The Finding Home mural project is part of the Porch Light Initiative, a collaboration between the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program and the City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health that illuminates important struggles and offers hope for recovery.
Artists Josh Sarantitis and Kathryn Pannepacker, with the assistance of Alvin Tull, invite you to help create a fabric mural through the art of weaving. The completed mural will travel to multiple installation sites around Philadelphia, reflecting the transience of individuals who experience homelessness and encouraging open dialogue about obstacles faced on the journey to find home
Today several of my fellow tapestry weavers and I participated in this project. We met at a homeless shelter in Philadelphia and worked with artists and homeless people weave fabric to be later painted, embellished, preserved and used in creating an outdoor mural in Philadelphia.
The following album depicts the steps in the process. First the large wooden looms were warped with a durable nylon string. Large rolls of pellon were cut into strips to be used as weft. People were encouraged to write personal messages or words of hope, home peace, etc. One of the participants had written his “story” to be incorporated in the weavings. Once the weaving was completed it was taken off of the loom and the loom was rewarped for yet another weaving. The completed woven fabric will act as a canvas for further decoration. I have included a sample of what the final product will look like. The weavings will somehow be applied to the wall. Philadelphia has many murals that decorate the outside walls of building around the city.
I will be following the creation of this mural and will post about in the future. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to participate in this project and to work alongside of talented artists and the less fortunate in the City of Philadelphia.
