Kris Olenick: Volunteering

As many of you know, part of what I do for Company of Fools and The Sun Valley Museum of Art is to schedule volunteers to help us during our events. Volunteers are what make our community go – round and since we’ve been asked to shelter at home, I thought I would share some of what I’ve been doing to volunteer for our community and to make art in my at-home down time.

1. SEW FACE MASKS

I’m not a great seamstress and my masks definitely look homemade compared to my more talented friends, however, they’re fairly easy to make (I know, I know, everyone says that!) and it makes me feel good to help out! Here’s a video on the efficacy of face masks:

https://khn.org/news/to-curb-coronavirus-whats-behind-the-wearing-of-a-…

If you’re interested in obtaining a “kit” for 25 masks ready to sew, please contact Barbara Knowles at [email protected].

How to Make Face Masks

· A video tutorial https://vimeo.com/400118073/8a7eb657ab
· Pattern for community mask: https://psjh.blob.core.windows.net/covid/2020%20PSJH_FACEMASK_COMMUNITY…
· Written Providence Guidelines https://psjh.blob.core.windows.net/covid/Instructions%20Community%20Mas…

Adjustable Nose Piece - The Providence pattern has been adapted to include an adjustable nose piece. Please refer to the Written Providence Guidelines to insert our adjustable nose piece after step 6.

· How to maintain a safe environment while making masks https://psjh.blob.core.windows.net/covid/2020-%20PSJH_FACEMASK_KIT%20In…

If you’ve tried to sew masks and you’re like who in the hell ever said this was easy to do?? (Dang DIYers! – in fact, I have PTSD from DIYers like Martha Stewart, etc. You should see my melting snowmen cookies. They look like they got in a bar brawl. But, I digress…) Watch this video for a little comic relief. I could TOTALLY relate to it! https://youtu.be/U4c5eo_3-y0

2. KNIT BABY HATS AND MITTENS

A lot of my friends and colleagues are due to have a baby in the next few months. I find knitting relaxing (unless I’m ripping out the pattern for the umpteenth time!) If what people say is true, there will be a baby boom within the next nine months, and maybe you’ll enjoy making this hat and mittens for your friends! Sweet Paprika Designs: First Winter Pattern by Elizabeth Sullivan

My favorite baby hat and mittens pattern can be purchased on Amazon in a book by called Knitting for Baby by by Melanie Falick (Author), Kristin Nicholas (Author), Ross Whitaker (Photographer). (Sorry, I don’t have a link to this!) This book has a lot of fun patterns. I’m addicted to making the baby hat and mittens in this book, and I’ve added snowflakes to the pattern to make it more appropriate for an Idaho snowy winter!

3. MAKE PAPER BOOKS

I took a book making class with the Sun Valley Museum of Art earlier this year from Angela Batchelor (https://angelabatchelorart.weebly.com/) and became completed obsessed with making paper books! Guess what everyone is getting for Christmas this year?!

With the limited supplies I had already at home, I’ve been making these books like a madwoman. Here’s a link to Angela’s Origami Wallet for a Book Cover and PantsAccordion Fold for Inside Book pages.

If all you can find is 12” x 12” paper for the book cover, which can easily be purchased at Jane’s Artifacts for curbside pickup locally (https://www.janesartifacts.com/) or Amazon.com, change pants accordion paper size 8” x 22”. You can also slip a ribbon through the book cover to make a tie for the book.

Feel free to email me at [email protected] if you have any questions about any of these projects!

They enjoyment of these project can be improved with certain Broadway musical turned films going on in the background. Of course, you have to have already seen them a million times so you’re not distracted from your project. My favorite musicals turned into films while working on art projects are:

SOUTH PACIFIC Release date: March 19, 1958 (USA) Director: Joshua Logan Languages: English, French Awards: Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing

Available to rent on Amazon, YouTube, Google Play, Apple, VDUD and Direct TV!

SOUND OF MUSIC Release date: March 2, 1965 (New York) Director: Robert Wise Music composed by: Richard Rodgers, Irwin Kostal, Oscar Hammerstein II Setting: Salzburg

Available on Disney+ and to rent on Amazon, YouTube, Google Play, Apple, VDUD and more!

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Release date: November 3, 1971 (USA) Director: Norman Jewison Awards: Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, MORE Screenplay: Sholem Aleichem, Joseph Stein

Available to rent on Amazon, YouTube, Google Play, Apple, VDUD and Direct TV!

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Release date: August 15, 1973 (USA) Director: Norman Jewison Awards: BAFTA Award for Best Sound, David di Donatello for Best Foreign Film Producers: Norman Jewison, Robert Stigwood

Available to rent, purchase, or stream via subscription on VUDU, YouTube, Amazon.com, and iTunes Store.