Service Description

Weave your own roots. To be or not to be combined with an island as I have done in previous works. This class is specifically about weaving roots. I’ll share my techniques and ideas for weaving your own varied root forms. I think of my own self and life as a kind of floating island, so I take my roots with me wherever I go. There is a 2019 poem by Roger Robinson called 'A Portable Paradise' which articulates in words how I feel so I am grateful to him for writing it - the best kind of poetry just says what you already think and feel but a professional has given it form. Look it up, it's published by Peepal Press. He talks about how his grandmother advised him to have a portable paradise in his pocket at all times for a sense of home and to take it out of his pocket wherever he found himself so he could feel a sense of wonder anywhere. That's it! I am constantly thinking of how to allow my works to spill over into the margin and not be contained within boxes, which is a boring way to work and live. Just drag it all around with you, always, and embrace hairy paintings. This is a 4-part mini series on tapestry hand weaving. I have used hand weaving extensively in previous work and studied Medieval and kilim tapestry hand weaving techniques. and we can also combine it with bookbinding skills. Hand weaving is a ‘dry’ and ancient artform, suited to small, clean and domestic spaces. This is a basic introduction to the form and you will need some specific materials for this class - some you will have already. A loom/frame: We can make one. I have used everything from a canvas frame or other frame around the house to backs of chairs to entire large clothes rails to professionally made handlooms. A warp: use cotton warp. A weft: use cotton or linen wool for now. We’ll talk about the relationship of textiles to text and machines and the fabric of the universe, Sadie Plant, the binary, warp and weft and over and under and 0s and 1s. Materials list here (copy/paste): https://www.miniaturepaintingforum.com/forum/resources/weaving-materials-list