Home
About
Blog
Classes
Contact
Events
News
Resources
Special Classes
Summer Camp

Saori News

Looming Large

By Bette Krenik Traxler
Contributing Writer

6/4/2008 - LE CENTER-Yarn, plastic, popsicles. . .in a weaving?

That's exactly what approximately 80 students from first grade through twelfth grade in Le Center schools got to do this spring with Saori weaver, Chiaki O'Brien.

Le Center Public Schools partnered with VSA (Vision, Strength, Access) arts of Minnesota to host teaching artist Chiaki O'Brien and brought the creativity and free style of Saori weaving for a five day residency to the schools. O'Brien taught the students how to use a large loom to make weavings that were six feet to over twenty feet long. Students were urged to be creative in their weavings. A unique aspect of this particular weaving is that everything and anything can be used to weave into the design.

Students selected enjoyed the one-hour-a-day time at the looms. Working from 8:30 to 2:00, groups of students took their turn at the loom to create lasting masterpieces for the school.

Third graders, Ben Hertaus, Brittney Martinez and Chris Kielty were happy to be chosen to participate. "It was cool to learn how to do different colors in the board," said Martinez. "I want to learn how to make a blanket when I grow up."

"The large looms were much easier than the board ones," Kielty said. "I told Ben I'm going to buy one when I get older."

"He would have to go to Japan to buy one," Hertaus commented. "Maybe he'll have to fly 24 hours." Hertaus added, "I don't have a future in weaving. I'm all about the military."

The weavings from the five day residency can be viewed in the LCHS commons area and the media center in the elementary school.

This opportunity was made possible though a grant from VSA arts of Minnesota and support from Le Center Schools.

Content © 2008 Le Center Leader and Minnesota River Valley Shopper
P. O. Box 68 • 62 E. Minnesota St.
Le Center, MN 56057
Front Desk: (507) 357-2233
Fax: (507) 357-6656

Chiaki and Dan had interview by KFAI community radio station in June 2010.