This term students have been working to create circular rag rugs in their classes to contribute to a project called ‘Reclaim the Void.’ The vision is to cover a mining pit with large-scale ‘dot’ artwork made up of thousands of handmade circular rag-rugs woven from discarded fabric. These are to be woven by people from all walks of life and backgrounds.
Students started with some recycled fabric torn into strips (or weavers) and a hula hoop which was used as a loom. The students took turns at weaving fabric strips around warp threads on the loom. They also learnt how to join the fabric strips together when they ran out of fabric. It was a great way to recycle and repurpose materials we already had. After the spokes were filled, the ends were tied off. The rag rugs are waiting to be sent away where the individual rugs will be tied together. The individual rugs will be joined together into a giant textile artwork that will carry the story of the country on which the mining pit is situated. The idea for the project came from a group of Ngalia elders in Leonora, Western Australia.
The final artwork will include the tapestry of stories of all the people who have contributed to it, and will be a story of our collective love, respect, and wish to care for country.
