Mountains and rivers, creation at Penland

Last Friday, I left Penland School for Craft after taking a two-week weaving workshop. I applied for the scholarship last year with no expectations and was awarded a full scholarship. It was such a beautiful, shining place where I had the mental space and peace to reorient myself towards the light of creation.

This was my first experience in a session at a craft school and I was shocked by: the number of people, the variety in ages, and the amount of benefit I got from the experience. There were so, so, many people from all over the country! Lots from the South, and majority white. There were some older married couples that came together (wow, dream vacation) and many of the older crowd seemed to have existing relationships with the instructors and school. I was hugely impacted by the food- not having to decide what I cooked freed up so much mental space for my practice.

I was very reminded of going to summer camp as a teen, in the fleeting and intensified nature of the relationships I made and the excitement of all being together focused on the same thing. The studio was constantly buzzing and I never had an issue finding a friend to join me to abide by the buddy system. I swam in a river with new friends and saw a BEAR! Never underestimate the power of a good view out the window in aiding the creative process. I realize now how subtly depressing my bedroom window view is, with the barbed wire wall and parked cars. Looking at mountains every morning was stronger than coffee.

I feel so, so, incredibly lucky and blessed to have had that experience. I still can't believe it happened! I'm so proud of what I made there. I learned to wind a secondary warp, in this case a lampas warp- which allowed me to weave brocade imagery without it being visible from the back or interrupting my pattern. I still plan on finishing the ends with a thread wrapping technique and taking better photos.

Since being back in NYC I've had some great friend time and gotten back on track in my summer schedule. I saw Madi's work at a textiles show at Galerie Shibumi, what a wonderful show! I went back to Slow Burn on Tuesday and got my hands in some clay again. Not to be overly dramatic, but I feel rejuvenated. I think swimming in the river's moving water infused my body with a spirit I was deficient in. Thank god for retreats, mountains, and artists in communion!