November 27, 2002
Creators dive into watershed art project
Glenn Wolff leads collaborative art project at Dennos
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Continuing his process of interactive, collaborative art, Glenn Wolff is facilitating a Watershed Art Workshop at the Dennos Museum this week. The workshop kicked off Saturday with an all-day session and will continue until either Friday or Saturday when the multi-media piece will be declared complete.
The piece will be included in Wolff's upcoming show, Midwest Twilight, which opens on December 15 and runs through March 9. The finished artwork from the workshop will be auctioned to raise money for the Watershed Suite Project.
Wolff has worked with fourth graders over the past three years to create art relating to the Grand Traverse Bay watershed. With this current project, he will again integrate the written and visual arts, merging poetry, painting, tiles and drawings to capture the watershed's beauty and significance.
Wolff noted that this is only the second time he has worked with adults in this fashion and has been enjoying the creative flow.
"We're changing hats as art director and artist," he said. "Now we're getting into metal work and may wind up with bits and pieces of linoleum, more elements in it than otherwise would get because of all the participation."
Wolff and his co-creators are making a 3-foot by 6.5-foot mural that will include blueprints, a rendering of the watershed in copper and ceramic tiles. These components will surround a large central image created by Wolff, which will incorporate the major elements of the watershed.
"It is very give and take, for my portion, the drawing, I ask a lot of advice of whoever is here," noted Wolff, who was invited by the museum to conduct the workshop in advance of his upcoming show.
Tom McClellan and his wife, Ann Bardens-McClellan, are both participating throughout the week in the workshop. McClellan, who is studying for a degree in counseling, is hoping to incorporate the expressive arts in his practice. He has become progressively more intrigued by the collaborative process he is witnessing and participating in as the workshop progresses.
"It is very satisfying and I've met a lot of people and see a lot of collaboration going on," McClellan said. "The timing of everything is amazing, one person walks out and another comes in; it's just been uncanny, the incredible synchronicity, and whenever that happens you know you're a part of something magical."
On Saturday, Wolff began the workshop by introducing the history of the Watershed Suite projects he has conducted over the past three years. He presented a slideshow to the 20 participants and then led them through brainstorming sessions to determine the basic elements of the piece.
After much discussion of ideas, methods style and materials, workshop participants decided to make this piece a combination of real and representational scenes.
"What you're seeing is a window into how I work when I'm alone," he told the participants. "There are so many beautiful, beautiful real images in our watershed, I'm trying to think of how you can represent the whole."
Participants in Saturday's all-day session completed nearly 100 ceramic tiles, drawing their inspiration from a nature walk Wolff recommended. Returning after lunch with a variety of leaves, pine cones and other natural treasures, they set to work painting the three-inch by three-inch tiles with a variety of nature scenes.
Wolff noted that the Grand Traverse Bay watershed inspires people because of its natural beauty and significance to the area.
"Everybody feels that sense of ownership and stewardship and feels that this work is a worthwhile thing to spend time on," he said. "I am surprised at how committed everyone has been."
The public is invited to assist with the workshop at the Dennos Museum from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. A live webcam will also broadcast the project as it develops; see www.dennosmuseum.org for details. For more information, call the Dennos Museum at 995-1029.