Celebrating Good Growth
— by Brittany —
“I hope that when people come into this space that they feel peace & are just able to reflect & rest in beauty.” – Amanda Wicker
I am thrilled to share my first Studio Story! This project has been years in the making & involves a number of my favorite artists. The video at the end shows the space in a profound way that I cannot express in words!
🌱 It Started With a Seed…
Before the Mixed Media Studio concept took shape, fiber art & paper craft projects would frequently pop up in other corners of The COVE, with students using the many packs of scrapbook paper, bins of yarn, & other such supplies we had available. These projects most often found their way into the Pottery Studio, the space that has since become the Mixed Media Studio.
Having the theme of plants & growth in mind, I first envisioned covering the wall of this space in paper flowers. We had only ever commissioned painted murals in our other spaces thus far. I reached out to Amanda Wicker to discuss the viability of such a project since she is the best cut paper artist I know. She not only gave good advice, but also had an excitement for the project, which gave me confidence that she was the artist for the job.
🎍 How It Grew
Amanda & I first connected during the very first NoCo Fest in 2017. She was one of the artists who responded to my open invitation for members of the local art community to vend at the (then) newly formed art event. Since then, she has faithfully participated in almost all of our annual festivals. She attends Open Studios as well, & even taught our most recent workshop.
We have become neighborhood friends who take turns inviting one another to game & craft nights. She has a sincere sweetness & a contagious joy, qualities that shine through her cute & captivating artwork: Panda’s Palette. I have had the privilege of seeing her be a bright light to other artists on many occasions.
Amanda spent countless days during the summer of 2024 measuring, curating, & cutting paper to make this unique project perfect. While she was making the installation, I was making connections with donors who happily gave funds & supplies towards the project. One local mom hosted her own drive to gather felting kits for our new Felting Station.
🌼 See It Blossom
Since its completion, the Mixed Media Studio has quickly become a favorite among Afterschool students & adult makers alike. The studio draws you in with its cool-toned green walls & vibrant floral elements. The organization of visible tools & supplies stirs your imagination.
The space is divided into two halves:
The Paper Craft side is stocked with every type of cardstock, stickers, shape punches, ephemera & more, for scrapbooking, folding origami, making greeting cards, & even junk journals.
The Fiber Arts side is full of felt, wool roving, yarn, embroidery hoops, crochet hooks, & needles of every kind for creating every kind of soft & fuzzy, frilly & fringy handiwork.
Amanda & I were the perfect team to make this envisioned space a welcoming reality but we couldn’t have done it without the countless contributions of supplies, kits, & allocated funds from our supporters.
Please watch this video to see where this project began & how far we’ve come since the Mixed Media Studio has been finished:
👨🏾🌾 How You Can Cultivate Space
• Create in the space during Open Studios every 4th Saturday
• Teach our Afterschool students how to make Fiber & Paper art creations
• Shop our COVE Studio Updates Wishlist on Amazon to help fill the space
