LAURA TWO TINA is a blog about collaboration.

WE ARE TWO artists, friends, women, teachers, learners, thinkers, collaborators, writers, conversationalists, observers, explorers, co-authors…and so much more.

WHY SHARE OUR CONVERSATION ON THIS BLOG?

We could keep this conversation to ourselves, but like two little birds singing in harmony, we see the beauty and power of community. We wish to invite other people as collaborators with us on this journey.

Our intention here is to expand on our collaborative relationship, share our creative process, and invite others to our table. Together we impart unconditional support and a place to gather to discuss our central questions on life and art.  We hope you will too.

If you are here with us and interested in joining our conversation…please grab a cup of coffee, get cozy, and know that we welcome your unique perspective.  Although we may address our posts with ‘Dear Laura’ or ‘Dear Tina’ we are addressing them to you too.   Keep in mind that we are charting new territory here by giving everyone a peek at our personal lives and stories so please tread lightly.

HOW DID OUR COLLABORATION BEGIN?

We met at Goddard College while working on our MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts in 2006. Goddard College’s program is a unique model for progressive education which nurtures self-directed courses of academic study. As part of Laura and Tina’s thesis work, they developed a course of study exploring peer learning and co-authorship. This resulted in drawing exchanges, mixed media artwork sent through the mail, written and spoken conversations, collaborative book making, workshops presented, studio exchanges, and most recently this blog.

WHO ARE WE?

TINA HIRSIG is an interdisciplinary visual artist living and working in Charleston, South Carolina.  She explores her personal experiences as a woman, mother, and creator by using materials that are ordinary and mixed.  She works fluidly between painting, knitting, assemblage, screen-printing, collage, drawing, printmaking, photography and photographic transfers, among other media.  To learn more about her personal practice go to her website here:  www.tinahirsig.com

LAURA GAFFKE is an interdisciplinary visual artist living on the shoreline in CT. She works with mixed media painting techniques to express the joy found in intimate, everyday moments. She is interested in life’s conversation and what can be learned from soulful connections. You can learn more about her personal practice on her website http://www.lauragaffke.com/