What a day. On October 3 2022 the amazing team from Level Fine Art Services brought their many talents to the University of Hartford to hang the 60 foot sperm whale. This whale project began in December of 2021, when I began my attempt to create the largest piece in the Entangled and Ingested series. All of the pieces over 20 feet I co-create with the public. I’ve never made a piece of art this large and I didn’t know what to expect. Taking a basic sewing intro class at Hartford Stitch (I highly recommend them, BTW) helped me think about construction and how I might want to handle the seams joining panels. Thankfully, soon the City of Middletown’s Downtown Business District allowed me to host an open studio for several months on Main Street (from December 2021 to May 2022). Without that space I don’t know how I would have managed to complete the piece (or have begun the next-largest 55 foot long bowhead whale). The project was supported by a grant from the Connecticut Office of the Arts.
All of that work came to fruition on 10/3 when we hung the whale at the University of Hartford’s campus.
Here’s a stop-motion film of the hanging
And a video of the view as you mount the second floor steps in the library.
It will remain up through the end of this calendar year (at least).
If you collaborated on this piece (or another piece) you should visit the University to view it and see if you can find the spot where you contributed. Through the windows in the back of the library, you can see the signatures of all the folks who sewed the piece.
If you’d like to learn more about the project, there will be a lecture and reception this Friday, October 7 from 2:00-3:30 in the library for Faculty Friday. You can hear about the project and see the largest piece, then enjoy some questions and refreshments.
Kat Owens 