Standing taller than average height, Quiltzilla might be the least intimidating dinosaur to terrorize the Athens community since Barney first graced television screens. Its bones come from PVC pipe, wood framing, zip ties, duct tape, fiberglass and other donated materials, but its outsides leave viewers in straight stitches.
Quiltzilla, which sits in the window display of the old GNC store located in The Market on State, is one of two quilted dinosaurs made recently in the university’s new arts in the public sphere class, taught by adjunct professor P atty Mitchell.
“People just go nuts about dinosaurs,” Mitchell said. “Little kids go crazy.”
The class, which met Fridays as well as held workshop hours during the week, focused on teaching students how to be active artists within their communities or how to work as artists-in-residency, Mitchell said.
An artist-in-residency is someone who has a space within the community to continue his or her working as an artist — benefiting the community while simultaneously making art an economically successful profession.
The combination of an open studio and an active community area are what sparked the idea for the mall space now known as The Community Studio, Mitchell said.
Using the storefront to showcase artists at work definitely draws attention to the mall, Mitchell added, benefiting both local businesses and students.
“The mall could be seen as more of a community active space,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell is the founder of Passionworks and said she attributes her skills in community art to the artists-in-residency tools she learned from The Ohio Arts Council, who helped open the studio in 1998.
She, along with Gretchen Stephens, The Market on State’s business manager, and undergrad coordinator Rosemarie Basile together developed what would become The Community Studio.
The School of Art has wanted a program like this for a while, she said, and they originally approached Mitchell because of her success in founding Passionworks.
“It’s interesting to have the class in the public instead of a studio so we could make art in a public center and so the public could really become involved,” Mitchell said.
To create the course, Mitchell said she imagined what it would be like to bring her own private studio into the public sphere to explore what kind of work draws in onlookers and how she could share her knowledge with students.
“I really enjoy seeing people experiencing art-making as opposed to just being an audience,” Mitchell said.
After receiving fliers and emails from the School of Art, students aware of Mitchell’s experience with Passionworks were drawn to the course as an opportunity to work with her.
“She really takes the time to help us out,” said Mallory Valentour, a junior studying art.
Valentour added that not only has she enjoyed getting to know Mitchell but also that this is the only collaboration class offered for art majors.
“I’m really glad I took advantage of it, cause it’s really taught about working with others and working with the community,” Valentour said.
Christen Contario, a sophomore studying poetry, said curiosity often gets the best of shoppers who can’t resist stopping in and asking about the dinosaur. While children draw on potential quilt squares for the dinosaurs, adults try their hand at quilting.
“Occasionally, we actually get people who end up sitting down with us and actually creating,” Contario said.
Creating with the community is part of what being an artist is all about, and the girls said the community has taken active interest.
Locals and stores have swept basements and racks clean to donate anything from fake snow to unwanted prom dresses.
“Everything you see here was donated,” Contario said. “We have two faucet spics over there.”
The class is attempting to finish a second, larger quilted dinosaur before the quarter ends. With 15 to 20 students enrolled, Mitchell said the course was a major undertaking but an interesting one.
“I am encouraged that there’s interest this will continue,” Mitchell said.
But the course will need major funding, said Robert Lockheed, a longtime friend of Mitchell’s who helps around the studio.
“It’s going to take grant money; volunteers just wouldn’t have the momentum,” Lockheed said about fundraising.
Mitchell is uncertain if there are any future plains to continue the artists-in-residency program for Ohio students.
“This is all an experiment,” she said.
The Community Studio is open Wednesday and Thursday from 1 to 7 p.m., Friday from 4 to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday Noon to 4 p.m. Visitors are welcome.
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