Jean Formo
Jean Formo was the presenter at the program on Saturday, September 21, 2019, in Minneapolis. Collaborating with Rebekah Anderson, she created a piece of spontaneous art in the moment on a large sheet of fine art paper, and shared how the piece could be folded into a table sculpture or book afterward. Participants were invited to do the same. Read more about Jean’s program.
Jean Formo is a living legend in our calligraphy world and so it was a rare treat to be able to spend time living in her creative mind again. “Collaboration” was a perfect theme for our time together. With a history of sharing and caring, Jean truly exemplifies this in her life.
Art is often seen as a solitary occupation, but Jean reminded us how by stretching and going a little outside our comfort zone, we can collaboratively create art with respect, adventure, and trust.
Jean adds her mark…
…and Rebekah answers.
She led us through a very mindful exercise of setting up a page and materials with a partner with a focus on "us" thinking. What can we create, one stroke or mark at a time, with an intention of sharing and creating? Jean reminded us that collaborative art does not need an ego, judgment, perfection, or eye-rolling. Very few rules exist--just that we do it mindfully.
Janey Westin works on her collaborative piece.
Citing examples from other collaborative artists, we learned how this process is used around the world to resolve conflict, build community, and as a way for people to be changed by a process. Using silence, and the sounds of the single strokes as each partner takes a turn and makes a mark, we reacted to each new changing dimension on the page. We slowly and contemplatively built up sheets of coloured, collaborative art that are joyful reminders that art is about “us,” not just about “me.”
Jean's ideas on how to use this output are to create portable museum books and desktop paper table sculptures with whimsy and wishfulness. The September program was a lovely afternoon that changed how I view collaborative art and its value to us all.