Why Here?

The Story of the Looms

Access to affordable, creative workspace is limited in our region, making it challenging for artists and makers to find places where they can continue developing their craft outside of a classroom setting. Organizations like The Dalles Art Center and Columbia Gorge Community College provide wonderful learning opportunities and skill-building classes, but many students find themselves without access to specialized tools and equipment once their courses end. Even for those with space at home, the cost of outfitting a studio can be prohibitive.

A good example of the community’s shared potential is the story of three donated floor looms. These looms have moved between local institutions; first at The Dalles Art Center, then to the college, each striving to find a way to make them available to learners. However, without a dedicated, open studio space, they remain difficult to access outside of scheduled class times.

That’s where The Makerspace 97058 can help bridge the gap, by providing a welcoming, community-driven environment where creative tools, like those looms, can be available for everyone to use. Our goal is to complement and strengthen the incredible work already happening through local partners, offering a shared space where creativity can continue to grow beyond the classroom.

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Last year, I was unexpectedly hit by an inspiration to weave rugs from natural, unspun sheeps wool. I think it stemmed from the realization that sheep farming has been an important part of the history of both places I call home - The Dalles, Oregon and Öland, a Swedish island in the Baltic Sea. I had never experienced such a strong motivating inspiration before, and followed it by taking a basic weaving course and talking to a few of the many wonderful weavers in The Gorge.

I spend winters in Sweden, and this year I had reached out to friends to connect with weavers on Öland. I found a group of farmer's wives who are life-long weavers and get together in a historic weaving cabin in a village not far from my house. They took me in with amazing grace and patience. They had set up a loom for me for a practice rag weave, which I was able to complete within a few weeks - super fun! Along with learning to weave, I loved taking part of the island wisdom and gossip. Once I had finished the practice piece to their satisfaction, I found out that one of them had the very material I had been dreaming about working in - unspun sheeps wool. She was happy to let me work with it, they suggested to use it in combination with a rag weave, in a 3 pedal weaving structure. I've been working on this larger and more complex rug for a few weeks now, it's been a delight. Once I got used to this weave, they even gave me a key to the weaving cabin so I could come and weave at any time, even when they're not there - a great honor. I'm in the weaving cabin most every day now, working hard to complete the rug by the time I leave to come back to the US.

I can't wait to get a loom upon my return to the US, and am hoping that Makerspace in The Dalles may be the place I can set it up.

Philip Mascher