Come enjoy the process of becoming part of a human loom! This will be an immersive and interactive 1.5-hour workshop in which the artist Alyssa Imes will use both of your arms as part of a loom ped. As the group sits in a circle, Alyssa will loom and knit a fabric from your arms. Slowly the network of knots will start to form a large, circular piece of fabric. The concept behind this performance is that we all are part of this network that weaves each other's lives; if one person were removed from the loom, the fabric would fall apart. This process should be meditative, relaxing and unifying.

A light lunch will be served in the Collaboratory beginning at 12:00pm. Alyssa will first introduce her practice and the workshop will start at 12:30pm. Participants and observers are equally welcome. Participants are asked to stay for the duration of the workshop, if possible.

About NextNOW Fest

Started in 2014, The Clarice’s annual NextNOW Fest is an inspiring arts experience that celebrates imagination, creativity and community. By amplifying the voices of intriguing, inventive artists from around campus and our community, NextNOW Fest creates a forward-looking microcosm where art transforms our future and connects us all.

NextNOW Fest is a signature event in University of Maryland's Arts for All initiative, which leverages the combined power of the arts, technology and social justice to address the grand challenges of our time.

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Funding

NextNOW Fest is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council and The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation. Additional support is provided by Terps After Dark and the University of Maryland's Arts for All initiative. NextNOW Fest's Silent Disc-Glo event is supported by UMD's Student Entertainment Events; and the Vital Signs Mini-Grants Showcase is supported by the Venable Foundation and Pepsi.