For the last three weeks I've been all about Complex Wevaer's Seminars & HGA's Convergence! Now that it's the end of the wild journey into weaving I suppose it's time to write about it so I don't forget the big adventures.Of course the first thing for any weaving outing is getting your loom warped! At the end of the 2 week event I would be taking Linda Hartshorn's class on parallel weaving so I had to beam a very colorful warp onto my travel loom before the big trip. ,For me this is a wild warp! I do monochromatic, or analogous colors, none of this bright, cross the color wheel type of stuff. Which meant I was very nervous about how this would turn out, and of course I had to wait two whole weeks to find out!! Well, I wound all my bobbins and got all my tools prepped so it was finally time to head to Knoxville, TN. As soon as I landed I went to the hotel restaurant and had a nice chuckle as I looked at the menu. Only in the south can you get pork rinds, creamed collards, mash, and cheddar grits (which is delicious). While having a laugh at this a couple of people sat next to me at the bar and they were here for the Complex Weaver's Seminar! We had a wonderful chat, couldn't have met better people right off the bat. I don't want to give out too many names on the internet but the one lady sitting next to me was Brenda Gibson and she was showing me her triple weave silk scarf. I melted at the feel of this scarf. How could a triple weave fabric have so much drape and feel light! Turns out I'm now a huge fan of 60/2 silk yarn! Whenever I figure out how to make money again that will be at the top of my shopping list. After dinner and a quick change it was off to the Complexity opening exhibit party. They had shuttles going there and back every 15 minutes so I hopped on one and there I was. When I arrived a wonderful CW hostess greeted me and invited me inside to a building filled with fiber art! The upstairs held the local guilds exhibit, and the downstairs was Complexity with a little tapestry display on the side. Downstairs I went to see all the amazing work entered into the juried show. ( Complexity Exhibition online visible here until August 31st, 2022) While munching on the delicious macaroons and drinking their Pinot Noir I ran into Robyn Spady. Since I have been reading all of her Heddlecraft editions, and I like her methodical approach to weaving structure, I was very excited to get to meet her in person. So of course I was probably the oddest person she ran into. Basically, she turned around, I instantly started talking, then oh right she has no idea who I am, so I introduce myself. Then it got awkward, we chatted beautiful WA state, it got awkward again, and then she said something like happy weaving and walked away. Ha! After that, I continued to enjoy all of the beautiful pieces up close and personal. The jacquard pieces are, to me, in a different category of weaving but they were fun to inspect and see how the artist chose their patterning in the different areas to create an image. I guess very similar to a painting and how the brush strokes and color lead the viewer on an optical adventure. Wandering around the room, these turned out to be my favorite pieces: Jeremy had a wonderful display of technique, color work, and an inviting playful spirit that I enjoyed. I was also staring at it long enough that Rachel, who I had met at the bar, came over and started chatting about the doubleweave technique he was using. Considering both of us seem to be very playful spirits it is no wonder we both gravitated towards this work. Alice's piece caught my eye because of the amazing changes that are constantly happening all on a 16 shaft loom. The interlacement of threads never wants to stop changing vertically or horizontally! Molly’s piece was difficult for me at first, I tend to like structure and categories, and this piece is neither but it grew on me as I proceeded around the room. Then before I left I took one last peak and I finally saw the eye, then the form, then the colors, then it came to life for me. When walking around the room from different angles you cannot see the human form, but you do see a floating a image that catches your eye. The piece itself is semi see-through so it takes on the surrounding environment as apart of its appeal. Very amazing self reflection piece done in fiber art! I’m glad I finally stopped in front of it to appreciate it. Melanie’s piece was just wild, another playful piece. Completely 3D held in place with perfectly placed woven strands. Ivy’s piece was great with color play in the pattern, as well as the increasing/decreasing windows onto the Autumn Ferns. Very fun to stare at in person. I finally stopped in front of a jacquard piece and started to fall in love even though my pre-assumptions on jacquards, as I was staring at it enjoying the blank space and color they called everyone over for a brief reception and