LOVE LETTERS

"W" is for Woven Voices, the project I designed and guided from 2007 - 2011. In past postings I have shared some of the lessons that this project taught me. This posting will be about how the project has morphed into something new yet truly an out growth of "Woven Voices". Here are the details:

LOVE LETTERS 

 A community art installation guided by Artist Sarah Haskell

   Love defines us, motivates us and binds our lives together. In this hands-on activity inspired by Buddhist Prayer flags, participants will be invited to create a paper flag prompted by something or someone that they love. 

   On the front of each flag people are invited to write and draw the first letter of something or someone that they love.

  

On the reverse side of each flag we fill in the blank:

  _________ is for _______________________

_____________________________________

Name ______________Date______________

 

Newtown CT Art Festival 9/13

   All ages and abilities of community members  are able to participate in this project, allowing for a wide variety of love letters. People are invited to create two flags, one to take home and one to leave for a community installation. 

   At the end of the day, we assemble the letters and see what we inspiring words and messages we can spell from these "Love Letters", creating a visual story of who and what we love. For example if we collect the letters P, O, H, R, T, E, N, A, and E ~ we can spell "OPEN HEART".

   

   The completed string of brightly colored "Love Letters" is donated to a public location in celebration of the deep love that connects the community.  

We spelled "Family".

   In late September I was invited to guide "LOVE LETTERS" at the annual Newtown (CT) Arts Festival. Over 50 people participated in creating letters, and look what we were able to spell: "Newtown, We are family."

L is for Love.

 "LOVE LETTERS" has lead to my own alphabet of gratitude. I am making 26 lettered flags, each one is a hand embroidered letter sewn on a brightly colored lobster pot buoy flag.  I have completed 12 flags so far and am having fun creating words with these letters!

Spelling foods I love!

   I'll post more images on my website soon.

What goes around

You know that old expression "What goes around, comes around" ? To me this means what you send out eventually comes back to roost at home. I used to tell my kids that love is a boomerang. If you send it out, it will come back. But like throwing a boomerang, which takes practice and patience, so does sending out love. Each prayer flag from the Woven Voices project is like a little love letter. We send them out across the miles of ocean and land and eventually something comes back here to York.
Last month, I received this email:

Old prayer flag on rock in Wales

Frances reproduction of Wales prayer flag

"I live in Denmark, but originally come from Wales, UK, and often visit. I was in North Wales last year with a good friend, who took me to a deserted slate quarry - mines, ruined houses, spoil heaps, beautiful nature. He is taking part in an art project about the place; he wanted to show me something he had found, tied to a piece of slate fencing facing away from the path that passes by.

I have sent you an image of the piece; as you will see, it resembles your prayer flags to a remarkable degree.  All indications point to it being set up in the late '50's or early '60's.
We had the immediate thought that there would be a message contained in it; none is now visible - if ever there was one.

I HAD to make a reconstruction, which I did on my return to Denmark  - from a few photos and inadequate memory - I have sent an image of that too. ca. 20x20 cm. (both pieces)

The making has been inspirational for me and I have lots of plans to work in this format and with the old piece as a starting point. 
My friend turned up your blog today whilst searching for any kind of indication of WHY the original was tied to the slate.

VERY IMPORTANT   -  Do you know of any history concerning small woven messages? We would be grateful for an answer, even if it were negative!
If you are interested, I could keep you informed on the progress we make (if any)." Frances

WOW! I am so amazed by this email. Thank you Frances! I have sent Frances the "Woven Voices: How to Guide" so that she can continue this work in her home in Denmark. You too can receive this guide. Visit the side bar for details.

And then yesterday, this email:

Prayer flags, Emily and  friend at Amma's Ashram

"Dear Sarah,
I'm finally getting around to sending you a photo of the flags I put up at Amma's ashram in Kerala, India (www.amritapuri.org).  They were hung by the Western Cafe, where thousands of international visitors will see them.  They will probably get plucked by crows and battered by monsoon winds and rains.  As well, observed by many as they await their ordered food.
 

Kerala, India, Amma's Ashram

I had six more that were also hung on the roof of one of the buildings. A friend of mine owns a special flat (it was Amma's room years ago) on top of one of the buildings.  She (Meenakshi, a flight attendant from CA) was delighted to hang them on her veranda and enjoy the designs and the prayers.  I'm attaching an aerial view of the ashram.  Meenakshi was going to take pictures; perhaps she already sent them to you.  I had given her one of your flyers.

Thank you for all you do, Sarah. "
Peace, Emily

Two instances, months after the official ending of the Woven Voices project, the love still rippling out to new corners. I am confident that these little woven love letters will be working their invisible magic for years to come. Thanks to all for assisting this journey of love.

The clamshell box open with handmade books and flags.

Thesis on the bookshelf.

     And now with a big TAD-DAH...here is a peek at my completed Masters of Art and Healing! It is now official, I am a Master at Art and Healing! My thesis is a final report and documentation on this project. I created 4 hand-bound books, plus included two flags and other support materials. This final report and documentation is simply a landmark, a big one yes, but I will not stop here.I bet you knew that. I am just resting. Until next time, Peace and Love, Sarah

Text on inside cover