Pass the Piece: A Collaborative Art Project

More than a year ago, I participated in an online conference through The Rabbit Room. My favorite session was when professional artists individually started a work of art and then passed it on to someone else to finish. They also finished another person’s art, creating a circle of collaboration.

This January, I invited several ladies to participate in a similar collaborative art project with me. Ten ladies (all of whom were skilled in a variety of art mediums) chose to join. I created a circle so that there was some overlap of medium preference/skill set. I also tried to pair each lady with someone she knew and someone she didn’t know so that the art could be a point of connection. Each person had a month from the time partners were assigned to begin the art piece and pass it on. Partners were allowed to collaborate as much or as little as they preferred. Some planned the piece together while others chose to be more mysterious. Then, each person had another month to complete the unfinished piece given to her.

The piece I started was being passed to a friend who is very talented in quilting, so I embroidered a block she could incorporate into a quilt. I was inspired by passages of Scripture and my friend’s love for animals to embroider a sparrow. She made a small tabletop quilt around the embroidery and the end result was stunning! She even found a way to integrate the passages I shared with her.

The piece I received to finish was a print. My friend carved the design from a linoleum block and used fabric printmaking ink to make the print on repurposed linen. I loved the retro pink/red color and design. I had a lot of ideas for things I wanted to incorporate, but ended up keeping it simple to let her design shine.

I wanted the finished piece to be something that could be visible and useful in my house so I made it into a chair pillow. Sewing can be a challenge when you are trying to work artistically because you have to start with the details and move to the foundation. I ended up taking seams apart on this project more often than I usually do. I paired the retro red print with a seafoam green scrap of retro fabric. The scrap was left over from highwaisted shorts I made from a vintage pattern (blog and pictures here). I also added pretty retro trim with a red and white design. For the backing of the pillow, I found a clearance remnant with postage stamps on it which went perfectly with the “retro travel” theme I imagined. I added piping trim to finish the edges.

In March, all the pieces were done and it was time for the reveal and celebration! The results were lovely and so diverse! We had quilting, embroidery, block printing, macramé, watercolor, acrylic, collage, and mixed media. Here are just a few of the before and after results.

Each participant was able to share about the design and material choices before revealing the artwork. Many shared about ways she had connected with her partner or even how family members had jumped in on the collaboration with suggestions or adding their own touches. Some of the pieces will stay with the person who finished them, others will be gifts for people in the community.

I’m so thankful for art and for artistic people. It was so special to take something that often happens in isolation and invite others into it. I learned from them and was able to celebrate with them. I also had a part in two beautiful art projects I could never have created on my own. I hope this inspires some of you to try artistic collaboration and share the creative process with others.

Photo credits to Laura Barnwell and myself.