Camp Leo has been hard at work these past few days on their biggest group project yet: a massive dream catcher.
Before we actually get into the project we'll look at dreamcatchers through the campers eyes. Dreamcatchers are a sculptural form created by certain Native American tribes. The word itself, asabikeshiinh, is a form of the word for spider. Normally these objects are created with branches, frequently of thin or wet wood (to allow for bending). The circle is held together by the creation of a series of hitch knots which normally end in a single polygon.
So what do Dreamcatchers do? According to the Ojibwe, the native american tribe whose lands were centered around modern day Minnesota and the peoples who most likely invented the concept, Dreamcatchers catch peoples dreams. The idea is that the many knots hold on to the bad dreams, while the edges of the wooden circle allow the good dreams to slid through.
For anyone, but especially children, this is a relieving thought.
Here's where our inspiration gets a little jumbled. I knew that somewhere this summer I wanted to make dreamcatchers, something about them has always fascinated me since I was a child and I wanted to pass on that feeling of safety created by hanging several of these objects. But I wasn't sure how to create a feasible way to bring this experience to so many campers. Finally it hit me that we would need a group project. With a little more work I came across a wonderful source of inspiration: The 2012 Installation, The Tent.
In 2012 two artists, Noa Meir and Tali Buchler, came together to form a variety of street creations in Zichron Yaakov, Israel. These installations, named The Tent, were fashioned by the elderly and children within the cities community. Each member created several finger knit braids which were fashioned to a tepee of metal circles. When the project was finished the piece was so strong that young children were able to grab the lycra braids, run and jump with them, swinging on a new version of the rope swing.
This magical image, combined with the idea of the dream catcher allowed for the inspiration for this massive group project.
For 2 days (and many more hours since so many campers fell in love with braiding) 220 campers braided, finger knit, and macraméd almost 20 pounds of yarn. On thursday night we strung together all the pieces and formed the massive dreamcatcher (around a hula hoop).
The result was magical. Campers and counselors played among the sculpture like it was a new world and everyone who spotted it had to come over and see how it worked.
With so much positive love for the dreamcatcher from the Campers we will reinstall it for a quick show in the lobby on this friday July 19th, so please stop by!
Links:
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Dreamcatcher
http://www.growingupcreative.com/2012/09/finger-knitting-a-tent-the-story-behind.html
http://growingupcreative.typepad.com/tali_buchler/the-tent-a-community-art-installation-2012artists-noa-meir-and-tali-buchlermaterials-lycra-fabric-scraps-watering-pipes.html
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