The Circle of Cloth: Interweaving Stories from the Past and the Present
The art of weaving is linked to the essential human need to protect oneself from the weather, but also to adorn and showcase himself and his environment. It went on being practiced and developed throughout ancient times, the Byzantine and post-Byzantine periods, and continued into the 20thcentury. The prevalence of machines displaced the production of handwoven fabrics on looms. Now that traditional arts and techniques survive mainly as a pastime and leisure activity and subsequently are severely endangered, it is necessary to support in every way their preservation for future generations. The project "The circle of fabric: Interweaving stories from the past and the present" aims at the study, promotion and preservation of this basic domestic craftsmanship, an occupation of women from prehistory to the recent past. This course is outlined through testimonies and ancient artifacts that were excavated in Greece. The origin and importance for human societies, as well as the cross-cultural affinities in the countries of Europe are investigated. The combination of knowledge, techniques, myths, songs and stories from other places in Europe will highlight in the most eloquent way the cultural diversity of Europe. As part of the main celebratory venue of this project, there will be lectures accompanied by experimental workshops, thematic guided tours, an educational program, storytelling, weaving workshops, narratives, which will all be posted on the internet (website of the Ephorate of Antiquities of East Attica, www.efaanat.gr). In this site there will be posted description (in greek and English) of all artifacts exhibited in the Museum of Vravron that are connected with “the circle of weaving”. All participanting partners will have access to enrich the data. For the planning and implementation of the program, the Ephorate of Antiquities of Eastern Attica has already collaborated with scholars and handcrafters. - Dr. Kalliopi Sarri, archaeologist, independent researcher, associate of the Center for Textile Research, University of Copenhagen - AR TEX (Center for study and conservation of archaeological fabric). - The Association of Greek Textile Art "Elakateiai" - Theatrical amateur association "PERIAKTOI"
The project will take place mostly at the Archaeological Museum of Vravron, next to the Sanctuary of Artemis Vravronia. This particular Museum was chosen as the goddess Artemis was the patroness of the textile art (Artemis Chryselakatos, with the golden distaff). Inscriptions testify that precious textiles were dedicated in this sanctuary. Parts of the tools for spinning and weaving, such as spindle whorls for the distaff, epinetra and loomweights, that were also offered as dedications to the goddess, are actually displayed in the Museum. This program has been compiled with the cooperation of entities and volunteers. It includes a variety of activities aiming at bring visitors into contact with the primordial and timeless textile art, not so much in academic, but mostly in experiential ways. Because of this, it is possible to include small kids, pupils, foreigners and refugees.
1. Guided thematic tours in the Museum, focusing on exhibits that document the presence fabrics, textiles and textile tools.
2. Interactive presentation of all the stages of ancient weaving and the spinning and weaving tools involved. Through the observation of representations on ancient vases or wall paintings, comparing and by identifying them with the material provided in mobile museum kit and having the possibility to touch it, visitors come into contact with the stages of wool processing, the types of ancient looms, fabric production and tools.
3. Brief presentation (in PPT format) of the archaeological remains that shape our knowledge of textile art from prehistory to post-Byzantine times.
4. Storytelling and theatrical narration of myths related to weaving (e.g. of the goddess Athena and Arachne, the Spider).
5. An educational program entitled "Unraveling the myth of the... Spider" addressed to pupils of the Primary School that seeks a global and substantial approach to this traditional housecraft activity, weaving.
6. Tour of ten stations in the garden, as well as in the Museum exhibition, where participants will have the opportunity to touch, experiment and learn about the following:
Station 1: Waist Looms. Waist looms hanging on trees. The participants can observe weaving with this type of loom, the use of which is not confirmed archaeologically in Greece, but its use is assumed as this is among the first looms of humanity.
Station 2: Horizontal ground loom. Visitors can see and also experiment with the operation of this primitive and timeless type of loom which, also, due to its perishable construction materials, is not confirmed archaeologically.
