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Woven Together: A Collaborative (Final Project)

“Woven Together” is an idea that came from many different inspirations. I was originally inspired by the quipus of the ancient Inca civilization – a record-keeping system that combines tying knots at different lengths and intervals with variations of color and lengths to communicate detailed information. Also noteworthy, that it could be easily transported and shared across hundreds of kilometers. This idea of having stories recorded in actual yarns, rather than written in words, haunted me.

I was also inspired by the diversity of my classmates and instructors: different cultures, races, ages, disciplines, interests - we even went to different campuses within the same University. But we were linked by the commonality that we were going to the Amazon, even though our goals and reasons for going varied greatly.

These ideas came together: to create a collaborative piece from yarns in the Amazon, that was easily transportable, and used yarns to represent a particular story, thought or feeling and share something about ourselves.

THE PROCESS:

My initial process was researching methods and materials. I found different styles and types of looms on which we could create the woven piece. My backup plan was to use the format of the Quipu system if creating a lightweight loom was not an option.

I scoured hardware and craft stores to find possible mediums on which to create the loom, which is how I came across the idea to use embroidery hoops. They are extremely lightweight, and I did initial testing to ensure that holes could be drilled along the edge without breaking the hoop. These holes were designed to space the warp yarns evenly (warp yarns are the stabilizing threads on a loom that run the length of fabric, while weft yarns – or fill yarns – weave in and out of the warp) to create fabric or tapestries.

After choosing embroidery hoops as the base of the woven project, I went on a mad search for the perfect yarns. Thicker yarns are a better choice because they have better coverage which makes them beginner-friendly (they hide the warp yarns better). I have a wool allergy, but I decided to ignore this as wool repels water and moisture and has natural antibacterial properties which I thought would come in handy in hot, humid Amazonia. I decided to try avoiding cottons, as they retain moisture and I also wanted to avoid synthetics as they tend to be less environmentally friendly.

Most of these plans were derailed because I did not realize how expensive yarns are (I don’t knit or crochet). I found that Michael’s Craft Store had the least expensive yarns and biggest selection of colors, so I focused my search at their multiple locations. I was also able to purchase a variety of sizes of embroidery hoops here, as I was not able to find any at local thrift stores.

The Long List - sorting colours & hues

Choosing the colors of yarns was hugely time consuming – I wanted the colors to work together, but also needed them to have individual meaning. When I think of the Amazon rainforest, I think of bright, saturated colors, of exotic flowers, vibrantly patterned butterflies and multi-colored birds. Below are the colors I chose and the initial meaning behind them:

The Short List

Teal: deep Amazon water

Turquoise: shallow Amazon water

Aqua Green: fresh rain

Lime Green: new jungle growth, toucans

Bright Green: trees which have seen centuries

Deep Blue: night sky, Colombian flag

Deep Red: Scarlet macaws, Colombian flag

Bright Pink: exaggeration of the river dolphins

Orange: tropical fruits

Bright Yellow: Sun, Colombian flag

I tried to maintain a balance between warm colors (reds, oranges, and yellows) and cool colors (blues, greens) and avoided purple altogether because it did not fit with the vision I was creating.

Before leaving home, I designed 6 different possible styles of looms, drilling holes at approximately 1 cm apart to leave enough room for the yarns to be easily woven by hand. I intended to test out one of the looms by weaving a solo project to ensure I had the right tools, but there was not enough time. I brought scissors to cut the yarns and an old crochet hook to help pull through yarns if it became too tightly woven, as well as a leather needle.

THE ADVENTURE

Embarking on my trip to Costa Rica was an important part of the journey towards creating “Woven Together”. Being submerged in a new culture was the perfect opportunity to learn a new form of art while experiencing new places, foods, plants and animals.

