Wharf Lane residents connect with nature, art, and community.
Burlington, VT, 2017-2018
Burlington, VT, 2017-2018
Wharf Lane Apartments is a Burlington Housing Authority property in the South End of Burlington. In the summer of 2016 Wharf Lane residents formed an arts council to address the institutional feel of their building and their lack of control over its appearance. I worked with residents to achieve their vision of colorful, art-filled hallways and designed a program in which we collaborated on twelve nature inspired paintings over the course of several art sessions. Residents also participated in a color selection process and chose several cheerful colors to paint accent walls in the otherwise white hallways. In April 2018 the finished paintings were displayed as part of "Home Works" at S.P.A.C.E Gallery in Burlington, VT. In May they were shown at Mercy Connections and Champlain Office of Economic Opportunity. In June the paintings were permanently installed at Wharf Lane with a community open house to celebrate.
This project received support from Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition (with special thanks to resident organizer Corrine Yonce), Burlington City Arts, and Burlington Housing Authority.
This project received support from Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition (with special thanks to resident organizer Corrine Yonce), Burlington City Arts, and Burlington Housing Authority.
Nature walk at the barge canal to collect plants for pressing.
Some of the plants were laid into the gesso layer to create a textured surface. Others were used later on for shadow painting.
Janet and Donna spread different shades of red on a textured canvas.
Residents had fun with adding layers of color in paint and oil pastel.
We used an overhead projector to paint larger plant forms on top of the textured canvases.
Barb traces a fern shadow in bright gold paint.
Kirsten works on the largest of the 12 paintings, using the projector to create three giant, multi-color goldenrod flowers.
Paintings on display at S.P.A.C.E. Gallery for "Home Works"
Residents reached out to a number of area service providers about temporarily hanging the paintings in their offices, the goal being to strengthen relationships between residents and the people who work for these organizations.
Paintings installed on newly painted walls at Wharf Lane