Artasia 2024
Connecting children and youth to creativity, threading stories of belonging into new tapestries. Grounded in the expression of culture as a right for all, Artasia elevates the voices of young people through creative practices in fabric.
fabric > fabric
Drawing insight from cloth and fibre artists, we engage the imagination close to home and further abroad. We are linked by many yarns: from the security quilt/blanket to the digital loom, to the collective impact of flags, wampum belts, scarves, and other woven symbols that define us and our communities.
Whether spinning wool slowly, or upcycling the discarded elements of fast fashion, or wrapping monuments (like Christo and Jeanne Claude), fabric-based art practices present a means to critically consider our complex world, and to hold important space within it for young voices as they claim their future.
When Is Fabric More Than Fabric?
◈ When it is tied to cultural identity
◆ When it’s used in fashion and design (including fast fashion)
◈ When it’s connected to sustainability and ethical practices
◆ When it’s used as an artistic medium
◈ When it’s used as a vehicle for conveying messages
Weaving Stories of Identity, Unity, and Community
Artasia 2024 (fabric > fabric) invites children and youth to explore and express their identities, cultural roots, and collective voices through the transformative medium of fabric. This year’s program is an artistic journey that threads personal narratives into a broader tapestry of shared human experience, connecting the individual to the community and the environment.
Drawing inspiration from fabric and textile arts, participants are encouraged to reflect on their unique stories and how they intersect with the larger social fabric. Through the creation of badges, banners, and wearable art, they celebrate cultural identity, solidarity, and sustainability. Each piece of fabric becomes a canvas for storytelling—whether it’s a personal tale woven into a collage, a banner symbolizing collective values, or a garment that represents self-expression and community spirit.
As the program progresses, children and youth are guided to consider how their stories are interconnected with their environment and with each other. The use of upcycled materials and botanical prints symbolizes a commitment to sustainability and an appreciation for the natural world. The communal creation of fabric art pieces emphasizes the importance of gathering spaces, unity, and shared celebrations.
Weekly Activities
Each weekly activity is carefully crafted by the Artasia 2024 team to effectively deliver the core message of this year’s theme.
Week 1: Crafting Our Stories
Participants use various textiles, fibers and fabric markers, along with employing gluing techniques to assemble their stories on fabric or paper. Each creation reflects individual or family histories, incorporating meaningful colors, patterns, and materials that symbolize personal and cultural significance.
Week 2: When We March
We transitioned from focusing on individual identity to celebrating our collective voice and shared values. The theme, “When We March”, invites participants to reflect on the question: “What matters to you?”. Using upcycled fabrics and materials, children and youth will create vibrant banners and flags, each representing their personal values, community pride, and aspirations.
Week 3: Threads of Connection: Reflections on Land and Environment
The focus, “Threads of Connection: Reflections on Land and Environment”, invited Artasia team members to reflect on spaces where people gather, share food, and celebrate togetherness. We used bed sheets to create botanical prints, imagining them as giant tablecloths, or “sufra”, where we can all sit together, share a meal, and converse.
Week 4: Wearable Designs & Sustainability
Our journey leads us into the vibrant world of wearable art. Building on the themes of identity and community from previous weeks, we focus on the idea that every great party needs a dress-up, and our clothing choices can tell a story about who we are. This week, titled “Wearable Designs & Community Connections”, is inspired by the creative workshop with Dawn Grant, where we explored upcycling and transforming everyday materials into unique fashion pieces.
Week 5: A Feast of Stories: The Grand Finale
We culminate our journey with a grand celebration, exploring the theme of “A Feast of Stories: The Grand Finale.” This week focuses on the cultural and social significance of food as a means of connection and celebration. Participants will collaboratively create recipes, both real and imaginary, that reflect the diverse cultures and experiences within our community.