Giovanna Seminatore
textile designer
OBJECTIVES
Introduce students to the concept of the “local textile supply chain”, from the production of natural and vegetable fabrics and dying with local plants to weaving with traditional Sicilian methods. Under the guidance of Giovanna Seminatore – scenographer and driving force of 8mani (8 Hands), a weaving workshop located in Caltanissetta, in the heart of Sicily – participants will refine their own design skills, experimenting with some local techniques of domestic production ( “pezzara” and “coccio”) and adventuring into the discovery of a local cultural heritage that combines apparently repetitive movements, precise calculation, and creative verve. From the interweaving of warp and weft, the true nature of the fabric will shine through, a material made of moods, cultures, and age-old artisanal craft.
TIMING AND CONTENT
4/6-DAY WORKSHOP (DEPENDING ON THE CONTENTS)
Day 1
Brief introduction to weaving.
Viewing of looms and analysis of some handmade fabrics.
Creativity and design: definition of your own creative idea: measuring, techniques and yarns.
Preparation of the technical scheme.
Calculation and preparation of the warp.
Day 2
Mounting the warp on the loom.
Weaving of your own fabric following the design.
Day 3
Weaving of your own fabric following the design.
Day 4
Removing the fabric from the loom and final touches.
Definition of the technical scheme.
Creation and layout of the prototype.
Quality control.
