All That’s Weft: Living a Life interrupted
As an artist who works primarily in the medium of weaving, I am drawn to the transformative power of materials and the ability of art to embody lived experiences. In my work, I most often use found materials such as fiber scraps, paper, and natural fibers to create pieces that speak to the emotional complexities of lived human experiences.
The selection of materials is a delicate choice for me as it speaks to the idea of creating material embodiment between lived experience, memory, or observation and my relationship to it. Material embodiment is the process of giving physical form to intangible concepts, ideas, or emotions. When I create weavings that embody my lived experiences, I use the materials to externalize my internal understandings that might be difficult to express in words.
Weaving is a meditative process to me, one that requires me to surrender to my weaving and become one with it. As I choose each fiber, each piece of material, I embody my emotional connection between the materials and specific memory or idea. This process allows me to quiet my mind and to observe, record, reflect, and process.
Ultimately, my goal as an artist is to create pieces that embody the experiences of myself and those around me. Whether through medium, texture, color, or pattern, each piece tells a story that speaks of joys, sorrows, peace, struggles, and triumphs of the human experience. My hope is that my work will resonate with viewers on a personal level, inviting them to reflect on their own lived experiences and the ways in which we are all connected through shared space on this planet.
Thank you for viewing my work. Now please allow me to tell you a little more about me and this project. I am Jolanda Dranchak, an educator and artist who has worked in the Anoka community for a decade.
This series of weavings commenced as a form of self-therapy dealing with grief trifecta spanning over three years: the loss of my spouse, the global pandemic, and the political climate triggered PSTD. I chose a theme to focus on each month to anchor and process the emotions I was dealing with. Then I observed and recorded my experiences on a loom using materials that allowed me to convey my stories.
Below, you will find an explanation of each month’s theme. I tempt you to read these descriptions and review the weavings once again. As you do so, I invite you to ponder on what emotions each piece evokes in you. What do you remember about that month in the year 2021? What response do the colors, textures, and/or materials in each weaving evoke in you? What are the exciting areas in each piece? What do you like and what disturbs you? Why?