I spent the 2 weeks in Costa Rica being inspired by the bright, vibrant colors of the country’s culture, designs and plant life. On a long trip between Manuel Antonio and Monte Verde, I passed the 8 hours in the car weaving the first loom and fighting motion sickness. I found out quickly that weaving is a fine balance of tension – too much and the circle of the hoop would warp and become oval shaped, leaving the opposite side with slack yarns, but too little made it look sloppy.

My first loom with double, spiralling warps
A tropical Moth - so colourful and hairy

The vibrant fruit stands and Steed!

The final loom was completed on my birthday in La Fortuna, while we sat in our room watching the rain. With the window open, listening to the tropical storm, I got the tension of the warp yarns just right and decided this would be the loom I would use for the collaborative project.

At the airport in San Jose, I met the punk band ‘Tiger Army’, while waiting for my flight to Bogota. When I wasn’t hanging out with them, I was wrapping the yarns spools into balls to make them easier to carry and less likely to tangle.

The beginning of our trip in Bogota was full of experiences, but lacked free time (which was a good thing, since there was so much to see and do). I was not able to start the weaving, and instead took advantage of spending time with my roommates Kelly and Allyson, exploring our neighborhood and sending last messages home before leaving for Leticia.

The beautiful, bright colours of mochila bags in Bogota

When I saw the bright colours used in the traditional mochila bags, my yarn choices were validated. Also, while wandering the Salt Cathedral, I came across a cafe tucked away in the touristic shopping section that had beautiful, complicated woven tapestries hanging from the rock. Another sign I was going in the right direction.

Traditional looms at the Salt Cathedral - leather & pottery
Traditional looms at the Salt Cathedral - jute, wool & cording

On the last day in Bogota, I didn’t feel well rested and by the time we reached Leticia, I was decidedly sick. After a quick visit to the hospital, I was diagnosed with strep throat and quarantined to my bed, with a face mask and antibiotics. For the first 2 days in Calanoa, I really struggled to keep up with the group – I was feeling exhausted and a bit defeated. But this downtime created the perfect opportunity for the beginning of the story on the loom. I started with the navy blue, showing the struggle of feeling sick, moving into a lighter blue to represent getting better, and feeling lighter.

Sarah preparing her yarns

After this, I shared the loom with Kelli. She wove the colors of the sunset, representing our first boating adventure, floating through the jungle in the canoes on our way back to Calanoa from the group hike. She used pink for the sky and created a red, yellow and orange sun. Her idea incorporated the blues I had previously woven, and she said they were a reflection of the waters of the Amazon River.

Jun took over the loom after that and – in true Jun fashion – he began his own piece on the opposite side of the loom. Inspired by a traditional pattern of the Philippines, he used navy (in lieu of black), red and yellow (in lieu of white) to recreate the pattern. After this, Leanna and Keziah wove a series of blue yarns continuing below Jun’s that complemented his design.

The loom began to take on a life of its own. Many people approached me about contributing something. I also encouraged others and gave them an opportunity to try. I found that the most common response I received was “I don’t know how to weave”, which is a total adult approach to trying something new, compared to children who just go for it and aren’t worried about doing things incorrectly.

Chloe braided pink and red vertically down two warp threads, creating what looked like a series of hearts. It seemed perfectly fitting since she has a big heart and is full of genuine kindness. Sarah created a beautiful knotted braid of blue, green & orange, then wove it between two warp yarns vertically. I snapped a picture of her in deep concentration.

Sarah weaving on the loom
Jordan weaving intently

Allyson contributed a bright tangle of pink and orange yarns that wove vertically. Her color choice surprised me, which was appropriate because I learned many surprising and fun things about Allyson during our trip.

Jordan wove the colours of the scarlet macaw, using yellow, red and blue. She braided parts and it was the true Colombian addition. Jayme began a bright pink yarn, twisting and winding its way up the warp like a jungle vine (or strangling fig – although that analogy is not as pleasant). Then Farhad literally wove the Amazon into the project by using two leaves, wrapping them vertically down a warp thread and attaching the ends with bright green yarn.

