Oak Ridge Sister City Community Tapestry Project 

CALL FOR DESIGN - Meeting date set for Monday, January 29, 7 PM

The Oak Ridge Sister City Support Organization (SCSO) is calling for designs to be used as a guide for a hand-woven tapestry that will be given to Oak Ridge's sister city, Naka machi, Japan for installation in a public building.  We hope to continue this project in subsequent years to provide a tapestry for Obninsk, Russian (our other sister city) and Oak Ridge as well.  A single design that portrays the Sister City theme suitable for presentation to each sister city is preferred.  Designs more focused on the sister city partnerships between Oak Ridge and Naka machi and Oak Ridge and Obninsk will also be considered. 

For information about the mission and goals of the Sister City program, see "About SCI" link on the Sister Cities International main page.  Information about our sister cities is located on this site at "Information About Naka machi" and "Information About Obninsk".  Both of these pages also have links to sites that provide information about Japanese and Russian culture, customs and other data that may be useful to the tapestry designer.

INFORMATIONAL MEETING FOR ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS

Artists and designers are invited to attend a meeting Monday, January 29, 7 PM at the Oak Ridge Public Library Community Room. Members of SCSO will provide potential designers with information that should be valuable in understanding the function of the organization and the culture of Naka machi and Obninsk.  A second tapestry for Obninsk, Russia as well as Oak Ridge will likely follow successful completion of the initial project.

DESIGN CRITERIA

Design may be any size in any two-dimensional media in color or black and white. A black and white design will be woven in colored woolen yarns chosen by the weaving committee. Colors of the completed tapestry will not necessarily match the submitted design due to the idiosyncrasies of yarn versus paint. Final design will be based on artistic merit and suitability for placement in our sister cities.  To assist the committee in selecting the winner, we suggest that you include a short written description of the design with the art work.

An award of $100 will be given to the accepted entry; however, the committee reserves the right to decline all submissions if they do not meet the criteria. The winning design will become the property of SCSO and may be altered to be appropriate for tapestry weaving. The artist may take part in altering the design, if desired.

Deadline for designs is February 28. Mail or deliver to Dora Moneyhun, 123 Monticello Road, Oak Ridge  37830.

For further information concerning SCSO contact Ken Luckmann (483-3958)

For information concerning the design or weaving contact Marti Fleischer (483-0772).

PROJECT LOCATION

The loom for the project will be located in the entry foyer of the Oak Public Ridge Library.  The Arts Guild of Oak Ridge has generously donated funds to support material for the first tapestry. We hope that weaving will begin by the end of March.

IT TAKES A COMMUNITY TO PRODUCE A COMMUNITY TAPESTRY*

It takes a community to produce a community tapestry:  initiators, sponsors, organizers and enthusiasts to guide the project, and skilled artists to create it. It is usually woven in a public place,  so that people can see how it is made and watch its growth. It often commemorates a figure, group or event that  is significant to the community: it comes from the community and gives something back to it. It begins in the inspiration  to bring it about, and is complete when it is placed in a location where it will be visible to the community. In between  is the story of how inspiration gets turned into reality.

In making a community tapestry, the process, including all kinds of participation in all aspects, is as important as the
 finished piece. Tapestry is particularly suited to community projects because it comes from a tradition of shared
 production and accommodates various levels of skill. The great European tapestries of the 15th and 16th centuries
 were woven in the large guild workshops by a mix of highly skilled and apprentice weavers, dyers, spinners and
 cartoonists.

The vision of the finished piece, its significance and eventual place in the community are the inspiration that sustains
 the undertaking, but at its heart is a core group of tapestry artists who love sitting at a loom and constructing images
 out of warp and weft. Their dedication spreads its enthusiasm to others whose participation will make the project
 a community tapestry. Anyone taking part in the work in any way is making a contribution that will be incorporated into the finished piece. Participation expands to include things, like watching.  Thus, at seemingly watching every point, from initial idea to cutting off, the tapestry is a community endeavor.

After the vision is established by the core group, tasks and responsibilities have to be delegated. Funds must be raised well before the weaving commences, a venue or venues for weaving have to be arranged, and once weaving has begun, yarns and other materials have to be purchased and made ready, schedules organized, and communication among participants kept clear. A central group with clearly defined, allotted or shared responsibilities is essential. For large projects, it is wise to appoint a paid project manager, responsible for fund-raising, record keeping, inventory and supplies, weaving schedules, finances, writing a daily journal, arranging for photographs at various stages, on-location information, media releases, liaison with groups affiliated with the project, and organization of the final reception.

* As written in Weaving Between The Lines, BC Stars, 1999.

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