Residents are invited to a presentation of nationally known artist Neil Goss’ backstrap weaving on July 29 at noon at Ilus Davis Park across from City Hall at 11th and Oak. This presentation coincides with Art in the Park, an outdoor exhibit of several art works, including Goss’s Hempen Support: Vines of Passion.
Backstrap weaving is a method of weaving used for more than 5,000 years by indigenous people in Central and South America, and the Philippines. In this method, parallel sticks hold the loom’s vertical base in place, with one end attached to a tree or post and the other wrapped around the back of the weaver’s body. Backstrap weaving is the method by which Goss created the work that is part of this year’s Art in the Park exhibit. The method is ever-popular, and people travel to Guatemala, Bolivia and Peru for vacation workshops.
Neil Goss holds two B.F.A. degrees from the University of Kansas, and concentrates his work on natural earth processes. His research and practices involves sustainable art processes such as natural dyeing, backstrap weaving, and foraging art supplies. Goss is an artist-in-residence at the Charlotte Street Foundation, and teaches in Lawrence, Kansas.
Art in the Park is an annual free outdoor gallery show and is open through the end of September. Live performances during the lunch hour are held on the last Friday of the month. Also on July 29, Hema Sharma and The Nritya School of Dance will perform Dances & Music of India.