Jo's Art Space

This 36” x 72” commissioned mixed-media artwork presents an interactive map designed to support strategic planning within the Diocese. Rooted in sustainability, the piece incorporates repurposed materials alongside movable components that encourage ongoing engagement and adaptability. 

Interactivity is achieved through the integration of magnets and a metal surface. This surface was constructed by cutting approximately 70 recycled cans—including soup and tomato cans—into small pieces, which were then carefully arranged and adhered to a cardboard base shaped to the map. A layer of tracing paper overlays the surface, defining the map’s contours while creating a unified, paintable layer that conceals the metal beneath. 

The Diocese’s three corridors are distinguished through color to reflect their unique landscapes: Berkshire appears in green, evoking its mountainous terrain; the Connecticut River Valley is rendered in blue, representing the river that runs north to south; and Worcester is depicted in yellow, symbolizing its diverse mix of urban, suburban, and rural environments. 

Images of churches, along with labels for priests and deacons, were designed with close attention to scale and placement. Each element was printed, mounted on cardboard, and sealed with a self-adhesive laminate to ensure durability and provide a writable surface. Magnets affixed to the reverse allow for easy repositioning, supporting the map’s evolving use. 

The map is mounted on a custom-built, framed hardboard base. Modeling paste adds texture suggestive of the region’s terrain while concealing the edges of a repurposed metal sheet sourced from a secondhand store. This section doubles as an additional magnetic, dry-erase surface. 

Decorative elements—including painted branches and leaves—reference the “Tree of Life” logo and the diocesan tagline, “Growing in God’s mission: We are in this together.” The diocesan shield was constructed primarily from recycled materials such as Styrofoam egg cartons, cereal boxes, tissue paper, and beads. 

Additional symbolic features include a staff and six stars. The staff, used to mark the bishop’s Sunday visitation, was crafted from repurposed materials including a metal hook from a broken hanger, gold tissue paper, cardboard, and a wooden dowel, with a magnet attached to the back. The six stars—repurposed from a previous project and embellished with shells from a broken necklace—represent the archdeacons of the diocesan corridors and can be repositioned as needed. 

Completed over the course of just over two months, this project was both technically challenging and creatively invigorating. It involved learning new tools and materials, experimenting with adhesives, and developing a deeper familiarity with the geography of Western Massachusetts. Building this piece from the ground up has been a deeply rewarding experience. 

Sincere thanks to Bishop Miguelina Howell for the opportunity to undertake this work, and for her support of both my artistic practice and my commitment to environmental sustainability.