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Follow this link to see studio views and to read Scott's interview with Valley Fiber Life.
To see fabric at its best is to see it after years of good use, when it’s faded in color, softened by washing, and showing signs of careful mending. Only well-made fabric is durable enough to last so long, and only fabric that someone has found beautiful and worthwhile receives such care.
I’m inspired by this fabric, and excited by the prospect of making cloth with similar qualities of gracefulness, strength, and utility. For that reason, almost everything I make consists of functional household textiles intended to be used every day. I weave with linen whenever possible, because it remains resilient and lustrous as it fades and softens over time. When treated respectfully, cloth woven from linen can last nearly forever, providing an element of permanence that I admire.
I work in a converted garage behind the house. The garage once collapsed under snow, but has been rebuilt through the years. The workshop has two looms, including a 50-inch, eight-harness Norwood that serves as my primary loom. The loom was customized with the addition of an auxiliary warp beam several years ago, using wood from a cherry tree harvested in a nearby town. My other loom is a 45-inch Leclerc Nilus with four harnesses. The Leclerc loom came to me through Michael McCarthy, a potter who owns as many looms as me. Fortunately, Michael's fondness for the loom wasn't strong enough to stop me from prying it away. Nevertheless, he still regards it covetously whenever he sees it, and I'm glad that it's bolted to the floor.
Writing about craft has allowed me to clarify my thoughts about the work I do, as well as that of others whose work interests me. Much of what I write has focused on pottery, primarily because I live in an area that is also home to a significant community of potters, particularly potters who fire wood-burning kilns. The way they work – the strenuous physical labor, the hours spent out-of-doors, and the uncomfortable conditions – is in marked contrast to the manner in which I work. But the items we produce, fabric in my case, pottery in theirs, have historically been used side-by-side in cooking, eating, cleaning, and other daily activities. The similarities and differences intrigue me, and the floors, windowsills, and shelves of my workshop are cluttered with pots.
- Scott Norris, 2009.
© Elam's Widow 2009. All rights reserved. Site created by Maya Machin
