Rhythm

I thought I might title this post "Control" but rhythm fits it much better.  Today was a day of activity all around the museum as tents are being assembled for a major fund raiser to be held this weekend.  Some visitors might have thought the museum was closed, in fact, since a large enclosed tent has been erected from the front door all the way to the sidewalk.

There were a few visitors throughout the day and I also got to talk to a couple of the volunteers who work with KMA.  One is documenting the progress of the exhibit including the yarn wall and the weaving as both develop.  Here's a shot of her photographing the stages of my progress through today.

Another of the volunteers gently guided several visitors through the winding process, including helping a young man who's bobbin winding skills were indeed challenged as he used a slippery orange thread and overzealously filled his bobbin.  She unwound quite a lot into a pool of beautiful orange on the floor.  I took his offering once it was under control and entered those bright spots into the weaving.  I used only bobbins wound by visitors today--not as many as yesterday when the UT students came in, but still I feel it might make an even more connection to the exhibit for the visitors if they know that something they participated in is really being put to use in the cloth.

During the afternoon there was a lull and Chris Molinski, the curator, came up to prepare quills for winding.  The ladies at the reception desk were also working on that task.  Anne Wilson's concept of "Local Industry" is certainly being fulfilled--there is indeed a small industry involved in this exhibit.

At the end of the day there was a videographer in the gallery interviewing and filming Chris Molinski.

He was filming several things throughout the exhibit, including the weaving being done... here's my photo of him filming me as I wove.

I asked the volunteer who was photographing for documentation if she'd put an image of me at the loom on my little point and shoot digital camera so I could put it on my blog ... here I am at the loom as I began the day by entering the small band of bright red-orange (and, Anne, if you see this post--the temple was taken off for the photo op... I did indeed put it right back in place--no weaving was done without it!).

So back to my thought of rhythm being a better title than control for this entry.  The videographer asked me today if I got bored with the weaving process.  My answer was, "No.  But I sometimes get frustrated."  He then said that having a hobby that was enjoyable must be rewarding.  I replied that weaving wasn't my hobby, it was my work.  And I feel that everyone should enjoy their work and that I am sorry for those who are in a situation where they can't.  I truly believe that--all parts of that interchange.  I do not weave as a hobby; it is my work in life--and of life.  I do enjoy my work.  And I sometimes am frustrated in the process.  Usually I find the frustration comes when the rhythm isn't there.

Rhythm.  Throw the shuttle, place the weft.  Straighten out any loose threads from the assorted bobbins being used for the weaving.  Close the shed.  Beat. Change the shed and beat again.  Throw the shuttle, place the weft., beat ...  Move the temple up to near the fell line.  Throw the shuttle, place the weft and beat.....  Advance the weaving onto the cloth beam.   Set the temple; throw the shuttle, place the weft, beat.  The rhythm has begun--at least for a few minutes.  The rhythm is mesmerizing when it happens.