In a bustling warehouse just east of downtown Phoenix, creativity and community intertwine as a unique art project takes shape. The project, led by Samantha Vo, the current artist-in-residence at Celebración Artística de las Américas (CALA), transforms a simple concept into a collective artistic journey.
A Loom of Connection
Vo’s project centers around a large circular steel loom, which she handcrafted, serving as the focal point for community engagement. On a Friday afternoon, the atmosphere in the studio is vibrant, with four women gathering around the loom, accompanied by a soundtrack of country, R&B, and huayños, a South American dance music. The scent of incense fills the air, while an array of colorful yarns, ropes, ribbons, and the necessary tools for weaving await their touch.
SAMANTHA VO: “The loom series is a project I started in November. It started off as a project to bring community together, and then quickly, as I was building the loom, realized it was a sculpture in itself. And so it’s become … I guess a performance piece where I’m inviting people to weave on the loom with me and create community, co-create together, and allow people to just slow down and work with their hands.”
Crafting Together
Among the participants is Karen Torres Breceda, a 21-year-old artist who finds the weaving process reminiscent of the Statue of Liberty’s hair. She has been contributing to the piece since the project’s inception, finding the experience both calming and challenging.
KAREN TORRES BRECEDA: “It kind of looks like the Statue of Liberty’s hair. Yes. [LAUGHS.] And I’m just weaving it through this piece right here that I’ve been working on since the first day.”
The studio remains open on Fridays from noon until 3 p.m., inviting community members to participate. The steel loom, standing four feet tall with 150 steel tabs, becomes a medium for expression, with participants creating without a fixed pattern.
Another participant, Zhara Negrete, a 30-year-old artist and actress, experiences weaving for the first time, drawing parallels to her work in ceramics.
ZHARA NEGRETE: “I really like it. … It reminds me a lot of ceramics, because it is very intricate, like when you’re hand-building something.”
Vo reflects on the project as a deeply personal and communal experience.
VO: “It’s been a very tender experience, having people come and weave on the, on the loom with me. The very first people that wove on it was my family … and so now inviting other people to come and learn how to weave has been really special, and I think a great way to build connections and for people to come together and experience working with their hands in the same way that I do in my practice.”
Next month, the completed tapestry will be displayed at CALA Alliance, culminating this collaborative endeavor.
—
Read More Arizona News
