INTERACTIVE WEAVES
Interactive Weaves was an Arts Council Funded Project I designed, planned and created over two years to make collaborative art with 21 Hotwalls Studios Artists and the public. Seven woven installations were created during the summer of 2021 outside in Old Portsmouth using local waste materials of paper, textile, plastic and plants. Hotwalls Artists ran free workshops or life-painted the events. Over 500 people contributed to the artworks which were exhibited in the Historic Round Tower and Portsmouth Cathedral. I also worked with research partner University of Portsmouth, whose student wrote her Geography dissertation on my project.
The Interactive Weaves film has been screened at Pallant House Gallery, John Hansard Gallery, Portsmouth Guildhall Big Screen, The Historic Round Tower, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth Cathedral and Cumberland House. The paper weave is now in the Portsmouth Museum Collections and is on display in Cumberland House alongside the film.
Thank you to the support of Arts Council England, Portsmouth City Council, Hotwalls Studios and John Hansard Gallery.
Film and Photographs by Alex Fountain
The public weaving waste plants from the local area and leaving handwritten messages
Interactive Weave Tepee at Victorious Festival 2021, over 200 people wove with plants and left messages over the weekend
“This type of community engagement is essential in the crumbling world we are currently living in. The more community events like this that people are able to actually take part in, the more opportunity there is to provide alternative activities to consumerism, to educate people in sustainable practice and build stronger and more resilient communities”
Hotwalls Artists life painted the live weaving events outside the studios
Nearly 900 people attended the exhibition, almost a person a minute in the Historic Round Tower, Old Portsmouth. The Interactive Weaves Exhibition displayed artworks, captured artist and public voices, community engagement and awareness of sustainability.
The quote tree had messages of ideas, reflections and thoughts from the public on the project
“These textile skills have been passed down generations and need to be kept alive. Society in general has lost touch with our environment and the importance of self-expression. Being present in the moment in a mindful way by being creative is so good for mental health and meditation is not everyone’s cup of tea, so these creative practices are another way to tap into that state of mind”
Exhibition Attendees watching the Interactive Weaves Film, September 2021
Artist Talk, Interactive Weaves in the City
Artist Panel Talk with myself, Lynne Dick (Engagement and Learning at John Hansard Gallery), Dr Carol Ekinsmyth (Georgraphy Principle Lecturer, University of Portsmouth) and Allan Brown (Nettle Textile Artist). We discussed topics on community, sustainability, and the Interactive Weaves project. The talk was attended by 30 people including RCA smart textile lecturer who is interested in my future projects and practice.
Artist Talk in Portsmouth Cathedral, September 2021
Interactive Weaves Exhibition at Portsmouth Cathedral, September to October 2021
“This project is more than `textiles` with Alice driving the community engagement. The hand-written messages, chit-chat and exchanging of contact details between strangers working on a joint art piece is uplifting to hear. The fact that young children are also inspired to have a go is wonderful. I believe there is an opportunity to take this further perhaps with some school involvement and Alice`s ideas for growing flax in the City of Portsmouth to be turned into weaving materials is an interesting one. The led format of `conversation` between the two makers and project researcher worked well. I personally now wish to own a drop spindle and have a go with my own home-grown nettles and to spread the word to other makers.”
Pause, Reflect, Create Project - 2021
I was commissioned by Portsmouth City Council and Portsmouth Museum to create a piece of textile that reflected the pandemic. My piece called within was handwoven and embroidered with hand cut copper. The commission is now a permanent part of Portsmouth Museums Collections.
John Hansard Gallery - Community Takeover, 2022
From Soil to Cloth pilot project with nettle textile artist Allan Brown. Where do your clothes come from? Who made them? What is their true cost? We ran demonstrations, fibre workshops and discussions on alternative homegrown textiles. I wove on my 54 year old George Wood Loom in Gallery 1.
George Wood Loom at John Hansard Gallery April 2022, Photograph by Nosa Malcolm
Pilot micro flax crop growing in Portsmouth Museum’s Garden 2022
Sky and Earth an Exhibition 2023
A collaborative exploration of the elements, materials and connection through weaving and clay with artist Hollie Thornley. An Exhibition of a new collection of work, demonstrations, workshops and artist sonorous portraits by Tomas Arreigota.
From Soil to Cloth Project 2022-Present
Developing your creative practice grant from Arts Council England (2022-2024) to establish Urban Textile Gardens in Portsmouth, with a new collection of work and environmental research. Growing flax for linen and natural dyes in public and community gardens. The project was supported by John Hansard Gallery and University of Southampton. The exhibition in September 2023 had over 800 people in 17 hours.
Photographs by Karl Bailey
Exhibition in the Historic Round Tower, September 2023. Photograph by Karl Bailey