In June, 2002 artist Lorin Kummer was given an ammonite fossil, sliced in half. From that, she began to create the concept of a healing work of art in the shape of a spiral to help restore hope that seemed to have been lost due to several tragic accidents and events in the Chelsea community.

As a volunteer and instructor at CCDA (Chelsea Center for the Development of the Arts) for 7 years, Lorin, an artist, teacher and trained therapist used art and creative expression for healing and well-being in her private practice and within several grant-sponsored classes and activities at CCA. In the fall of 2002, after attending a meeting sponsored by Michigan Association of Community Arts Agencies (MACAA) Community Partnership Grant for artists, Lorin learned of the CPAIR grant and began to formulate the idea for a community project towards healing and hope. Lorin brought her idea to CCDA and asked if they might be interested. Lorin, having worked on several other well received grant sponsored projects at CCDA, thought the grant might be a good fit.

November 2002: Lorin's idea began with a sketch. She then made a small prototype of an ammonite in mosaic glass, which was used as a sample in early meetings with community members. In January 2003 she pitched the idea to Ginger Sissom, director of the Chelsea Center for the Development of the Arts.

February 2003: Small spiral pins were made and sold to promote the idea throughout the community.

March, April, May: Fundraising, Grant Writing by Ginger and Lorin, the Village of Chelsea OK's use of land at Timber Town Park for Art Project, Studio Cleanup.

An old garage adjoining the C.C.D.A. was transformed into a working glass studio.

Everything was cleaned up inside

and out.

June 2003: A "cartoon" of the original drawing was transferred onto large sheets of paper.

The image was projected from above to the paper pattern below.
And we were ready to start cutting glass!

Next phase--->