Panel #3- Sarah Holbach, San Diego CA

Hey there collabo appreciators and collaborational art enthusiasts-

I welcome you back to another edition of El Travo Collabo 2011. On this weeks episode, we're checking in on Panel #3 which just left the hands of the sweetest crafty-hands-cute-face mcGee of them all- Sarah Holbach of San Diego. The girl does everything from painting, to sharpie-marking, to sewing, to building, to teaching and positively influencing the youth of tomorrow. Let's do this.

(planets of igloos. tepees. cities. houses. diamond constellations. quote courtesy of carl sagan. we are made of starstuff. ink, thread, nails, and love.)

hi. i'm sarah holbach, and i live in sweet san diego. i do handfuls of random things, mostly to keep me from ever

having a grown up 9-5 job. i teach art and literacy programs in four different cities, sew costumes and other goodness for

the new children's museum (contemporary art museum for kids in sd. magic), doodle my life away, and take a few classes here and there.

What is your earliest “artistic” memory?

taking scraps from the wood pile on the side of the house and torturing the poor things with glitter, puffy paint and berry juice from the backyard. The abstract beauties were then taped together to form rolie-polie communities. nice.

What are three words that best describe your artwork?

soft. domestic. warm.

What inspires you?

wildflowers on the sides of the freeway, a swatch of fabric, an accidental doodle while trying to make a pen work.

What is your goal in life?

live simply, be happy.

Name something you love, and why.

meeting good, genuine people. despite the piles of negativity and greed around us, i enjoy believing that people are inherently honest and wonderful if they are given the chance to be. there's nothing like human connection.

What makes you angry?

wanting to do and learn fifty different things, and only having enough time for five.

What was your favorite toy as a kid?

the speak and spell. creepy. and my plastic lizards.

What is your favorite toy now?

sharpies and thread.

What is your “dream” art project?

creating a life size, semi-functional soft home. felting the walls, stitching up furniture, and opening it up to all for free nap time.

What have you been listening too while you’ve been working on your art[recently]?

this might sound lame, but i've been really enjoying silence. i can hear the birdsongs mixing with the freeway outside of my window, and i've really fallen in love with it.

If you were a cocktail on a drink menu at a bar, what would your name be?

magicface.

If you could go back in time and talk to “8 year old YOU”, what would you say to her/him?

high-five. you're gonna be ok.

If you could collaborate with any other artist [living or dead], who would it be and why?

i'd love to work with niki de st phalle on one of her giant playground sculptures. the childlike imagery and colors bring so much joy to my insides. or friedensreich hunderwasser, for the simple joy of spending days doodling hills and houses while talking about breaking rules and window rights.

What is the best bit of advice that you have ever been given?

nothing good happens after midnight. thanks, dad.

If you had a chance to say one sentence for the whole world to hear, what would you say?

go outside, breathe the air, notice the details, value both silence and words

Hey bar keep, gimme another shot of MAGICFACE. On second thought, make it a double.

Well said my sweet friend. And thank you for partaking in this project and sharing a little bit about yourself and your creativity with us all. Snaps for Sarah, ya'll *SNAPS*. This panel is totally unlike any panel in the travo collabo series- this is the first time a non-paint-like medium [nails and thread] have been incorporated on work surface. Which is bad ass and about time! Don't be afraid to experiment with some craziness on her artists... she's a tough and sturdy girl, she can handle it. Once again, much love to Sarah, muah!

Ok, time for some math. Let's see, we started in San Francisco, up at the VERY tip top point of the city [North Beach] and we scooted on down to the VERY bottom of the state to San Diego. That puts us at [and i'm doing door-to-door calculations here... it's not including travel routes of the delivery men or postal service] 499.39 miles! Juuuuuust a smidgen under 500, not bad.

As you are reading this, the panel is being projected out by non other than the man himself, Forest Stearns of Oaklandish CA. Brush up on your Forest literature and eye candy here and BE. EXCITED. B-E EXCITED.

The launching of a *NEW* panel is taking place this week, more info and art coming soon to a blog near you.

peace,

ELROD