We made the cover of the Northwest Herald!

The reception was great! Everyone was there, even the resident bat made a cameo.

Plenty of pictures to come.

We also made the cover of the Northwest Herald http://www.nwherald.com/mobile/article.xml/articles/2011/06/02/r_slio5ojlr66buniqismu2a/index.xml, June 3rd edition!

4-Days until the Opening!

There seem to be discoveries at every turn. I am continually impressed by our ingenuity and ability to continue to dialogue with the space and with each other as collaborators. The configuration of artwork in the space continues to be determined by the limitations and opportunitites with the architecture and furniture itself. As much as what we are doing is dictated by the peeling walls and flacking plaster it is just as much dictated by the light passing through the windows, the amount of space in a nook or afforded by high ceilings. 

The parameters of the space constantly seem to expand or contract what we are able to do in a certain time span.

We keep drawing in more materials to balance out and work with the larger pieces. And the tweaking and refining stage is a mixed bag. Sometimes it is really difficult to refine and stop when it is necessary to stop. To call this ever-changing installation "finished" or "complete".

Erin Coleman-Cruz

Installation is going up faster than we can photograph!

We continue to pump out work, our assistants manage to find time to help out with tasks big and small, the postcards have arrived, we are receiving press...it is all happening!

Right now so many things are in the works. Every moment, the work changes so much each time in the space, Christina works her magic for long hours, I bring in things made at home, she waves her magic wand....  Well, okay, not really, the work doesn't come as easily. It is in a constant state of flux--tweaking, adjusting, and sometimes I arrive and realize that something is now installed completely differently. Amazing!

An event in the Dole on Tuesday, May 24 brought in many curious individuals--some wandering around the mansion, while others could not seem to get enough of our installation and the enthusiasm from these viewers was some of the highest we have had yet!

Today I am posting pics from May 18 and 24--just a few more teaser shots of installation and details.

Window in Mrs. Dole's Room

THE Pants Panel, 2nd Floor Hallway

Windows and Bed in Mr. Dole's room.

Pieces waiting to go up in the 2nd Floor Hallway

Stay Tuned,
Erin Coleman-Cruz

"I'm thinking of changing my smile."

What with the Spring semester ending and two weeks away from opening night we have  put in even more valuable hours and had an exciting week. Here is the breakdown:

"i'm thinking of changing my smile" is designated our official title, thanks to the amazing innocence of Jeannie my 7-year old niece.

Postcards have been designed and should return from the printer in the next few days.

The Northwest Herald contacted Christina Gregor for an interview and sent by a photographer who caught us in action on Wed. May 18 with a few of our lovely assistants! The article should come out sometime this week.

What else, hmmm, good things are happening and the work is evolving. We have been putting our heads together, I have been working on promotional things and stitchin' and Christina has been working tirelessly (although I am sure she is exhausted!) and creating amazing alchemy.

Up next week will be a flood of promotional materials. So be prepared to be inundated folks! We just cannot wait to saturate you in love and excitement for our June 3rd First Friday reception!

We will see you there!

May 6th Preview a Success!

Above the Hearth, Mrs. Dole's Room.

On our countdown to the June 3rd opening we did a teaser "sneak preview"at the Dole. We socialized a bit but mostly tried to draw attention to our installation and talk about our vision for the work. It was exciting to meet the mayor and his family, some board members, several of the excellent resident artists at the Dole's studios, as well as many curious visitors--many of whom lived in the neighborhood for years but never had been inside the Dole, or maybe were first-timers to the 2nd and 3rd floors. It was exciting, because although it was clear that our installation was very much in-progress, people seemed curious. Frankly the space by itself is curious, and the work by itself is equally so, but together it seems as though the space and artwork dialogue on some new and exciting levels.



Installation, Mr. Dole's Room. 2nd Floor.



It has been a challenge to talk about the vision for the work when the "vision" has continued developed  while working in the space--breathing it in, feeling its surfaces, testing its boundaries. We keep leaning back towards the concepts of "nesting" in a way that is less about the rational necessities of life, and more about the desire to impose oneself (and one's expression) into the nooks and crannies. The Dole installation site certainly allows for a deep exploration of the "irrational" side of nesting because although the space is "domestic" it is no longer a functional living space.



Installation. Mr. Dole's Room. 2nd Floor.

 We met some incredibly curious and receptive individuals at the reception and we are so excited for our official opening on June 3rd--this installation is like no other that the Dole has ever seen before! For that we can be sure. So tune in next time for more updates.

Installation. Mr. Dole's Room. 2nd Floor. In-Process.

May 6 Sneak Preview

Installation Action

Friday April 8: The first "real" day of installation. I (Erin) showed up and Christina had been in motion for a few hours with our much-appreciated volunteer assistant, Chip.

It was really energizing to come into the space and see plastic sheeting down with supplies spread around. This is how things should look for the next month and a half while the installation is going on.

Here is a photo with Chip attaching threads to those weird hooks on the ceiling. We are considering what the addition of this aspect will be to the space in Mrs. Dole's room.



Thread in Mrs. Dole's room.



At the end of the day, we had made some marks in the space indicating that the installation has officially begun to take shape within the space.

Things are brewing indeed.

Meanwhile I have been knitting up a storm, working on a piece that will act as a large cozy for what I have been calling, "the canoodling chairs".

The Dole: Before

A brief prequel to this splendid installation collaboration.

This past December, Erin and I went to visit the Dole Mansion in Crystal Lake, IL. We were viewing the second and third floors of the mansion. Yet to be refurbished and not yet used as an exhibition space. It was well seasoned and curiously beautiful. Surprisingly bright paint pealing away to reveal plaster walls. Large windows and tall ceilings, all garnished with decorative molding. Curiously placed sinks. It was lovely.

While a potential collaboration had been in the talks for a while, Erin and I had not necessarily expected to take on anything quite this scale. Once the opportunity presented itself, we latched on. The space demanded it. And we're agreeable.

Seen here is an image of Mrs. Dole's bedroom. (While the all the smaller decorative items have been since removed, the large furniture remains.)

The installation process will be taking place over the next 2 months. Opening June 3rd.

For more info and history on the Dole Mansion:
www.lakesidelegacy.org

Stay tuned,

-Christina Gregor

June 3rd, First Friday Opening

Well, the date is set. After a fruitful week of preparing and getting to know the rooms at the Dole better we have changed the date of our opening to the First Friday event on June 3rd. This will provide 2 more months of rich installation and art-making time.
We were abuzz with ideas last Friday when Christina and I met with Erin M. at the Dole. And in the few days since, we have been busy with the artmaking part.


Knitted piece: about 24 inches by 48 inches, made from leftover yarn.

 I started making some yardage of knitted pieces by using leftover balls of yarn and experimenting with intarsia and the much less sophisticated technique of droping a stitch to create giant runs.
I am not sure what will be done with this knitted work. I am hoping to develop out a knitted cozy for a pair of chairs in Mrs. Dole's room.

 

Free-form crochet using yarn scraps.



Collaboration Installation: Erin Coleman-Cruz and Christina Gregor create at the Dole Mansion.

This the beginning of a new installation-collaboration at the Dole Mansion and Legacy Arts Park in Crystal Lake, IL between the artists Erin Coleman-Cruz and Christina Gregor. This blog includes a peek at the process of creating together across styles, media, and distance.

Pictured is a drawing by Christina with crocheted and stitched appendages by Erin.

Lovely. Awkward. Precious. Odd.