Station 3: Visual aid material of the educational program "Unwinding the Spider's Web" (a small vertical loom, spindles, loon weights, distaffs with sheep's wool, an epinetron, photographs of greek vases with representations related to weaving and related activities.)
Station 4: Herbal dyes. Participants can see dried plants and other materials that were used in ancient times to dye threads, cloths dyed with these materials, and learn about the herbal dyeing process.
Station 5: Tablet weaving. Participants have the opportunity to weave with the technique of tablets to make belt designs inspired by Mycenaean wall paintings.
Station 6: Vertical loom with weights. Participants have the opportunity to see the warping process on a replica of an ancient vertical loom with clay loom weights.
Station 7: Vertical Loom. Participants can weave with the help of experienced weavers, members of the collaborating associations.
Station 8: Spinning. This station is placed next to the ancient marble stele of Artemis Nethousa, the Spinner (450 - 400 BC). An experience spinner presents the process of weaving in a dynamic coexistence and conversation with the ancient stele in which the goddess Artemis is represented weaving.
Station 9: Ancient Fabric. Visitors observe the procedure of studying fabrics represented on greek pottery and the experimental reproduction of furnishings: there are photographs of ancient vases with representations of ancient furniture and fabrics. A cushion is being woven in a frame, copying the motif from a fragmentary kylix (a drinking wine pot) found at Vravron and displayed in the nearby case.
Station 10: Looms in Byzantine and post-Byzantine times: Copies of a horizontal loom and spinning wheels which visitors can use to experiment by themselves.
7. Periodical exhibition: "TRACES OF WEAVING - Fabric impressions under the microscope". Metal objects covering a wide range of time from the Mycenaean era to Byzantine times that preserve textile remains on their surface. The presentation of the objects, usually kept in the storerooms, will take place in the anteroom of the Vravron Museum, used for such periodical projects. The event is supported with comparative material, projected (PowerPoint, video) on a screen located in the same area.
8. Workshops for children and families: - For families: Parents with children (and individual adults) can practice the interlacing of threads on waist looms and frames (sprang). - For children: modelling objects with clay inspired by weaving (spindles, spinning wheels, spider-shaped toy loom), while they can weave their own creations on improvised looms - spiders. This program can be repeated elsewhere, implemented in archaeological sites and Byzantine - post-Byzantine monuments of Attica (e.g. Archaeological Site of Kaisariani Monastery), with the demonstration of local archaeological finds as every case.
For the planning and implementation of the program, the Ephorate of Antiquities of Eastern Attica has already collaborated with scholars and handcrafters, and this collaboration will be extended to other interested parts and local associations.
Among those that have already collaborated there are:
- Dr. Kalliopi Sarri, archaeologist, https://ku-dk.academia.edu/KalliopeSarri
- ARTEX (Center for study and conservation of archaeological fabric). https://artextiles.org/en
- The Association of Greek Textile Art Helakateiai" https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064784406033
- Theatrical association "PERIAKTOI" https://www.periaktoi.gr/?fbclid=IwAR0rxlxrIMhZ5-EkrB52p7SJ46ICx5hoWXsDSeIUWdpJMASWoJUU416-044
The purpose of the program, is to strengthen the common European consciousness and the intercultural dialogue, by highlighting common and timeless practices, as well as to inform the public about the principles and the need to protect the cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible. Weaving is a basic activity in all ancient cultures. It is a form of domestic craftsmanship that appears in the early stages of human cultural evolution. The satisfaction of a common basic human need, clothing, everywhere, not only in Europe, but in the whole world, found a diverse cultural expression, while it evolved into a symbol of gender, age, profession, social status, of ideology. This highlights most eloquently that culture expressed variously in space and time, conveying cultural diversity intertwined with humanity. The experiential and hands-on character of the project allows the involvement of vulnerable people, kids, young pupils and minority groups of foreigners and refugees.