A loom for tender(ils): Wool Processing Workshop By Rowan Renee

A loom for tender(ils): Wool Processing Workshop By Rowan Renee

Wednesday, July 30, 2025 | 6pm to 8pm

A loom for tender(ils): transforms the tree grove into a secret garden of tapestry looms designed to engage the public in deeper conversation with each other, their inner landscapes, and the natural environment. In this workshop we will learn how to clean and process raw wool sourced from Black Mesa families for spinning or felting. We will also discuss ethical and sustainable sources for wool in the context of the indigenous land struggles under threat from fossil fuel extraction on ancestral Diné land (Navajo Nation). This hands-on workshop and teach-in will offer an introductory understanding of the struggles at Black Mesa.

Black Mesa families have resisted forced removal for generations and sought to preserve their traditional land-based lifeways, which include spiritual practices, growing crops and herding sheep. Zines and t-shirts will be available with donations of $20-$50 to Black Mesa. Purchases of raw wool from Black Mesa shepherd families can also be arranged.

About Rowan Renee

Rowan Renee is a Brooklyn-based artist who uses craft to cultivate individual and collective healing. Their work develops over months or years within communities, landscapes or archives. Recently, they have presented solo projects at Island Gallery, The Green-Wood Cemetery, Smack Mellon, Recess and MoMA PS1. Their approach is influenced by restorative justice principles, collaboration with people impacted by gender-based violence and mass incarceration, and their own experience with the criminal legal system.

About the Fellowship

The Socrates Annual Fellowship and exhibition reflects Socrates’ founding commitment to artistic experimentation and excellence, while also nurturing artists’ careers. Artists are selected through an open call and receive financial support, access to Socrates’ outdoor studios and technical support, and inclusion in a Park-wide exhibition. Since 2001, 279 artists have participated with many subsequently receiving further commissions for public art projects. The Socrates Annual Fellowship & Exhibition is one of the Park’s longest running programs and is an important training ground for early career artists to gain experience creating art in the public realm.

This year’s Fellowship will respond to the theme “Up/rooted,” which explores the complexities of uprooting species for long-term sustainability and resilience. The term “uprooted” evokes the tension between dislocation and resilience. “Up” signifies the act of lifting away, while “root” refers to the hidden systems below the ground—anchoring life and absorbing essential nutrients. This duality invites us to reflect on the implications of relocation and adaptation, exploring how when done thoughtfully it can foster new growth and understanding. In what ways can we foster regeneration while acknowledging and mitigating the losses within our ecological and social landscapes? How might we navigate the delicate balance between ecological preservation and community needs to create a more resilient future?