Mosaic Fernwood - Phase I
Project Planning Journal - Page 4
Combo writing by Shylene Schlackl (S3) and Susan Salrah (S2)
July 14, 2004
Fernwood Community Association Building
What a night! Well, with girls in tow, I (S2) arrived at Little Fernwood Hall (as it is affectionately known) for the potluck and planning session. Hey, any meeting that involves food is a sure attraction for me. I had Milena in the backpack, Sofia in the stroller, and my salmon in Corning Wear. Pia had called me shortly before to let me know that she was too tired from her day of shopping and walk home from downtown to partake, but Heidi had said that she would be there. Wouldn't you know it? When we arrived, the Falun Gong mediators were peacefully using the space! We had been double booked! We met with Roberta Martell, FCC Executive Director, and we chatted a bit about our situation, one that is not uncommon. (But that's another story). She was off to an FCA Board Meeting.
I thought perhaps the event was a no-go, as we were the first to Arrive, but shortly after Shylene and Jonathan pulled up. What now? We debated going to my house but since it was already after six and Kirsten was just arriving with her baby (arrgh! Can't remember her name . . . I'm suffering Mamma Brain), we decided instead to just chill out in the square. I realized that I actually haven't done that, just sat on one of the benches in the square, since I'd moved to Fernwood. It allowed for an interesting perspective of the buildings and the community that does gather in the square. Shylene also came up with the idea of using Studio B for Phase II of the project. Great access to the square.
People in Fernwood
SO after hanging in the square for about 45 then booked it into the space. When the Falun Gongers had completed their meditation, we moved in to set up shop. By now, Suki had arrived. Food appeared immediately, and we ate, as we were all grumbly in the tumbly. It was a nice spread of food; only it missed almost any vegetable mater. Oops, but I guess that is the Luck part of a potluck. You are lucky if all the food groups are covered J It sure was yummy dinner though.
Salrah-Tudela Family
Shylene means business! Boy, can the woman multi-task! She was eating chicken one minute, and moving a piano the next.
Schlackls setting up
Furniture was moved around and drawings and writing from the planning sessions were put up on the wall.
Designs going up
We did get all the designs spread out and we have come up with some ideas for the mosaics. Soon, the concept for the wall took shape. Trees at either end. Man sleeping under tree.
Josefina Drawing
Somewhere in this time, Heidi and my niece Josefina showed up. Josefina felt comfortable drawing a second version of man under tree, which, remarkably, looked a lot like Shylene's! :) There are some fabulous unifying ideas that involve an image of a Fern. Any idea can be incorporated, it seems.
Group Shot
Unfortunately the size of the image for the mural need to be correct or the dimension on the wall will not work. So we were only able to rough out the wall design. Then for the square mosaic we still don't know where it is going, or what size it's to be. We drew out a rough sketch of the wall mural. I (S3) will have to meet with the mural artist, Harley Smart, who will be painting the mural part of the project. He will be able to help with dimension and size in reference to the wall.
Shylene, group and sketches
The challenge with a project includes so many people, comes together so quickly and has little money is almost everything is out of reach. SO it takes patience and consistent trust that all things will work out, as they should.
Shylene Explains Design Ideas
It's been hard taking this project from a simple summer project to a Mosaic the City - start project. As the community unity and teams have not been established over the last 8 months, now I (S3) am left holding the bag, which is the whole issue with not planning in advance for a Mosaic the City - Community Unity project. The only way to bring together hordes of people to give what they have is you need to have the people and the stuff they can give, before you are to work on the mosaics.
I (S3) knew this project wouldn't be simple and that it would take some time to get the people working with me.
Design Details by Heidi
I (S2) though it was wonderful that I could include Heidi, who was visiting from Richmond. She got started on the silhouette shapes we chose for the mural. A man reading against a tree; a girl on a skate board, a person walking a dog, and a small family. She definitely felt comfortable partaking in the project and wants to come back in August. She took the ideas home to work on over the weekend. It will be fun to see what she comes up with.
We wrapped things up at about 8:00pm, quite content. I (S2) was pleased, in particular, that I felt comfortable to attend with my two children in tow. Also, it was an inclusive, community-oriented activity for my niece, Josefina, who has special needs. It wonderful for her to have social, creative outlets and I will bring her to a building workshop!
Good work, Shylene!
We do have forward movement on the project and this is a positive thing…
But we do have lots of time. So it will come.
New Friends
New friendships are being formed and our community is interacting, this in itself the reason for teaching Community Unity. Bringing people together in a relaxed casual atmosphere was the premise this project was started on.
Ed doing dishes
People are coming into the project and helping any way they can, that is what "giving what you have means". Roberta joined us for a while after the FCA meeting. She talked and visited and helped with cleanup J Community Unity happening here.