to hand out of awards. So I took a quick picture of it and headed over to the speaker. While listening to the awards I learned the piece I had fallen in love with was done by Su Butler and was inspired by William Morris who was a very strong inspiration for me when I started weaving. Before I left the exhibit I got to meet Jennifer Moore. One graceful and elegant person! I didn’t talk that much to her, I just said I had taken her class online to which she didn’t remember me (no surprise how many people took her online class over COVID!!) but her grace and subtle cues and ideas are just wonderful to be around. Finally, I grabbed 3 more macaroons and decided to walk back to the hotel instead of taking the free buses. On the way back I got to see the downtown Knoxville scene, and some vibrant colored flowers! Gay st seems to be where all the restaurants and ice cream places are, which there are a lot of ice cream shops! I also kept stumbling upon homeless people asking for change, and since I had macaroons they got a macaroon. Which meant by the time I got back to the hotel there were no more for me, but alas after eating 6 while I was there I probably didn’t need any more! The next day it was time for the Seminar! After a groggy breakfast with some more fabulous weavers I went to Robyn Spady’s class on the 'Versatility of Double Two-Tie' from 9am- 11am. It basically reinforced my understanding of the way the threading, tie-up, and treadling all work separately to form the weaving structures. In this class she demonstrated that the double two tie threading can be used for many different structures when you change the tie up and treadling. Which is very similar to what I am doing with Bonnie Inouye’s book ‘Exploring Multishaft Design’ where I am using a straight draw threading and then changing my tie-up and treadling to get a myriad of designs. In this class it was just using a Double two-Tie for threading instead of a straight draw. Then it was time for lunch and Bob Keates’ (Fiberworks author) tribute to his wife Ingrid Boesel who had recently passed away. He did a wonderful job presenting her life and the work she did in weaving. This lucky lady had a husband who could code software, and thus came up with a very helpful platform to help her realize her ideas on the computer. Following that it was nap time and then off to Alice Schlien’s class ‘Amalgamation Celebration’ which turns out was to be via Zoom. I thought I was done with that crap having traveled 2000 miles but whatever. When I got to the class turns out her electricity was out and the internet was out so that class didn’t happen. Instead she recorded her lecture and sent it out via email to those who were signed up, I still have yet to watch it because there has never been a dull moment in the last 2 weeks! Since the class was basically canceled I snuck over to the Value of Value class with Nordling. She showed us how to contemplate the feeling of an image. She took two images side by side with similar colors prevalent in both (ex: browns, reds, greens) but in one the colors were close in value and in the other the values were far apart in value. Then looking at the images side by side you could really feel a difference in the picture. The picture with high contrast (large value change) was exciting, bold, strong while the low contrast one (small value change) was subtle, mystical, quiet. I guess it’s something that is explained in many books but it was wonderful to see it on the screen and compare them with 30 other people in a room. Then it was time for study group meetings. I've been interested in the group Sixteens so I went there and guess who the leader is, Brenda Gibson! After looking through their samples from the past three years and getting an idea for the group I definitely want to join. Again, there are some amazing artists in Complex Weaver's. For dinner we listened to Phyills Alvic's 'Weavers of Appalachia' presented by her friend since she was unable to make it. Followed by the fashion show, with some amazing pieces! That evening I got to sit next to some awesome people from Colorado and St Louis. The people from St Louis had my same humor so we sat there well into the evening laughing. Finally, they were shutting down the dinner hall and we had to go, so I went outside to walk around the water feature and saw this beautiful scene. The next day I decided to skip going to Robyn Spady's class 'Two sides to the same cloth' and go and see Brenda Gibson's class since we apparently shared a lot of the same interests. Her class 'Satin into the light' was very helpful in how to transition colors in a slow gradient as well as how to incorporate Photoshop and Fiberworks. For lunch we had Nancy Hoskins talk about her studies with Egyptian cloth, followed by getting to touch all of her samples. Since I waited until the crowd calmed down I got to chat with Nancy. And boy did I sound like a