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Maria Luisa and Jacobo Mendoza's Reflection
In Maria Luisa and Jacobo Mendoza's Reflection, and in response to the question - What was it like weaving with another person? - they answered:
"This was the first time we’ve shared a loom, weaving side by side. It brought up a deep sense of ascertaining the reality of the process of weaving. This was a very unexpected experience, interlacing the movement of weaving with the emotions of being a weaver."
This response prompted a discussion among Jean Pierre Larochette, Yadin Larochette (who conducted the interview with the Mendozas and translated their responses) and Mary Lane. We all felt that the comment to be profound and thought provoking. Here is a record of our conversation:
Yadin's explanation of her understanding of the Mendoza's phrase - "ascertaining the reality of the process of weaving":
"I used "ascertain" in "ascertaining the reality of the process of weaving" to describe the sense of awareness one gains by watching another weave on the same tapestry. I'll give an example that I shared with Jacobo during the interview (and which he agreed with and felt resonated with what he was getting at) to help illustrate the concept:
When weaving "Flight" in the late 1980s with another weaver, I was struck by how differently she was approaching the weaving process. She was weaving each section of the design as a discrete entity. She approached each shape as an independent unit and she was not at all concerned about how one shape related to an adjacent shape. This led to (in my opinion) fragmented imagery.
I, on the other hand, was very cognizant of making the lines from one shape connect with an adjacent shape: The design was about light after all, and rays of light may bend, but they do not break into sharp angles.
To add a philosophical perspective to this (which is what Jacobo got immediately and agreed with) Is that I live my life the same way-- all is interconnected, nothing is compartmentalized."
Yadin's explanation of her understanding of the Mendoza's phrase - "interlacing the movement of weaving with the emotions of being a weaver":
"I imagine that when you have been weaving solo at a loom your whole life, weaving with another feels exceptionally intimate. With that intimacy, there's a self-awareness that springs up. You may start to observe the relationship you have with the process...some examples:
Jean Pierre's thoughts about the Mendoza's comments:
"Weaving alone, at a personal scale, or weaving mural size pieces collectively, are two distinctive approaches with their own characteristics. By reality we understand that what is beyond the apparent, past presumptions, superficialities. “the reality of the process of weaving” implies the existence of different perceptions of what weaving means. Weaving utilitarian products – such as carpets – weaving to render paintings, for example, the Marie Cuttoli collection – weaving traditional deigns – verdures, pre-Colombian patterns – or weaving from your own personal ideas, they all share similar weaving processes, but in a different spirit.
It is the same with the meaning of the term “weaving.” Once we are past the dictionary definition, Jacobo’s comment, which is expressed in poetic and universal terms, is open to our personal interpretation.
Mary's interpretation of the Mendoza's comments:
"It brought up a deeper understanding of the process of weaving, a recognition of the many different ways that weavers approach their craft."
In Maria Luisa and Jacobo Mendoza's Reflection, and in response to the question - What was it like weaving with another person? - they answered:
"This was the first time we’ve shared a loom, weaving side by side. It brought up a deep sense of ascertaining the reality of the process of weaving. This was a very unexpected experience, interlacing the movement of weaving with the emotions of being a weaver."
This response prompted a discussion among Jean Pierre Larochette, Yadin Larochette (who conducted the interview with the Mendozas and translated their responses) and Mary Lane. We all felt that the comment to be profound and thought provoking. Here is a record of our conversation:
Yadin's explanation of her understanding of the Mendoza's phrase - "ascertaining the reality of the process of weaving":
"I used "ascertain" in "ascertaining the reality of the process of weaving" to describe the sense of awareness one gains by watching another weave on the same tapestry. I'll give an example that I shared with Jacobo during the interview (and which he agreed with and felt resonated with what he was getting at) to help illustrate the concept:
When weaving "Flight" in the late 1980s with another weaver, I was struck by how differently she was approaching the weaving process. She was weaving each section of the design as a discrete entity. She approached each shape as an independent unit and she was not at all concerned about how one shape related to an adjacent shape. This led to (in my opinion) fragmented imagery.
I, on the other hand, was very cognizant of making the lines from one shape connect with an adjacent shape: The design was about light after all, and rays of light may bend, but they do not break into sharp angles.
To add a philosophical perspective to this (which is what Jacobo got immediately and agreed with) Is that I live my life the same way-- all is interconnected, nothing is compartmentalized."
Yadin's explanation of her understanding of the Mendoza's phrase - "interlacing the movement of weaving with the emotions of being a weaver":
"I imagine that when you have been weaving solo at a loom your whole life, weaving with another feels exceptionally intimate. With that intimacy, there's a self-awareness that springs up. You may start to observe the relationship you have with the process...some examples:
- How you hold the bobbin (with conviction? with confidence? tentatively?)
- How you pass the bobbin through the warps (assertively? softly?)
- How you pack the weft down (carefully? aggressively?)
- How you approach a shape (as in my example above)"
Jean Pierre's thoughts about the Mendoza's comments:
"Weaving alone, at a personal scale, or weaving mural size pieces collectively, are two distinctive approaches with their own characteristics. By reality we understand that what is beyond the apparent, past presumptions, superficialities. “the reality of the process of weaving” implies the existence of different perceptions of what weaving means. Weaving utilitarian products – such as carpets – weaving to render paintings, for example, the Marie Cuttoli collection – weaving traditional deigns – verdures, pre-Colombian patterns – or weaving from your own personal ideas, they all share similar weaving processes, but in a different spirit.
It is the same with the meaning of the term “weaving.” Once we are past the dictionary definition, Jacobo’s comment, which is expressed in poetic and universal terms, is open to our personal interpretation.
Mary's interpretation of the Mendoza's comments:
"It brought up a deeper understanding of the process of weaving, a recognition of the many different ways that weavers approach their craft."