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We are proud to announce a solo show by our winter artist-in-residence Cynthia Alberto, the artist behind The Weaving Hand.
Throughout January and February 2021, and in the context of the Coronavirus pandemic, the artist developed Weaving to Heal, a community-centered residency/exhibition based on her long time project of the same name, in which she invites people to weave with her. Community members were asked to share messages of healing, hope, and renewal which were written on clay and were sewn on to a collaborative woven tapestry, which for the artist represents an act of community solidarity.
This act of solidarity comes from Alberto’s conception of weaving as a sort of therapy. The basis of her practice is her desire to share this healing medium, particularly with those who have experienced trauma. The Weaving to Heal tapestry was made out of zero waste materials donated by a catering company: fabric scraps that would be otherwise thrown in the landfield. The artist is thus not only aiming to heal her community, but also helping heal our Mother Earth.
During her residency at Artshack, Alberto also expanded her practice to explore weaving on clay objects, developing a body of work that includes her Clay Loom Series and her Funeral Dolls. This combination is, in her words, a beautiful marriage and a big celebration of two utilitarian practices that results in a new means of expression for her.
Alberto refers to weaving as her everyday vocabulary. Like other cumulative practices, weaving has a meditative quality, as well as a tradition anchored in community building. Countless hours are spent on the loom before a tapestry is done, and for this project in particular, these hours were shared with others, defying the global momentum of virtual connections, and bringing us back to an affective practice that allows us to imagine, despite everything, a future together.
From February 22nd to March 7th 2021, the artist will activate the exhibition by including funeral dolls, her Artshack students’ work, and a performance by her spirit animal the Llama.
We will be hosting a socially-distant reception on Saturday, February 27th, 11am-6pm.
An artist, designer, and founder of the Brooklyn-based Weaving and Healing arts studio Weaving Hand, Cynthia Alberto seeks to bridge traditional and contemporary weaving techniques, drawing inspiration from ancient communities of Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Her artwork, performances, and public weaving projects honor traditional and artisanal techniques while also incorporating unconventional materials and a zero-waste philosophy. Throughout her artwork and teaching, Alberto continuously explores the many intersections between weaving and healing, as well as craft and sustainability.
