This arpillera is Ana’s reflection on ongoing weekly workshops she facilitates in a Museum in Buenos Aires, Argentina. These workshops “Hilvanando Historias / Stitching Histories” which began in 2019 are “a meeting and learning place for all those who [take] part ...”. The workshops attract a diverse range of people and she particularly remembers the integration of participants with Special Education needs “… who came, every Friday, rain or sunshine, … They joined the group and the activity in their own time.”
In 2019/2020, similar to so many group based activities, these Friday afternoon workshops moved online during the Covid 19 pandemic. These virtual workshops, though not ideal, sustained the connections, held the space and allowed participants to continue sharing, building and weaving their stories via textile.
Reflecting on her rationale for making this arpillera, Ana explains “I made [it] because I felt and feel that, in such a difficult moment for all, we were able to “weave nets” and continue looking forward”.
Through this snapshot of her workshop space we get a sense of these weekly gatherings as nets of great strength; holding, supporting and encouraging participants during challenging times. As well as weaving/building local nets/networks, Ana, in her role as Conflict Textiles Ambassador in Argentina, promoted and participated in all of Conflict Textiles online events during the pandemic.
With her weekly workshops having once again resumed face to face, the net weaving continues and envelops those who participate in the process.
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