I created 100 Woven drawings in 100 Days

My favorite project, explained.

In the beginning of December, I embarked on a 100 day weaving challenge, where I committed to making one weaving on a portable frame loom. I initially thought of doing something like this after I attended an art residency with Thread Caravan in Oaxaca in August. There, I had tried to make 30 weavings in 30 days, but I did not complete the goal, as I turned more of my attention to learning about textiles processes in the area rather than completing my own art. It was the most incredible way to be informed and inspired, and when I returned home, I thought I would re-commit to the challenge, but make it for a longer duration. Extending the project over the course of several months would offer more versatility. 

Each day I arrived at the loom with little expectation, and instead I granted myself permission to play and experiment. I will admit, it was quite challenging at times to complete a weaving each day, waking up at 5am before going to work became routine. Sometimes I rushed, and felt it was hard to feel satisfied with the end result... I felt forced to post it on social media to keep up with the challenge. But overall, I felt motivated to make new artworks with different colors, textures, patterns and forms that resulted. I let go of perfection in the process and became pleasantly surprised with how many creative triumphs transpired.

This 100 Day project was liberating in many ways. This project has inspired me to develop distinctly different bodies of work, some of which I had no idea would become a part of my visual language, until I allowed myself the opportunity to unapologetically play in my practice The repeated process of weaving every day grounded me, it did allow me to find balance, particularly at times when I was looking toward the future, and looking for the next client project or the next opportunity. I was more focused on the present moment than ever before. 

Although I have finished weaving the 100 Day Series, it is honestly not complete by any means. A dream of mine is to make a book with tactile-rich imagery, where I can also go into further depth about the process and can make the series accessible to many by way of print. While the outcome of the project was a tangible body of work, I feel the true result was that I grew so much as a person and an artist from this experience. I hope that this project inspires you to either try weaving or to make art, and to do so fearlessly each day, even if it is just for a few moments after you wake.