Fabric and yarn waste are unavoidable parts of a textile studio practice: loom waste, yarn clippings, fabric scraps all pile up in the process of making. However many alternate uses we might come up with for these trimmings, there comes a point at which they are simply not very useful. However: disaggregate any material enough and it becomes a raw material in its own right. It is in this spirit that we began work on an in-house fiber recycling program this year. Working with designer/builder Erik Newman, we are fabricating a people-powered-fiber-shredding machine to process the scraps, off-cuts and fiber waste of our studio into a usable fluff byproduct: our goal is to develop infrastructure that deals with waste at the scale at which it is produced and to find a meaningful life for the materials that fall off the table in the process of making. Our shredding operation is currently in its prototype phase: for W.A.R.P. 2022, we invite proposals from artists who are interested in joining us on this shredding journey and working with the fluff byproduct that we produce. Possible directions: paper pulp, quilt batting, pillow-stuffing, composite-brick making, pinãta filling, ??????? Most scrap found in the studio is fair game: fabric scraps and offcuts, thrums (the lengths of thread left on the loom after the weaving is finished), garden cuttings and plant trimmings… If it’s an offcut, it’s available.
While in residence at TWM, the visiting artist will work independently on their own studio projects while simultaneously developing and leading collaborative workshops/projects with Westtown program participants (adults with developmental disabilities). Over the 6 weeks, the artist-in-residence will be asked to contribute about 12 hours of programming for Westtown participants. Visiting artists will have workspace of their own (size/shape to be determined based on artists’ needs, though it won’t be private or enclosed), access to a selection of tools and supplies (detailed list below), and 24-7 building access. We will work with the artist in residence to source materials and supplies for their workshops and the visiting artist will receive a $600 stipend. Collaborative teams are welcome to apply.
TO APPLY (deadline May 1)
Please send responses to the following questions (150-200 words each), along with 3-5 images of work and/or link to a portfolio or website to info@theweavingmill.com, with subject line <<<WARP 2022>>>
· Tell us about yourself: what does your studio practice look like? What are you interested in/looking for in your work? What have you been working on lately?
· What would you like to work on at TWM? Tell us about your goals for your own studio projects and how you imagine integrating those with workshops/projects for Westtown participants.
· It can be tough to talk about recycling & materials reuse without relying on words that have lost some of their oomph through repetition and overuse. But we really do want to know how you think about waste in your own studio practice and why you’re applying for this residency in particular. So, please tell us how you think about the creation of waste, its reintegration into a studio practice, the life-cycle of materials, without using the following words: sustainability, zero-waste, recycling, environment, eco-friendly, carbon-footprint…
What we can offer
Loom waste, yarn clippings, fabric scraps, fluff
A large parking lot, good for messy outdoor projects
A small but functional dye kitchen (including portable propane burners, large pots, utensils, scale, measuring tools, drying racks, water supply, some dye chemistry)
A floor loom (4-10 harness, depending on your needs, double warp beam available)
Knitting machine
Work surfaces
Excellent light
A vast supply of buttons
Yarn (much to choose from, but it might not be the yarn you dream about)
Fabric (much to choose from, but it might not be the fabric you dream about)
24-7 building access
$600 stipend
6 weeks, dates flexible June-July (starting no later than June 15)
Due to the nature of our collaborative work at Westtown Center, we will ask that the visiting artist show proof of vaccination before starting the residency.
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This year’s cycle generously supported by Designing a Better Chicago’s Design Impact Grant.