Kari added three beautiful braids of pink, yellow and orange. She chose her favorite colors and when I asked why, she said they reminded her of the sunset. She attached the braids on one end at the back of the loom. To me, it represented her hesitation, hanging back, unsureness. She came a long way on the trip, and I moved the braids to the front of the loom, in honour of that.

Noah effortlessly added a bright patch of lime green and I love the way he approaches everything in life – with a can-do attitude. He was one of the few people who didn’t ask how to do it, but just went for it. Jay also wove a circle of lime green and when I asked him why he chose that color, he said it was his theme color – his room was painted lime green, he liked wearing lime green, and it reminded him of the Amazon.

Katrina making her braid

Katrina was the last contributor, and she added her piece on at Jay’s dinner party. We sat under the trees on the edge of the patio and shared stories from our trip – our favorite moments. Her highlight was visiting the village El Vergel and dancing in Maloka. She chose light blue, green and dark navy to represent the Amazon and her experience.

My hours spent choosing the right color palette paid off – they inspired my classmates and created brilliant representations of thoughts and memories.

FINISHING THE STORY

With this group of people, it was rewarding to be part of creating something that brought us together. Everyone had different ideas, techniques and colors. Having the loom offered me an opportunity to connect with my classmates – to learn more about their experiences, their lives, their personalities. The loom was a tool in which I was able to capture memories, both of my own, and of my cohort. It created moments of conversation, laughter, stories and interest.

Teal: the feeling of remoteness & solitude, the deep lagoon water, the cold shower water

Turquoise: the houses in Mocagua, the rhythm of days

Aqua Green: cheerful faces, skies with cotton ball clouds

Lime Green: new jungle growth, poison dart frogs, katydid leaf bug,

Bright Green: old growth, emeralds, fresh vegetables, small snake

Deep Blue: the night sky, waking up in the dark, the canoe trip in the lagoon

Deep Red: the painted canoes, the Calanoa sign

Bright Pink: sunsets, my backpack for adventures, mosquito bites, the rabies vaccine

Orange: passion fruits, mangos, the children’s clothing, the houses in Mocagua, the sunsets, the lifejackets from Calanoa

Bright Yellow: moments of joy, stars in the sky, fireflies by the river, the rising sun, the butterflies in Peru

The front of the loom
The side and back of the loom before trimming yarns

The vision of the loom evolved as it passed from hand to hand. I took a step back, as I had intended to do, to avoid influencing people’s decisions and offer guidance if they had any questions, or were not sure how to start or finish. “Woven Together” is a beautiful mess, with its unfinished portions, hanging threads and fraying yarns. I wouldn’t change it for anything because it is not mine to change, but belongs to the cohort as a collective effort.

A possible variation that could have been effective would be to invite each person to choose a single color that was their favorite, or that they thought represented their journey to the Amazon so that each ball of yarn was specific to a certain person, but could be used by anyone. This may have been challenging for the overall aesthetic of the loom, and potentially limiting in terms of variety of colour.

This is not only my first weaving experience, but also my first project or work of art that I have started, then invited others to contribute and collaborate on. It turned out far greater than I could have imagined, just like our adventure in Colombia.

One of the greatest lessons I learned from Diego and Marlene was their inherent desire of sharing. They share their home in the Amazon. Diego shares his art and creativity, his talent through films and music. Marlene shares her stories, and knowledge, her smile and energy. Together, they are a reminder that there is no limit to what we can give to others. Their lives are so rich, even though they endlessly give and give and give. This was the greatest thing I learned on this trip, and I hope to carry this spirit of giving and sharing with me, to incorporate this in my life as much as possible.

I trimmed off lose yarns from the back of the loom, and in addition to leftover yarn, I made a small pompom, bracelet or bookmark for each person to give something back. I want to thank everyone for their contributions to the loom and to our amazing adventures in the Amazon, and so I offer a piece of my project and a poem I wrote. This is my story, my creativity and my gratitude.

A thank you to my cohort with pompoms and a poem

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