An exciting creation has been taking shape at Camp this week!
We’re privileged to have Camp alumna Kim Frey and her family with us as part of our artist-in-residence program. Kim is an artist and educator in Philadelphia, and she was previously on staff at Nor’wester as the ceramics instructor in 2006 and 2009. Over the past several months, Kim has been working closely with Camp to develop an educational and interactive art installation plan for our Second Session campers. And we’re thrilled to report that this week our campers had the opportunity to take part in it!
Campers filled the banana slug’s wire frame with rocks and pebbles to form a solid foundation.
Every unit has been invited to participate in the construction of a found object tile mosaic sculpture in the shape of one of the animals indigenous to the San Juan Islands: the banana slug! The sculpture is taking form near the Nature Tipi as campers collect pebbles and rocks from the Camp property to fill a slug-shaped wire frame mounted on a concrete slab. They have then been applying with grout pieces of broken tiles, mirror, and other found objects that have meaning for the campers. Kim is there instructing and guiding the young artists every step of the way.
Adding grout and tile to the mosaic was some campers’ favorite part of the process!
As a community art piece, the intention behind the sculpture is to create something together as a Camp community, in this specific time and place. Our hope for the sculpture is that it will provide an interactive and engaging element of artwork that campers can learn from and enjoy for years to come. Future campers will have the fun of touching, climbing, and investigating the slug (the sculpture includes a geo-cache pocket where notes, treasures, and other special items can be hidden and discovered!). And current campers will be able to share their experience of creating the art piece with those who come after them.
Our banana slug sculpture will be named by the campers at the end of this week.
The banana slug will also live alongside the other permanent pieces of artwork here that make Camp such a beautiful and special place. The diversity of these elements remind us of all the different streams that combine here at Camp, and the dynamic flow of old and new traditions that make us who we are. Thank you, Kim and family, for giving our campers the opportunity to engage in this experiential, creative, community-oriented, artistic experience!