Olive Stefanski

Olive, you had the most beautiful painted warp. It was exciting seeing the colors blend together. 

Weaving on: Lou
Joining us from: Chicago

Tell us about yourself and what led you to the residency?

I am a multidisciplinary visual artist whose studio practice encompasses weaving, dyeing, spinning yarn, drawing, glass making and mixed media sculpture and installation.  My studio research efforts focus on the study of Jewish ideas and texts related to mysticism, creation, cosmology and divinity. Weaving is a practice that connects me to the infinite and I often return to abstraction as a means to explore the mysterious and the unknown within Jewish thought. I create objects with intentionality and care and present them as questions rather than prescriptions or lessons. 

Have you had any previous experience with Digital Weaving or Jacquard?

I have been a weaver since 2017 and have made work on tapestry looms and floor looms but was never able to access a TC2 loom until I traveled to Praxis to take the Intro to TC2 Loom Class in June of 2024. Since then, I have taken Digital Weaving File Design Classes online in preparation for the residency. Formally, I am interested in Jewish art historical traditions that links intricacy and beauty to the infinite and I am excited to understand more how the TC2 can be a part of these ongoing investigations within my practice as an artist. 

Any goals for the residency you'd like to share?

- make a painted warp, practice dressing and warping a TC2 
-to practice making and executing digital weaving files
- to weave with silk and paper and to gain confidence and ability wielding these materials 
- to weave 12 yards of pen drawings translated into weavings. The drawings are inspired by my research into the ancient Jewish mystical text, Sefer Yetzirah (Book of Creation). The drawings reflect the poetic notion of "inscriptions of the void" discussed in the text- ineffable and paradoxical voids (that are both physical and immaterial) through which creative energy flows.


Connect with Olive via instagram @floatyplace, website: www.olivestefanski.com, [email protected]