PORT TOWNSEND — It’s possible to empower oneself through art, especially wearable art. Such was the message from Margie McDonald and Michele Soderstrom, teachers who recently taught their students how to build their own superhero armor.
“Are you inspired by the costumes worn by knights, samurai or Wonder Woman?” the Northwind Art course description asked. Eight youngsters answered that call.
In just four July afternoons in Northwind’s classroom at Fort Worden State Park, they first worked on formative drawings, and then repurposed cardboard into armor they could move in. This included elaborate headpieces, swords, faux-metal embellishments and, of course, masks.
“The kids are so capable,” said Soderstrom, who, during the school year, teaches art at Port Townsend High School.
In the course, the armor-makers learned to use a sewing awl — not necessarily easy, Soderstrom added.
“There was frustration,” she said, “but they moved past it.”
McDonald, another influential member of the art community and an organizer of the Port Townsend Wearable Art Show, polled the students to see if there was interest in future wearable-art courses. The response was a unanimous yes, she said.
The Port Townsend Wearable Art Show, which was to have its 10th annual event in 2020, has been sidelined by COVID-19. It’s possible the show will return in 2022, McDonald said.
Meantime, there’s no shortage of energy — or cardboard, for that matter — when it comes to creating superhero-style armor. In an outdoor runway show July 29, students Satria McKnight, Owen Griffith and Kaladry Groenig, all 11, Callum Johnson, 14, Nigel Groenig, 13, Caleb Armstrong, 9, Reid Armstrong, 10, and Byron Eisele, 8, showed off their finished work for teachers and family members.
“We have talked about offering this class again during spring break and for sure next summer with extended hours for even more complex construction,” McDonald said.
“I really wanted them to leave the class with the skill of using a sewing awl for construction in their future projects,” so every student got an awl to take home.
The nonprofit Northwind Art, the entity formed via the merger this year of the Port Townsend School of the Arts and the Northwind Arts Center, offers many classes for youngsters and adults. For more information, see Northwindart.org.
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Jefferson County senior reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-417-3509 or durbanidelapaz@peninsuladaily news.com.
