November – Continuity and Change Within A Line

An exhibition of cordage necklaces made from once loved garments exploring the physical and metaphorical transformation of materials and ourselves. The exhibition will be a series of garments that have been reduced to their seams set alongside necklaces made from the fabric that was removed. I will be transforming garments that are in some way meaningful to members of our community and in the process explore how we honor change both in materials and in a life.

Humans have been making cordage for tens of thousands of years. It is a way to make thread, twine and rope with few tools and our hands. Please join us for an artist talk with Saoirse Byrne on the process of making cordage from sentimental materials and an exploration of the form in historical and contemporary contexts. I will be sharing about my journey with cordage, the process and inspirations as well as talking about the different forms that cordage has taken in our world.

Saoirse Byrne is an artist, designer and craftsperson based in Boonville, California. For over a decade she has been exploring the form of cordage in jewelry, accessories, soft furnishings, and custom commissions. Saoirse trained as a fashion designer at Rhode Island School of Design and graduated with an MBA in Sustainability from Presidio Graduate School in San Francisco among the pioneering cohort. Her exploration of cordage began with learning to twist wild harvested plants with Tamara Wilder. Curious, she applied the process to the abundance of materials in her studio and life. The threadbare handkerchief that once belonged to her great grandmother was precious but altogether unusable. As cordage it became strong, a loving reminder of family connections- a necklace that could be worn and a process that could be shared.