Eggsistential Crisis with Jolie Bird
Join Calgary based artist Jolie Bird in a meditative handcrafting activity of learning how to wrap household objects into beautiful art objects by encasing them within a new skin made entirely from glue and thread.
Undoubtedly we are all experiencing the sudden life-altering changes brought on by COVID-19. Adjusting to life in isolation has meant some families living with little break from one another while others have been separated from their loved ones for months. The loss of income for many people, adjusting to homeschooling and working from home, the immense pressures thrust upon our medical services, and the constant stream of horrifying news coverage from around the globe have been challenging to say the least.
Eggsistential Crisis is intended to distract you, if only for an afternoon, and encourage you to meditate on the healing benefits of making something with your hands. Learn how to transform ordinary household items into beautiful art objects by encasing them within a new skin made entirely from glue and thread. Wrapping objects in thread is a simple process but requires a love for detail and patience. Throughout this video, I will show you how to wrap and egg and how to apply these same steps to other objects found throughout your home. I hope this exercise offers you some peace of mind and inspires you to create new and beautiful works of art.
Tools:
yarn—look for something with some structure and not a lot of stretch, e.g. linen, cotton, ply yarn, experiment with what you have in your home
a sharp pair of scissors
a needle, small nail or push pin
a clean egg
a bowl
glue—Jolie is using a UHU glue that is non-toxic, drys clear and is suitable for many surfaces. Use something that dries clear, stays tacky for a few minutes and is thin enough to apply a thin layer
a pin or toothpick
masking tape
About the artist.
Jolie Bird is a fibre artist who lives and works in Calgary, Alberta. She completed her MFA at NSCAD University, Halifax in 2013 and had also studied at the Alberta University of the Arts, Calgary and Capilano University, North Vancouver. Bird works predominantly with textiles and fibre but also includes other mediums, found objects, and installation into her practice. She is drawn to slow techniques like hand-stitching, weaving, and wrapping for the investment of time needed to complete the work. Repetitive and slow-building in nature, the process becomes mentally and physically demanding, while at the same time feeling intuitive and somewhat meditative. Working slowly with simple tools and only her hands, she forms an intimate and tactile connection with the artwork. Her work has been exhibited locally, nationally and in the United States.
