Upstate Artist Collective

Anne Pecaro
Greenville, SC

Artist Statement

I blame my grandmother for my weaving bug--she lived all over the world and collected exquisite textiles. My favorite reading nook at her house was an intricately woven saddle cloth from Afghanistan, stuffed with cushions to make a wee bench. It was piled with embroidered cushions from Pakistan, and sat directly under a set of dolls handsewn in Egypt. I spent almost as much time caressing those cloths as I did reading!

I learned to knit and crochet and sew as a child and picked up spinning and lace making as an adult. 6 years ago, a major life shift found me without my filmmaking studio, but in possession of a floor loom. I immediately began experiments to push the limits of my four simple shafts.

Since then, I have studied extensively Vävstuga Weaving School, and studied with Justin Squizzero of Newbury School of Weaving—rare schools that teach the old techniques and equipment for figured weaving. In my current practice, I weave primarily on large Swedish floor looms, including two drawlooms. My weaving practice encompasses folkloric illustrations, liturgical garments for earth-based spiritualities, and tiny clothes for fae folk.