The Dublin Soceity of Poplin Sewers
Surviving Weimar Look Book
Synchronized Sewing Squad
SL MODE: One Size Fits All
Re-Dressing New Orleans
Implementing the Portable Textile Reconstruction Unit/Pedal Powered Sewing Machine, I pedaled through the Gentilly neighborhood offering my services as a textile worker. Attempting to re-dress and re-build domestic environments. The Portable Textile Reconstruction unit was assembled with Katrina flooded bike and stool, donated old singer treadle sewing machine, used tarp pouches which held: pattern rulers, thread, patterns, zippers, chalk, pins, and fabric swatches. All the cloth, bike trailer, bike parts and sewing machine were donated. Wood platform was purchased from Habitat for Humanity.
Each day I pedaled the machine to a different un-occupied commercial location and set up a temporary shop for the day. I constructed TARP-WARE place mattes and coordinating napkins, which became the foundation for the Welcome Home packages left on the doorsteps of FEMA trailers in the Gentilly neighborhood. At the conclusion of the third week of setting up shop, I had one customer who requested assistance with the construction of couch and chair covers and a set of place mattes from fabric she provided. Set returned my gesture with a $17 tip; given over the two sessions we worked together.
New Orleans, LA May 13-June 13 2007.