uneducated goof. She is very knowledgeable about the history of Egypt and their trade routes. These trades routes would have included the colors and materials they had for making cloth during the time she is studying. Anyway, I saw her flyer on the table and knowing how much fun Sheila O'Hara had in Egypt I took a quick pic just in case I can figure out how to go. Following lunch was Stacy Harvey-Brown’s ‘Optical Effects with Shadow Weave & Deflected Double Weave.' Where I sat at the front of the class and Bob Keates sat right next to me!!! As a budding student in computer science I got to ask him all sorts of questions about how he coded/codes Fiberworks. It is based on C++ and back in the day he had to use assembly language! The guy is extremely smart and well versed in coding so he was probably laughing about who this newbie was but that’s okay I got to pick his brain and enjoyed every minute of it! I also asked him if he was every hiring and of course the answer was no and he's going to be retiring soon. Bummer! Anyway, Stacy’s class was definitely hard for me to follow but I love the concepts and where she is going with her work so I signed up for her email and hopefully will be on the list when she sells her book about optical illusions in fabric. I can’t wait, since I love optical illusions! Then it was time for dinner and the marketplace and though I was amazingly tired I stayed and looked at Susan DuBois's silks (the awesome lady who runs Trenway Silks). Which she had some Camel/Silk yarn that was beautiful and I couldn’t pass up. I don’t think it will become the camel coat I've always wanted but it will be a great start! CW also released the brand new Complex Weaver’s book ‘Eight Shafts: Beyond the Beginning’ so I got in line and I purchased this a compilation book containing old CW Journals! And of course being tired and out of it that is when the photographer decided to get my picture! Ugh! So I look like a run over tubby Hufflepuff in the image and it’s up on CW’s website, go figure. After buying my 60% Camel 40% Silk 30/2 yarn from Susan I ran into John Malarkey and got to laugh the evening away, again, until they kicked us out. Turns out sci fi nerds also populate the weaving community! Finally, I made it back to my room where regardless of how tired I was I stayed up and read through three on the CW journals in my new book. The final day for the CW seminar was Wednesday. That morning I took a class with Jannie Taylor and learned about lift plans and some great features on Weavepoint. Weavepoint is what I have been using for the 24 shaft loom (Blossom), so learning some of the tricks with Jannie was delightful! Also, I now have great appreciation for Jannie Taylor as a teacher! Wow is she good. Now if I can only make some money to go over to AVL in Chico, Ca to take more of her classes! After Jannie's class I ran over to the Knoxville farmer's market for some produce since HGA wasn't going to provide food. Then I made it back in time for lunch and to watch the closing presentation with Marg Coe and Marian Stubinesky. Then it was off to a hotel down the street since the Marriott was full for the HGA conference. Lucky for me the town has a free trolley system between the hotels so I didn't have to drag two bags and a loom across 3 blocks. OMG! and the new hotel was adorable! The Cumberland Inn was once a textile factory so all of the art in the building is textile based, they even fold their towels into tailored menswear. After the CW Seminars there was a whole day to explore Knoxville. Susan, a lady I ended up sitting with for meals all the time, took me to go see the botanical gardens. Which is about the only place I took lots of pictures. When we got there our first sighting was of this traveling bundle of sticks, guess it was our southern gentleman escort, ha! Lots of strange looking bugs were everywhere! Plus, bumblebees. I feel like you can see the bumblebees eyes in the picture on the left and then apparently he and his friend decided to moon us, obviously we were those tourists that took too many pictures! After our morning foray she dropped me back at the hotel. Where I rested and then got bored so I went on an adventure. Turns out there was a city trail down to the Tennessee river. Where I met this turtle, poor guys has to swim in a lot of trash, but I got to chill with him in the summer sun for a bit. Then if you keep walking there is a Riverboat and a path back up into the city. Being the nerd that I am I skipped the riverboat and went into town to the Knoxville library where I found a couple of books that interested me. Then I checked out a local pub, got my haircut, and met up with a friend I had only ever seen during Zoom lectures. Then it was time to head back and get ready for the big show!
Since this post is already long enough, we'll put Convergence in its own post.
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