A fabrication is a fabric collage which incorporates pieces of clothing and related items such as hats, gloves, slippers, belts and jewelry into a design. It can serve as a “memory quilt” in which families, classrooms or communities can create visual repositories for collected treasures and heirlooms. I believe that a human “essence” lingers on the clothing and related items that we use. My intention in creating fabrications is to evoke that human presence. Another intention is to create a pleasing composition, as with all art. Since a fabrication is hand-sewn, it connects us with generations of sewers, from many cultures, who create beauty with a needle and thread. By hanging these often anonymous bits of sometimes exquisite handiwork on the wall, we are saying “this work, often made by women, matters.”

To make a fabrication of your own, begin to collect items which you want to include in your fabrication. Organize your items. I usually do this according to…

Murals can be painted with classroom students, neighborhood center participants or other community groups. Each person can contribute to the mural at their level of ability. I have worked with children as young as 4. Depending on skill levels, students can help with various parts of the mural – younger children can help with priming and creating a background, while older children and adults can help with detail. One of the best things about painting a mural is that it fosters cooperation. I recommend NEVER break the mural up into individual sections – like a quilt – one per student. You will be missing a great opportunity to teach your students to develop a design and make a mural together.

If you are inviting a muralist to work with your group, it is best that your group develops a theme, not the muralist. The muralist will work with your group to foster a sense of community and further the goals…

A mural is a large scale painting. A mural can be painted directly on a wall or on panels or on canvas that can be attached to a wall. The first step in painting a mural is to develop a design. (See “Additional Considerations” for schools and community groups.) Murals can be painted in any style – hard-edge, impressionistic, realistic, abstract, or a mix of styles.There are various methods for turning a small design into a mural.

A design can be drawn on paper with a grid. Each square is enlarged to a corresponding square on the mural. For example, a 12”x12” design divided into 1” squares can be made into a 12’x12’ mural in which each 1” square is transferred to the corresponding 1’ area of the mural.  The design can be projected onto the wall or panel with a slide projector or opaque projector and then traced.

The design can be sketched onto the wall or panel “freehand”…