LOOM360: Community-activated weaving project
Interactive ART to address the textile crisis
We are collecting end-of-life textiles and clothing from the community and event attendees. After being cut into strips, community members are invited to weave the rubbish ribbons into tapestries & rugs. The final pieces will be displayed at local schools, galleries, community spaces and partner organizations to promote creative reuse and educate the public on the textile waste crisis.
OUR GOAL: Divert 700 lbs of textile waste over the next year.
LOOM360 is made possible by Universal Yarn, Lion Brand Yarn, American Made Brand and Natural Investments. Thank you to our sponsors for your support!
See below for progress photos and stay tuned for photos of the final project out in the wild!
If you want to request a finished tapestry for your community space, pop up the installation at your location in the Chicagoland area or Michigan or if you want to sponsor the project - which allows us to pop up in more locations - please contact katy@nowhere-collective.com.
THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT: 4-sided loom to hand weave reclaimed textiles using structural ladders from Nowhere Collective’s previous art installation, The Last Garden. Re-re-use at it’s best! Initial concept drawing below:
LOOM360 IN ACTION!
September 11, 2024: LOOM360 on TOUR! We brought our community-activated art installation to Detroit, MI for a Month of Design event as part of a series of events highlighting the talent and innovation that makes Detroit a UNESCO City of Design. We were honored to pop up at ISAIC, an organization revolutionizing the textile and apparel industry through a human-centered approach to innovative manufacturing and training. Sitting across from ISAIC’s latest trash-smashing innovation, their felted loom, it was fun to watch attendees get creative and light up with the idea of using scraps to make art. We finished one large Trashy Tapestry (which was started at Rebuilding Exchange’s RE:fest) and donated it to ISAIC to hang in their space as a memento for the fun we had.
July 13: Popped up at Rebuilding Exchange RE:fest featuring local small businesses participating in the circular economy. It was a hotttt day so we were especially appreciative of the folks who weaved despite the temps. A good reminder for why we do what we do! We collaborated with BLISS JOY BULL who offered mending tutorials, Margaux Bijoux who taught tassel-making with textile, and Round 2 Craft Parties to make shrinky dink accessories with reclaimed #6 plastic. Of course Sili+Bells was onsite guiding the attendees in weaving technique.
May 1-3: Three day installation at h+h americas trade show catering to craft industry businesses and retailers. About 1,500 attendees came through the Show and with many hands contributing to the Trashy Tapestries, three of which were sponsored by Universal Yarn, Lion Brand Yarn, and American Made Brand. Plus big thanks to Artifact Bags for contributing twill tape for the warp threads.
April 27, 2024: Popped up at Gallagher Way outside Wrigley Field in conjunction with our Trashy Earth Market. Finished our first Trashy Tapestry. Hundreds of people stopped to contribute and admire the community’s artful progress. We were “blown away” by the enthusiasm and participation on this Windy April day!
April 20, 2024: Test run in the wild at Oakbrook Center for the Mini Trashy Earth Market. Turns out we built a jungle gym with money bars! Glad we had kids come through to see the ladders put to their full potential and limits. But it was mostly fun to see folks get creative with their weaving. Despite the chilly temps!
February - April 2024: Katy, Janara, Nandi setting up the Warp threads and starting a test weaving on the LOOM360 in progress.
Warp (vertical) threads found salvaged at Rebuilding Exchange and donated by Artifact Bags. Weft (horizontal) threads cut from reclaimed t-shirts and scrap fabric.
