Hey creative friend, I’m currently working on a community collage as a companion project to my ongoing solo exhibition – “Drawn with Threads“.

Since April is National Librar Week and this year’s theme is “Libraries = Strong Communities”, we’re embarking on a project to create a Community Collage called Common Threads. 

The completed Community Collage will be hung in the Milford Public Library during National Library Week in April.

How it Works

So how does it work? Yep, I knew you’d ask. This is how the community collage works. I will make fabric squares and markers available in the library. People can then write, draw, doodle, or express in some other way, what they consider the most important thing which connects them to their community and neighbors. 

First, participants will go ahead and choose both color of fabrics and the markers they like. It was important to me that people have a choice in how they express themselves. Because you know me. I’m all for expressing your creativity, right? When you’re done choosing colors for fabrics and markers, then you can go ahead and either write/doodle on the fabric to express your idea of community ties.

Meet the Artist

What’s so cool about this community collage project is the social aspect. As the gallery artist for the month and facilitator of the community collage, I get to meet the community. It’s so cool. I’m available in the gallery area for two hours every week, to help in creating the community collage which will highlight the beauty and connections found in Milford’s small city with a big heart. 

So far, it has been wonderful meeting people from the community and talking to them about my artworks on exhibit, hearing the various things which make them feel connected to the community, and just having the privilege to hear their personal stories. I’m so happy that I proposed this as part of my exhibition.

The Community Collage Challenge

There’s a challenge, though.

I have to get all the completed fabric pieces from the community and piece them together for National Library Week, which starts in April. That means right after I’m done collecting the pieces, National Library Week starts. That, of course, doesn’t leave me any time to put this community collage together. The time crunch will definitely be my biggest challenge in this project.

It was my challenge in planning this exhibition and it’s going to be my challenge in getting the community collage project done.

My plan is to have the collage ready and delivered to the library by the first Friday in April. That’s giving me barely a week to put the collage together.

But I can’t wait to get to work on it and to see how it all comes together.

Create with Clara

It’ll be so much more fun with you, my creative friend. Come meet me and create with me. I’ll be so honored to see you, chat with you, and create art with you. I’ll be in the Milford Public Library from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on the following dates: March 19 and 21, and March 26-27.

Hope to see you soon.

Love,