SUMMER 2022
One of my great passions related to art is working with the community. In my country Colombia I have led projects with women, children and the Venezuelan migrant community. I have the desire to carry out a community-based project here in Canada entitled "Wovment" (Women - Weaving - Movement). I intend to connect with a community of women through weaving, as I consider weaving as a social network as well, where by sharing knowledge and weaving collectively, an exchange of experiences is generated, which allows to promote positive and comforting sensations, as well as feeling included in the community.
The initial idea that I have at the moment is to create a collective piece of macrame, which will be the basis (as a canvas) for a later video projection of color patterns with videos. These videos will be the result of interaction with the community, generating a macro composition from something micro, such as each knot (each video) that makes up the great piece. The different videos and patterns will play simultaneously along with a sound composition. This is the initial idea, which will probably be transformed with the inclusion of the community.
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About my research and creative process:
Reference Image for
the collective
macramé piece
Video projection of color patterns on the macrame piece, these patterns will be changing
Video projection of videos on the color patterns on the macrame piece. These videos will be played simultaneously while the color patterns are changing. Here I used some personal photos as reference just to provide the idea.
Approaches to color patterns.
Designs can be made with different sizes, different scales and different speeds
This Summer, I took a leave of absence from the University, but I had the opportunity of being invited to lead an art workshop at Art-Windsor Essex (AWE). I took this opportunity as the perfect occasion to apply the methodology I have in mind regarding this idea. I developed the workshop: "TechnoMacrame: an approach to macrame and technology". It was a space in the Windsor Art Gallery where every Saturday during the month of July 2022 I gave classes and I could interact with different people. It was a space open to the public in general and free for maximum inclusion of the community.
The development of the classes was theoretical/practical. We started with an introduction to macrame, types, different textile applications, variety of yarns and wools. Then, types of knots, basic knots, and combinations. I noticed that it is not an easy process to learn, as we had to practice a lot during all the classes for the students to understand the concept and be able to apply it in their creations. Each student made their macrame pieces with the desired colors and knots, and finally, we created together the collective macrame piece, which was to scale in relation to my initial idea which is large scale.
The students showed interest in each class and the dynamics were very pleasant. Children, adults, and older people attended. This space gave me the possibility of connecting with others through my work as a weaver and artist, as well as having the experience of teaching in another context, in another country, and testing how viable my idea was.
Finally, this was the result of the workshop and our collective work:
I will continue to keep in mind the realization of this idea as I initially considered it, I will probably develop it in the future.
Special thanks to Sophie Hinch and Art-Windsor Essex for the opportunity!
