Sarah Z Short

Driftway Studio

Hello Reader,

Every year since I was a child, I've gone to my favorite library book sale in July. Now, as an artist, I've developed a reliable ritual: I ignore the tables of contemporary titles and walk straight to the unpacked cardboard boxes stacked below the folding tables. These are the books the volunteers don't bother to unpack—the ones with spine damage, faded covers, and loose pages, which means they're perfect for me.

A few weeks ago, I found myself reaching into one of those boxes and pulling out old schoolbooks. One-room schoolhouse materials, from the look of them. The library sits on grounds where a one-room schoolhouse still stands—I volunteered there as a teenager, years ago, and played school with books just like the ones I brought home with me.

They're on my studio table now, waiting in a stack with all my other new finds.

This is where the work begins, though the beginning doesn't look like much. It's sitting with the materials. Looking at the texture of the pages and finding the small details, like the words written in the margins by the children who once learned from these books.

Which Way emerged from this same practice. Standing in front of found materials, uncertain which direction to move, but in the end, letting the texture, colors, and marks of the vintage pages make many of the decisions for me.

That's where I am with these one-room schoolhouse books. Not yet knowing which way but knowing that I'll figure it out.

Which Way

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Warmly,

Sarah

In-situ with The Walk in the City and Breaking

James Trail Driftway, West Kingston, RI 02892
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Making brushes, sticky notes and discoveries

Sarah Z Short Driftway Studio New Work For Artists Blog 2026 Workshops Hi Reader, Last week, I had a high school student, an artist, spend the day in my studio. I worked through all the lessons I have planned for my next in-person workshop, a mixed media class with many different activities. By the end of the day, through observation and conversation, I learned so much. My lesson plans are filled with sticky notes about modifications; I have a shopping list of supplies I didn't know I was low...

about 23 hours ago • 1 min read

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15 days ago • 1 min read

Follow the notes

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22 days ago • 1 min read