Tally Tripp

The story cloth depicts significant life events and can help express and contain traumatic experiences. Some examples include the powerful appliqued tapestries (arpilleras) of Chile, the elaborate Hmong textiles from Southeast Asia, the African printed ankara cloth, the ‘troubles’ textiles of Northern Ireland, and traditional patchwork quilts from Native and African American cultures. Incorporating a diverse range of artistic styles, materials and techniques, the common denominator in these creations is that trauma narratives can be expressed, seen, heard and remembered. Typically, the story cloth is created in a group setting that lends an affirming experience to the artist’s handiwork.

This workshop will provide an opportunity to engage in a story cloth ‘circle’ where participants will work individually and collectively with an assortment of textiles and threads in a range of color, pattern and texture. We will practice basic meditative stitching techniques designed to facilitate a mindful and regulated response to evocative material. Using several prepared fabric swatches, we will experiment with story cloth design and create miniature personal tableaus. Participants are encouraged to bring small scraps of fabric or embellishments (beads, buttons, etc.) to further personalize their artwork. There will be time for questions throughout the workshop and an opportunity for sharing the personal and/or collective stories that may arise.