by Paula Baumann
Triangle Weavers, Inc. (TW, Inc.) relies to this day on a strong tradition of helping both members and non-members alike. Our constitution as written in the 1975-76 yearbook stated that “the purpose of this organization of handweavers shall be to learn, to share knowledge and to promote high standards of workmanship in the handweaving arts.” In other words, the basic premise was and still is to give assistance, to support, and to save (as in a troublesome warp) those who were handweavers.
As we know, Triangle Weavers, Inc. started with the guidance of the Chapel Hill Weavers Guild in the early 1970’s. The group helped our founders with the process of organizing and writing by-laws and a constitution. In a way, they mentored our Guild through the process.
Over the years our Guild sought and received grants to help support important initiatives. The North Carolina Arts Council responded to our Grassroots Arts application for their 1979-80 fiscal year with $493 to support the Festival of Weaving, an exhibition at the Carol Woods Retirement Community Center, as well as a workshop by a professional photographer/teacher to help members photograph their work for gallery and designer applications.
While the amount seems small today due to 50 years of inflation, it also provided seed money for the Exhibition Committee and rental fees for meetings at the Botanical Gardens’ building as TW, Inc. matched the funds.
Community arts grants were also pivotal in starting The Fiber Arts Center at Shared Visions. Both the Orange County Arts Council and The Woolery provided much needed grant funds for equipment and materials as our group found a permanent home for classes, workshops, the library, drop-ins, study groups and meetings in 2014. During 2021, MAFA (Mid-Atlantic Fiber Association) granted us funds to purchase video and lighting equipment for TFAC classrooms.
Just as we were supported by the Chapel Hill Handweavers Guild, there is some historical evidence in documents and minutes that TW, Inc. considered helping SAFF (Southeastern Animal Fiber Festival) to apply for a Burroughs Welcome grant.
Helping each other while having fun in small groups is also a basic 50-year practice for us. Study or interest groups became evident in the 1975-76 yearbook. At the time, they included tapestry, dyeing, woven clothing, exploration of double weave and spinning. Members who joined these small groups benefited each other by sharing skills, experiences, feedback, and problem solving.
During the next year, the 1976-77 study groups included Cross-Pollination (formerly Tapestry), Independent Explorations (formerly explorations in double weave), Etc. (format and direction “unclassified” but including show ‘n tell, weaving appreciation, exchange of information and knowledge), non-Loom (exploration of the fiber arts in which a loom is not needed), and of course, Spinning, and Woven Clothing. Historically, the documented number of groups varied over the years from as few as three to the seven+ that meet today. The focus of helping one other remains the same today in study groups, where ideas are shared and explored in order to inspire one other.
Periodically, one-on-one mentoring also occurred both formally and informally. One of the most commented on and positive short-term mentoring experiences was the “bring a new member to a general meeting” initiative. Learning the ropes through a relationship, including introductions to other members, appears to have sealed member commitment to TW, Inc.
As you renew your membership for this upcoming year, please consider sharing your expertise in a mentoring relationship by completing information on the renewal form. Guidelines and a matching process will be forthcoming, but keep in mind that mentoring is often defined as a reciprocal relationship, because helping so often goes both ways!