LA Fibershed at Space 15 Twenty Opening

Photos from the Los Angeles Fibershed Pop-Up opening reception and fundraiser at Space 15 Twenty in Hollywood.

Los Angeles Fibershed

Los Angeles Fibershed is a cooperative effort to bring attention to the concept of bioregionalism. With a focus on local fibers and local labor in combination with a commitment to high design, they are a functioning model of "slow fashion." Their mission is here. 

This Saturday evening, they will be hosting an opening reception for their pop-up at Space 15 Twenty that combines a shop, exhibition space, installations, live demonstrations and educational events – lectures, movies and workshops – dedicated to educate the local community about the soil to skin process. 

Included will be raw fiber and yarn from local farmers and handmade clothing, accessories and home goods by LA based artists made of locally sourced materials. Such items include pieces by Amabelle Aguiluz, Janelle Pietrzak / All Roads, Elanor Lynn and other amazing talents. 

Los Angeles Fibershed will also be host "reskilling" workshops at Space 15 Twenty throughout the next two weeks (see below), movie nights and a Sunday flea market. An ongoing live installation piece will demonstrate how a garment is made from start to finish: Fibershed members will transform the gallery into a collaborative studio space and work together for the duration of the exhibit to create a one-of-a-kind soil to skin garment. Visitors are encouraged to drop in, watch demos, ask questions and feel samples of wool and local materials.

The Workshops sound awesome to say the least! You can sign up for individual classes or for 3 with a discount of $10 off each class. Each instructor is donating all or a portion of proceeds to fund the expansion of LA Fibershed. 

Sat March 22, 1-4pm - Wet Felting with Jo Abellera / KKIBO

Sun March 23, 1-3pm - Ethical Wildcrafting with Rebecca Altman / Kings Road Apothecary

Sun March 23, 3-6pm - Acorn Dyeing with Niki Livingston / Lookout and Wonderland

Wed March 26, 7-9pm - Foraged Bamboo Backpack with Eugene Ahn

Sat March 29, 3-6pm - Cochineal Dyeing with Ashley Thayer / Maricolous

Sun March 30, 10am-4pm - Pine Needle Basketry with Nanette Sullano / Waanaki

Sun March 30, 12-3pm - Plant Based Watercolor Workshop with Jo Newman

Los Angeles Fibershed at Space 15 Twenty 

Pop Up: March 15 - March 30

Reception: Saturday, March 15, 6-9pm

150 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90028

Cosmos and Connectivity

These are articles and links that resonated with me following a late night post Daylight Savings. All these relate to each other in that they all in some way reflect our need as human beings to be connected ... to ourselves, to each other, to the earth, to the universe.

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This article by Andrew Solomon on the New Yorker  – about Adam Lanza's father reckoning with his son's actions and what led up to the Sandy Hook tragedy.

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via Upworthy: Neil deGrasse Tyson's answer to what is the most astounding fact about the universe.

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This video: First Kiss by Tatia Pilevia for WREN
later notation: As this video went viral, many felt duped that it was a piece showcasing Wren's collection and that the people were actors and models. However, the first visual is "Wren presents" - although obviously most folks aren't aware that it's a clothing line. Also, one of them is referred to as having experience with this as an actor and I feel that it's obvious that this is staged... It still doesn't take away the initial impact it had on the public. Beautiful people swooning over intimate human contact.

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This weekend's Sweet Paul Makerie in New York via Design Sponge with such creative folks as Paul Lowe of Sweet Paul magazine, Lotta Jansdotter, Erin Considine and Tamar Mogendorff.

I love this video by Creative Bug with Ali deJohn, creator of Makerie and her explanation of the intent behind Makerie and the Chautauqua Movement.

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This podcast on KQED's Forum about the high cost of living in San Francisco and how the local artists and galleries are being affected. Having had grown up and lived in the area for over half my life it's something dear to me that art stays vibrant there. 

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Lena earthing

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Lastly, these photographs via Fast Co. showing the latest work of Kim Keever, a NASA engineer turned artist.

Community Macramé at Platform for the NELA Art Walk

The NELA (Northeast Los Angeles) Second Saturday Art Walk is this weekend. To celebrate, The Platform Cooperative is inviting the public to join them in creating a large scale macramé work of art. Cathy Callahan and Jennifer of Ermie have made indigo and procion hand-dyed cotton rope for this event. No prior macramé experience is needed as they will be on hand to give guidance along with instruction books and diagrams available for inspiration.

Here are some beautiful photos that Cathy and Jennifer shared of their process in creating the rope.

The Platform Cooperative Community Macramé
Saturday, March 8, 6:30 - 9:00 PM
Platform  |  5027 York Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90042

Platform Co-Op Pop-Up

Platform in Highland Park is killing it again. This time with the Platform Co-Op Pop-Up as a wonderful solution to support owner, Sarah Brady's maternity leave. I stopped by a few weeks ago when the Cheryl Cambras exhibit was up. Check back later when i share the next happening at Platform – Community Macramé.

The Platform Co-Op Pop-Up is curated and run by Ermie, Cathy Callahan, Cheryl Cambras and See Real Flowers. It'll run through April and then a new Cooperative will take the helm.

Along with Platform's usual lovely lines like Ace & Jig, Agnes Baddoo, Heidi Anderson, Kristen Elspeth, and TW Workshop, are works by: Arc of LA, B. Zippy & Co., Cathy Callahan, Cheryl Cambras, Emilie Halpern, Kat and Roger,  Maricolous Textiles, Masami Tsuchikawa, MCR Projects, Ogaard Textile Work, See Real Flowers and more.

Platform  |  5027 York Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90042

San Francisco in February

When I grew up in the Bay Area and lived in San Francisco, I was under the assumption that Spring sprung in February. Every day was straight rain in January. Then the next month, magic happened: grass turned from brown to green on the 280, magnolias opened, leaves sprouted new growth and sunlight transformed from winter white to its pre-summer golden springy hue. My reality check came in 1999 when I moved to New York City. There, February gets to your bones with a windchill of -1˚F (sometimes less) and by March, my body is in full-blown shock. Now we're in Los Angeles, and totally down with a season-less climate.

I love San Francisco in February – for all the reasons mentioned. Last month, we took a quick trip there. The photographs here are from one of our many fun days: a pizza play date with my cousin's kids in the Sunset (check out those ocean views!), a trip to the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park and then a cozy dinner at our friend's home who recently moved back to SF from Brooklyn. 

Some of what I wish I had time for but didn't:

The Possible at BAM / PFA

SFMOMA on the Go with Project Los Altos

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Please check back as I will be posting more highlights from this trip: including a colorful studio visit with the multi-talented Jen Garrido, hang time and tea in the art and loved-filled family home of Kara Engelbrecht from Mothercraft Midwifery, a couple of rad shops and more.

And many thanks for sticking around. I haven't been able to post as much lately due to my design work, the kid's kooky schedules and a couple of photography + photoshop blog classes taught by some mighty fine ladies.