Lake Reed
Schoenoplectus lacustrisÖRES Residency
Artist Sofia Magdits
Weaving
Bulrush
Sea reed
Lake reed
Lake reed is a freshwater species that grows on soft bottoms in large beds of reed. It can grow up to 3.5 meters tall, with stems 5–15 millimeters thick.
There are many different types of reed and in Finland alone over 20 species can be found.
Reeds can be plucked individually by hand or cut with a scythe. Before using the reeds are dried approximately for two weeks. Outside bundles of reeds are gathered together overlapping in a way that air can get under them. They are turned occasionally during the drying. Then the reeds are raised to a vertical position and brought indoors for final drying and storage.
Traditionally when used the reeds are first dipped in cold water and then wrapped in a damp cloth. The reeds are moist during the whole preparation to avoid breakage.
Reeds can be plucked individually by hand or cut with a scythe. Before using the reeds are dried approximately for two weeks. Outside bundles of reeds are gathered together overlapping in a way that air can get under them. They are turned occasionally during the drying. Then the reeds are raised to a vertical position and brought indoors for final drying and storage.
Traditionally when used the reeds are first dipped in cold water and then wrapped in a damp cloth. The reeds are moist during the whole preparation to avoid breakage.
Artist Sofia Magdits used lake reeds during her stay at ÖRES residency in September. The artist experimented weaving the lake reed in different ways transforming the material to a textile like object. Sofia formed installations on site on the island of which the textile was part of.
Highland Cotton
Gossypium hirsutiumGoctaLab Residency
Artist Dunja Krcek
Jamaica Plant
Curcuma
Purple Corn
Gossypium hirsutum mostly known as the Highland Cotton is native to South America as well as Central America. It is cultivated and also grows wild. Evidence of its cultivation has been found from 3,500 BC. Highland Cotton includes different varieties that have varying fiber lengths and tolerances to a number of growing conditions. It has naturally various hues of brown colors and isn’t only white.
At GoctaLab residency highland cotton grows wild in the area of Cocachimba that lies next to the River Utcubamba. The name is a reference to the cotton fields which used to grow in the region, utku meaning cotton and pampa meaning plains.
At GoctaLab residency highland cotton grows wild in the area of Cocachimba that lies next to the River Utcubamba. The name is a reference to the cotton fields which used to grow in the region, utku meaning cotton and pampa meaning plains.
Artist Dunja Krcek spent the month of September in Peru at GoctaLab learning about the raw wild cotton that grows on the surroundings of the residency. Dunja got to know the whole process of picking the cotton, making it as a yarn to color it with plants from the same lands with Olinda, the local artist. The cotton was handspun and then dyed with curcuma, purple corn and hibiscus.
Sheep Wool
Ovis Aries AriesKAI Residency
Artist Kira Leskinen
Natural dyes
Chilca leaves
Colli flower
Pumaqwasi
Wool is the textile fibre in this case obtained from sheep. As an animal fiber wool consists of protein together with a low percentage of lipids. It is chemically very different than cotton or other plant fibers that consist of mainly cellulose.
Wool has been used by humans for thousands of years and over the centuries sheep have been bred and crossbred, thus creating several breeds of wool. It can be used for different purposes, depending on the coarseness and length of the fiber. The length of the wool fiber depends not only on the sheep, but also on the spinning interval, which normally can vary from half a year to a year.
Wool has been used by humans for thousands of years and over the centuries sheep have been bred and crossbred, thus creating several breeds of wool. It can be used for different purposes, depending on the coarseness and length of the fiber. The length of the wool fiber depends not only on the sheep, but also on the spinning interval, which normally can vary from half a year to a year.
Artist Kira Leskinen stayed at KAI residency in Peru and during that time visited the Pumaqwasi community located in Pucamarca, Chinchero. The Pumaqwasi community works with sheep wool and natural dyes made with local plants.
Before the sheep wool is turned into yarn it is cleaned with inca shampoo, a natural soap made from freshly grinded saqta root. Then the yarns are handspun and dyed with natural dyes in large pots. For the colors different plants, flowers and minerals are used, like colli flower for the yellows and chilca leaves for the greens. For creating red and purple tones they use a fine powder made of dried and crushed cochineal insects. When the yarn has absorbed the color (around 20-40 minutes depending on the color), it is taken out of the pot and let settle for a little while before washing it in a nearby lake. Finally the skeins of yarn are dried in the sun. The dried yarn is winded into balls.
Scoby
bacterial celluloseOne of the best biomaterials is bacterial cellulose (BC). There are several ways to produce BC.
Bacterial cellulose, BC-derived biomaterials and composites have been extensively studied in the last decades due to possibility of obtaining new structures with remarkable properties.
In this case , we use BC produced by symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeasts named SCOBY.
This production method is more accessible, does not require the availability of a specific bacterial strain and can be carried out even in domestic conditions.
Scoby biofilm forms naturally as a byproduct during the juice fermentation or kombucha beverage fermentation process, and is observed as a film at the air-liquid interface. In terms of composition and structure, the biopolymer corresponds to cellulose. The composition of the microbial population in SCOBY can vary depending on its origin, geographical location, climate and the medium used for the fermentation process.
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Bacterial cellulose, BC-derived biomaterials and composites have been extensively studied in the last decades due to possibility of obtaining new structures with remarkable properties.
In this case , we use BC produced by symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeasts named SCOBY.
This production method is more accessible, does not require the availability of a specific bacterial strain and can be carried out even in domestic conditions.
Scoby biofilm forms naturally as a byproduct during the juice fermentation or kombucha beverage fermentation process, and is observed as a film at the air-liquid interface. In terms of composition and structure, the biopolymer corresponds to cellulose. The composition of the microbial population in SCOBY can vary depending on its origin, geographical location, climate and the medium used for the fermentation process.
Lichen is a combination of fungi and algae or cyanobacteria living in a symbiosis in one organism. The fungi provides a structure for the algae to live in, while the algae provides food for the fungus. Lichens are found on all sizes and length. They grow in all types of places and are frequently found on tree bark. Lichens range in colors from bright orange, to all types of greens, grays and black.
Lichens can be used as natural dies and have been used by humans also as medicine.
Lichens can be used as natural dies and have been used by humans also as medicine.
Artist Paola Torres Núñez del Prado worked with lichens that she discovered in the woods of Joutsa in Finland. The artist collected the lichens from the tree branches and started experimenting with the material weaving it in different ways. Paola noticed that the lichens when in contact with water the lichens change colour. She created two artworks using the living material combining it with technology.
