Kira Keck (they/them/their) was part of the third cohort of the Väv Immersion Weaving Intensive. They graduated from Maryland Institute College of Art with a BFA in Fibers; even though they learned to weave in art school they wanted to gain more technical skills and learn more about the craft of weaving. Their undergraduate education focused on theories within fine arts and the metaphors of cloth. As they reflected on what they experienced in the program, they noted that they surprisingly found it very freeing to create utilitarian and functional items. 

Their time in the program was anchored by the strong and close relationships that were built very quickly. Everyone was at a point of transition in their lives, with different levels of experience in weaving and different goals for the program, but they genuinely cared about each other and learning this craft. 

Kira is currently in graduate school at Cranbrook Academy of Art. Cranbrook has a unique approach to education that gives tremendous freedom for students to bring the skills that they already have rather than providing skill-based courses; the tremendous foundation that Kira gained in the technical skills of weaving through the Immersion Weaving Intensive program has guaranteed that they have a lot to draw from as they work to combine theory and craft in their studies. In looking to the future, Kira sees themself as continuing to handweave and work with the looms and to plan to start selling more and taking on more commissioned projects from those who have seen their work. You can learn more about Kira and connect with them via Instagram @erotic_macrame and via their website.

When Eva, Kiri, and Christine arrived to the Väv Immersion program, they came with an open mind and a willingness to learn from a master in the Scandinavian weaving tradition and from each other. They didn’t expect that they would be met with the opportunity to build a deeper understanding of Scandinavian culture, forge friendships that would carry them beyond their time together in the program, or be celebrated in their mistakes on the looms with such joy and enthusiasm. 

While the technical aspects of what one learns from Immersion are far and wide, our alumni often comment that their experience in this time of learning was rooted in the incredible opportunity to build relationships with each other, experience a slower and more mindful way of living, examine the value of being able to create functional and beautiful objects for daily life, and step away from their personal worlds to reflect on what was meaningful to them and to then bring that back into their lives in new and revitalized ways after the program ended. 

We’re honored to have a few moments of reflection from some alumni of our Väv Immersion program, speaking to what their experience of Immersion was, what they took away from it, and what they’re doing now. 

Kiri Fagen-Ulmschneider (she/her/hers), from our third cohort, is a weaver who makes beautiful and useful things. She is based in Illinois and is building her ‘everything fiber-related’ business on Etsy. She was also gracious enough to share a studio tour with us over the summer, and has a blog that she regularly updates, which includes entries from her time of attending Immersion. You can find her on Instagram @kirimade. 

Christine Tsai (she/her/hers), from our second cohort, has continued her weaving as a hobby and is developing her skills and working on how to express things through cloth. She considers it a never-ending exploration of a lifetime that she is excited to be engaging in. You can find her on Instagram @weavingbug.

Eva Gaultney (she/her/hers), from our third cohort, made the move from her home in the South to western Massachusetts after her time with the Immersion program ended. These days she is working closely with Becky Ashenden as a teacher-in-training, and while the pandemic prevented her from the classroom experience, she has been studying historic textiles and learning how to replicate them on the loom, while eagerly awaiting the opportunity to be a part of teaching in-person. She is part of a production weaving initiative to develop wool blankets from local sources, is studying how looms are built and working on how to make them even better, teaching Broomcorn classes for Fabric of Life, and will spend time this growing season learning how to manage the garden at Bassett Road Homestead as part of an educational opportunity with Fabric of Life. You can find her on Instagram @athreadforweavingstuff.