In the News!

Here's a lovely little preview of the upcoming performance next week by DK Row of the Oregonian:

http://www.oregonlive.com/art/index.ssf/2010/07/upcoming_closing_festivities_f.html

'about space' Reception

I just finished installing Mother Tree at 'about space'. She looks lovely, if I do say so myself. You can view her 24/7 starting tomorrow evening at 6pm. She'll be illuminated from 10am-10pm daily.

Participatory Opening Reception (come crochet with me)
May 27th, 6-8pm
'about space'
3660 SW River Parkway | Portland, OR 97239
corner of SW River Parkway & SW Gaines

Hope to see you there!

Mother Tree Project - Day 17

I went in early today to tie on some roots before the activity began and to connect with the day care teacher at CityKids, the day care for city employees which is located in The Portland Building. Everything ran like clockwork. The kids were going out for recess when I arrived and their teacher said five of them could come finger crochet with me at 11:30am. Steph Stricklen from KGW showed up at about 11:35 with her cameraman to film us finger crocheting and then Steph asked me a few questions. We were done by noon, when I'd told everyone else to come. Oh well.

I got my husband there today, finger crocheting away. The TV show aired tonight at 7pm, but like me, it seems that not many people watch TV anymore... I haven't heard from anyone who has seen it. I should get a link for viewing it online tomorrow.

Today, another touching note in the mail. "Dear Helen, Please accept these two strands in honor and remembrance of my mother, who passed away on March 1, while I was working on them."

You, dear readers, and everyone who has contributed to this project, have made it a success! The reporter asked me about the community participation aspect today, and I said that it MADE the project worthwhile.

My friend, Margaret Davis, has a lovely blog and she posted something about the project today: http://thebindery.blogspot.com

Mother Tree

I learned to crochet recently (I learned to knit in Germany when I was 16 and coincidentally, a german friend in Seattle showed me the basics of crochet). When I was working on my film Water Paper Time in 2008, I made some more dress pieces with single crocheted strands falling from the breasts. And I started thinking about my roots, literally, not for the first time but in a more visual way and about how I feel as a mother - strong yet uncertain with constant reminders of my childhood coming and going.