2023 Summer Escajeda

"I have dabbled in the fiber arts since I was a child, knitting, crocheting, basket weaving, and macrame. In recent years, I also refurbished teak folding chairs, adding macrame backs and sold one at a pop-up event in spring 2020. I also worked at a Sailmakers, repairing and sewing/creating sails and other heavy boat covers etc using industrial sewing machines. I never thought I would be able to weave on a floor loom because of the expense and logistics (and I had never seen one in person), but after a visit to a friend on Big Island (Oct 2020) that had refurbished an old spinning wheel, I thought there must be a loom out there for me. That day, I looked on craigslist and I knew it was kismet because I found one that hadn’t been used in years in my price range. I really didn't know what I was doing but I was determined to grow this part of myself.

The X-Frame Gilmore 46” Loom (Model year unknown but most likely 1936-1956) was missing parts, so I researched and found the manufacturer and we figured out what I needed to get it operational. I was able to replace the straps and install new heddles etc. I bought the book 'learning to weave' by Deborah Chandler and watched youtube videos, and I successfully warped it (Back to Front) and made a practice sample by March 2021. I didn't know there was a weaving guild in Hawaii before I bought my loom and in doing research on how to get it up and running, I found the HHH.

Because it was still covid, I wasn't able to take an in-person class for almost a year (until Jan 2022) - which was a 2 hour class 'Taste of Weaving' from Mari Macmillan. I felt like I had already advanced past that so I wanted to take a longer class. Then I took the only available class that worked with my schedule (I work full time, 8-5 M-F) which was the wearable scarf class by Patricia Steinhoff (Jan – Apr 2022). I challenged myself to learn the palaka weaving pattern and wove 2 scarves. I learned a lot in that class and it made me feel more confident in my weaving abilities. When you’re a new weaver, there are so many things that can go wrong that you just don’t know about and having knowledgeable teachers/mentors has made a world of difference in my weaving and troubleshooting skills. It just so happened that in a couple months later (June 2022) there was a juried show [Fiber Hawaii - 40th anniversary] and one of my scarves was selected to be a part of the show.

2022 Lauren Hirai

"I grew up in Honolulu, and in my art, I have been inspired by patterns and processes in nature. I first learned to weave in a course at the Rhode Island School of Design Summer Programs in summer 2019. I began a course in lace weaving in spring 2020, but it was canceled midway through due to the pandemic. I am looking forward to learning more weaving techniques as well as natural dyeing back home in Honolulu.

My piece was inspired by the patterns and structures of kahelelani Ni’ihau shell lei. I constructed the woven shells by incorporating a combination of metal wire and various yarns, exploring how woven pieces can embody the curled form of shells. I created darts by leaving triangular sections unwoven and pulling on the warp after removing each piece from the loom. The color palette is based on the warm tones of the kahelelani Ni’ihau shells and my memories of home.

I primarily studied science in school, and I continue to be interested in what we can learn from the natural world. In future weaving projects, I am looking to experiment with different materials and draw inspiration from the local ecosystem to explore and reconsider human relationships with nature."

Lauren Hirai

2021 Lin Iinuma

"Hi! My name is Lin Iinuma and I am a Junior from University Laboratory School. I first learned to weave in Ms.Franklin's weaving art class.
Even when school was online during the Corona pandemic, Ms. Franklin provided our class with more than enough materials to turn our imaginations into weavings. During this opportunity I created this weaving, "clouds over hills". My inspiration came from my memory of vivid scenery. The memory came from a time when my family and I were driving to the North shore of Oahu. Two hills of deep red lined the road and mountains lined the back. The sun was setting, providing the deepest shade of scarlett which created an effect on the hill and mountains to make it appear more purple than green. The ocean also spread widely in front of us in a deep purplish blue. Tinted clouds floated overhead. This was one of my treasured memories that I have with my family and the beauty of Hawaii. I expressed this memory though my weaving by abstractly incorporating shades of light and dark purple hills with curvey motions of blue to express the ocean. The key point of my weaving are the different textures woven in white, to represent clouds and seemed to float freely in the sky."

Lin Iinuma