Plans for making a counter-balance loom

(click the image to get the full-size version)
I have been working on this for months, but now that I will be building one at this residency I figured it was time to formalize all my scribblings into something anyone could follow… I may try to make a video to support it, and develop a make-your-own-reed method too! Well, thanks for your support!

Casco Projects and the loom

Maybe you will be in or around Utrecht, Netherlands sometime this month? I will be doing an open weaving workshop in the new Residency of Casco Projects from the 6th to the 18th. Actually the first few days I will be building the loom. Here is their description of the project.

Flensburg Movie by Thomas van de Hees

click the picture to go to his flickr page with the mini-documentary this University of Flensburg Student made while I was there last week. It concerns the semester weaving project I introduced when I visited in November last week, which we wrapped up on that day. This weekend I go to Utrecht for 15 days to weave in a small residency with Casco Projects! Trying to stay focused, checking things off of the list, but as usual string comes first!

Flensburg Group Weaving!

SS103711, originally uploaded by Mr. Tatiana.

Awesome communally woven blanket made in Herr Schüttz’ class at the Universität Flensburg instead of taking notes in his textiles lectures!

Berlin Weaving Expo at the Superstore, Mitte! Tonight!

I will be weaving from 3-10ish tonight around the corner from my new apartment here in Mitte… here is what they wrote about it, I hope to see you there! it’s on Almstaststrasse, here

SUPERSTORE PRESENTS WEAVING ACTION BY TRAVIS MEINOLF!
SATURDAY 23rd of JANUARY 2010 from 13h – 22h

Come and share a drink with Travis, Asta, Yam and David at Superstore from 18-22h.

Travis will install his extra deluxe weaving loom in our shop on saturday the 23rd of january.
He will be creating his famous Spirit Scarves and asks you to come with plenty of inspiration and excitement. Watch Travis and learn his weaving techniques or help him design new patterns and color schemes.

Travis moved to Berlin last year from San Francisco. He´s gained recognition for himself in Berlin as ACTION WEAVER! He has brought his funky west coast style to Europe and is now making his super kool amazing textiles here. He is also traveling Europe with his weaving loom and exhibiting in various galleries. Travis is forever creating his magical Spirit scarves for everyone to enjoy!

********************************************************************************************************************************************************
SUPERSTORE IS ALSO PARTICIPATING IN THE FOLLOWING EVENT, COME AND SAY HELLO IN EITHER MITTER OR XBERG.

YSL VINTAGE GUERILLAS PRESENT POPUP SHOWROOM SPECIAL @ BAR LUZIA
JANUARY 23RD FROM 2-10PM @ LUZIA BAR Oranienstrasse 34 BERLIN XBERG

Stylists, young designers and artists gather together for special occassions in appartments, squad houses, clubs, and so on to sell their fashion and designer vintage and have a good time. We also invite dj friends over to play good disco.

This time:
SPECIAL COLLABORATION FOR FASHION WEEK WITH:

SUPERSTORE

http://www.superstoreberlin.com

DAS NEUE SCHWARZ

http://dasneueschwarz.de/shop/

and vintage selection by DIMITRI DERMENDJIEV, PAULA and NADJA NEBAS

Good disco tunes and a fancy music arrangement by VINTAGE GUERILLA’s friends:

EMIL DOESN’T DRIVE
JEFFREY SFIRE
STEFAN BOTEV
MR. VANDERLEY

Saturstag

Saturstag, originally uploaded by Mr. Tatiana.

New, smaller, collapsible loom in development today! Will be unveiled at the eco-whatever fashion thingy this week here in Berlin, and next saturday at the Superstore here in Mitte! Yes, it will fit through doors and hopefully on the train! One day, I hope to own a drill.
More news sometime soon! Check flickr for projects I am documenting w/o blogging, for now…

One issue remaining before I go into full production…

Diagonal! I will try drilling all the holes at once next time. Making this one I really learned a lot!

Teaching Philosophy…comments welcome

Pedagogy has been the main thrust of my art practice since 2002. I have taught graphic/product design, woodworking, and mathematics, in addition to my specialty, textile practices. In the field of textiles, I have extensive knowledge of weaving techniques and apparatus, as well as off-loom yarnwork such as card- and backstrap-weaving, knitting and crochet. I am also versed in surface design and have taught screen-printing and shibori methods, and in each one of these cases I have found that the subject matter is the key to a development of more philosophical dialogues between myself and the group I teach. While I have the technical knowledge, and pass it on in a methodical, easy to follow way, since most of these operations are time-consuming and contain repetitive actions, the group is left with time to discuss the implications of the work. Experiencing each student’s perspective, I benefit as a teacher in two major ways. First, by approaching without preconceptions I gain new insight into the processes, which I can bring to the next group or to my next personal project. Second, by admitting the students that though I am a master craftsman passing on my skill, I remain a man with much to learn, they become more receptive to attempting projects without fear, and take on practices as their own much more quickly than if I presented it from a position of absolute authority.

Museum of Craft and Folk Art!

DSC03470, originally uploaded by Museum of Craft & Folk Art.

The Open Source Embroidery show in San Francisco is still going strong! Looks like the weaving installation is kickin’, and the band is laying down some solid grooves!
photo by MOCFA

MOCFA show and SF Foundation Matching Grant

As you may know there was a matching grant in place from the San Francisco Foundation for $3,500 attached to the Museum of Craft and Folk Art show that opened in October, 2009. The Museum Staff and I reached out to private arts donors, to give to the Museum in my name for the duration of the show, and the SF Foundation doubled that sum, to include my commission for the original interactive installation I conceived for that show, ‘Open Source Embroidery’. Well I am really happy to announce that we made the match, and to thank Andy, Anne, Elizabeth, Erin, Natasha, Sharon, and everyone else whose contributions and support make my work and subsistence possible. Also especially thanks to Juanita, Betsy, Kpoene, and everyone in the Museum offices, who make it so fun to be there, and so productive! Thank you, too! I think I might be able to get an apartment in America again!