Community Engagement
Coming out of a worldwide pandemic, we are more disconnected than ever before. We are still not back to our pre-covid community interactions. People are scared, separated, and polarized. We have lost some of the little bits of ourselves that make us empathetic to each other, and able to understand each other. We have increased isolation and decreased community development. We have lost some of our community networks, connections, people and circles.
The Village Square Fabric Art Storytelling Group felt this was very important.
We wanted to be able to weave our communities back together.
We want to bring back some of the small threads that tie us together and create connections and networks.
Most of all, we wanted to mend our own isolation and disconnection.
We questioned: "Using the arts, how might we weave a deeper connection with ourselves, each other and the environment."
Why Fabric? Why Fabric Circles?
Because fabric has been the voice and method for women and the marginalized to communicate and voice their opinions.
Because fabric circles have brought people together for centuries over common purpose, and conversation. They have connected communities. Allowed women to vent about their lives in a safe space and discuss issues important to them.
Because before the Industrial Revolution, fabric was one of our MOST precious resources and commodities.
We have been engaging community members in a series of pop-up engagements, activations and fabric circles. We are bringing folks together to discuss themes of connection, identity, culture, and the environment. We have been bringing people together to create elements for this project. We have been sourcing donations of fabric from the Calgary community to cut back on fabric waste and re-purpose fabric. We are trying to build new relationships and connections to each other, the medium, and the environment. We have had so many positive conversations, interactions and connections so far!
