Interwoven: April Camlin, dani lopez, Kira Dominguez Hultgren, Meghan Shimek

Interwoven brings together four contemporary artists with ties to the East Bay community of Oakland. Responding to 21st-century ideologies, conditions, and experiences, these artists draw on the ancient practice of weaving to contextualize modern concerns, trace family histories, and care for communities. ​ As a healthcare activist, April Camlin turns to the loom as a space to process health disparities and loss. Camlin’s current work explores the process of reciprocal weaving, in which two people work on the loom simultaneously; this practice enables community members to work side by side with the artist to weave stories of grief into the communal thread.

dani lopez creates “tapestry stills,” which freeze a scene, like a snapshot, placing a character in a narrative arc. Drawing from cultural research, queer history, literature, and film, lopez incorporates references to physical space where queer identity can be seen, into their tapestries.

Kira Dominguez Hultgren works across four looms, tracing family identities and environmental impacts through their techniques and materials. Interactive components invite visitors to map and connect the threads of place.

Meghan Shimek explores physical movement and texture within her large-scale woven works. Turning to weaving as an outlet for grief, she enables full-body movement to flow through her practice as a form of healing. ​ Each of these artists use their work as a means to build and care for community. Focusing on interconnection, Interwoven illuminates identity, place, and belonging through fiber art.

Interwoven is curated by britt royer.