the quilt design (The 2nd Zoom program is now online at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3ZMp4Jm5AI


Wed. Oct. 28, 2-2:40pm (from my Santa Rosa studio)
Coloring the pulp and adding seeds for wildflowers (Here’s the link to the 3rd Zoom program now online at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tTngjOzlak&t=12s

Wed. Nov. 4, 2-2:40pm (from my Santa Rosa studio)
Making handmade paper quilt squares

This Zoom program is now online at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vimrkLydbJc

Wed. Nov. 11, 2-2:40 pm (from my Santa Rosa studio)
Making borders for the quilt and planning the installation

Now on YouTube at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hibg179f9HY

Wed. Nov. 18, 2-2:40 pm (at Sojourner Truth Community Garden)
Making the “bed” and weaving a headboard and footboard with branches

Now the Video for Zoom Program 6 recorded at the Sojourner Truth Community Garden is up at YouTube for public viewing at this link: https://youtu.be/-NW5lWzMvRw

Saturday, Nov. 21, 2-3 pm (at Sojourner Truth Community Garden, Sacramento)
Installation Ceremony to install the quilt
Public is invited for this outdoor ceremony (masks and social distancing required) at Sojourner Truth Community Garden.

sample quilt square for “Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth
in North Star pattern with seeds for wildflowers in the handmade paper pulp

Participating in Online Forum “What’s Next ? – Learning from Nature during Lockdown”

01 Thursday Oct 2020

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The international organization for greener cities (The Nature of Cities at http://www.thenatureofcities.com) invited me to contribute an essay and images of my work for the online forum “What’s Next? – Learning from Nature during Lockdown. Here is the link: https://www.thenatureofcities.com/2020/09/30/whats-next-learning-from-nature-during-lockdown/

This photo shows the huge mulberry tree in my front yard that I have used for my hand papermaking art during the pandemic.

Large Mulberry tree used for papermaking located in my front yard, Santa Rosa, California

I was invited for this international forum as a result of being selected for an invited artist-in-residency project at Cour Commune (www.courcommune.org). My residency at Cour Commune in Voulx, is now planned for Spring 2021. I will post more information here soon about my residency in France next year.

I also wanted to let everyone know that my home and studio in Santa Rosa, CA, are okay for now. We are located in an evacuation warning zone for the current wildfires in Sonoma County that affected the northeast section of Santa Rosa. My family and I are all fine, and we are watching the news updates carefully and remain packed and ready to evacuate again if needed. The smoke and ash from the nearby fires make the air outside unsafe and hazardous, and we are staying indoors for now.

I am able to work indoors on art for my upcoming projects in November. My exhibition at Haus zur Glocke in Steckborn, Switzerland (www.hauszurglocke.ch) opens on November 25, 2020. I am creating a “Lake Constance Site Map” now with internet resources and a few things that artist friends in Switzerland, Germany and Austria have mailed to me here in California. Lake Constance is a large lake in Europe that lies between Switzerland, Germany and Austria. Here is a photo of my Lake Constance handmade paper artwork in progress:

Lake Constance Site Map (in progress)

I will post more about the exhibition at Haus zur Glocke and my “Lake Constance Site Map” soon. The exhibition at Haus ur Glocke titled “Labor-Natur” will feature artworks by 3 artists who use nature as a laboratory to create their art. I will be showing a selection of my handmade paper site maps that are created from plant materials collected at each site. The Lake Constance Site Map is the first one I have made remotely since I was not able to go to Switzerland this year because of the pandemic.

I will also be working in my Santa Rosa studio during October and November to create another “living quilt” installation for the City of Sacramento’s artist in residency program. I will be making some live Zoom programs to show how the handmade paper quilt with seeds for wildflowers in the pulp is designed and made. I will go to Sacramento for one week in November to install my art project “Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth” at Sojourner Truth Community Garden in the Pocket-Greenhaven area of Sacramento, California.

This photo shows one square of the “Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth”.

one quilt square for my “Living Quilt for Sojourner Truth” installation in Sacramento, CA

I am using the North Star quilt pattern to refer to how quilts may have been used to show escaping slaves the direction north to freedom. Sojourner Truth was a former slave and famous as a leader in the abolitionist and women’s suffrage movements. Keep watching this Blog to see more about my public art project in Sacramento.

Wishing everyone good health and good air to breathe!