Artist in residence crafts art from unlikely sources; Reception is Feb. 21

Just like the artist who put it together, Thayer Academy’s current art exhibition, Interwoven: Fibers & Findings That Bind Community, seeks to reimagine the overlooked and/or discarded through the power of collaboration and connection. 

The exhibit opened Feb. 11 in Koskores Gallery and runs until March 1. It showcases the work of Alexandra Adamo, Thayer’s current artist in residence, and features artwork crafted from unexpected sources: scraps of 3D-printed filament, reclaimed wood from a gaga ball pit, discarded soccer and lacrosse nets, secondhand frames, and bits of scrap wool imbued with new life.

Adamo spent much of January working closely with students as well as members of Thayer’s faculty and staff on various projects. For “Felt & Found,” the artist spent three weeks with Upper School students — those in Honors Arts as well as all four sections of Painting & Drawing — so that students could use needle-felting techniques to create tapestries that explored collective experience and responded to the question: “What does community mean to me?” These original creations were then displayed in salvaged frames. For “Wool & Wonder,” Adamo worked with Middle School students who, through the patient and rhythmic practice of needle-felting, transformed wool fibers into vibrant, tactile circles of imagination. For “Process & Product,” Thayer photography students captured the intricate details of felt-making — both process and product — through carefully composed photographic images. The multimedia artist, educator, and public artist even set up a studio of sorts so that students could witness Adamo at work and connect with her during free periods. She calls the current exhibit “a collective narrative of renewal and ingenuity that weaves together the unique voices in each and every one of us.” 

The founder of Alex Makes Art, Adamo emphasizes such interactive experiences and takes the approach that art should be accessible to all. That has been made plain here at Thayer not only through the collaborative exhibit and her work with students but through a series of workshops held at various points through her residency. These workshops continue, with one "Stab & Schmear" event taking place Saturday, Feb. 22, and a second felting session slated for Saturday, March 1. Both Saturday sessions are open to the public and run from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in the Koskores gallery; readers can learn more and RSVP at thayer.org/gallery. 

“As Thayer Academy’s artist in residence,” noted Adamo in her artist’s statement, “I was inspired to create a unique body of work in response to my time here. Curiosity, connection, and the vibrancy of this community shaped each piece I crafted using found materials and scrap wool. Alongside this personal exploration, I wanted to celebrate the incredible resources, talent, and energy at Thayer while respecting the packed schedules of students and staff. This process became an invitation to pause, see familiar materials in new ways, and discover creativity and connection in unexpected places.” 

A Thayer Friends & Family Reception celebrating the experiential exhibit will take place Friday, Feb. 21, from 5 to 6:45 p.m. in the gallery. The family-friendly evening is designed for visitors of all ages and works in conjunction with the Upper School’s production of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical later that same evening. Participants will be able to explore the exhibition, enjoy a creative felting activity, partake of light refreshments, and celebrate the intersection of art and performance.