Body Pixel

Whereas I’m surfing from 1996 through many different web sites and portals covering the issues of ‘art and culture’ (whatever it means!), I’m really enjoying the development of World Wide Web now, because it’s more participatory oriented then before. Just several years ago the situation was slightly different, especially from the cultural sector point of view.

One of the first portals directly responsible for ‘body-building me’ to become ‘information obsessive person’ was, of course, Artservis. A web portal run by my digital friend and colleague from Slovenia, Marija Mojca Pungercar (I’m not in the mood to write now about the possibilities of Web 2.0 and cultural web portals; this is supposed to be a blog about creative thingz not about boring well-known stuff…).

Despite her demanding digital activities, Mojca is also known as a very successful conceptual artist in Eastern Europe.

Last week, while she visited Zagreb, she introduced me with her art project named ‘Singer, Mojca Sings Sewing, Weaving and Spinning Songs from Slovenia’.

As she noted on her web page 3via Records ‘the CD Singer takes as its theme the tradition of textile production, from the time when clothes-making was a household handicraft to today’s technological society, which has witnessed the decline of the Slovene textile industry and clothes-making traditions’.

I really enjoyed her devoted singing not just from the perspective that I know her, but because during the time of listening I’ve sensed somehow, something of the simplicity that we have lost in digital age (it happened in the moment when I totally forgot that I’m even listening something having the ambience that is completely different from my every day soundscape – electronica thingz). Well, her singing is definitely not a typical traditional thing (I’m ethnologist, you know. So, I admire a lot traditional singing – yodeling excluded! sure!). And then a small blink has happened in my mind: if you really want to explore some things seriously you have to go to very essential basics. To the beginning!

I’ve realized too that it’s not about the media but about the essential context. Oh… well, I have to finish now with these thoughts because I could stumble now into a very banal labyrinth. Let’s go to some other very very cool Mojca’s art stuff…

… and that is definitely my favourite: A Socialdress Project.

The advertizing moment of the project is a promising announcement:

Make yourself a dress in Socialdress workshop!

Local people are invited to attend workshops, and to transform sewing into entertaining and useful social activity. There is no need to have previous sewing backgrounds. The sewing workshops are designed for beginners, but do not hesitate to join in, if you are advances dressmaker. Workshops are free of charge. At workshops are provided basic sewing tool: a sewing machine, pins, scissors, treads, ribbons, etc… For your comfort is recommended to bring your own tool.

At workshops we produce clothing from the fashion fabric Socialdress.

Mojca said about it: ‘The main project’s goal is to establish a simple selfsuplying system on the field of making clothing. I use the term “social dress” for clothing that would work integrative in the terms of community. At workshops we create spirited and functional clothing that are easy to produce as well. The important part of workshops is exchanging stories, experiences, etc. which are recorded and later published at Socialdress webside.’

So, are you willing to improve the situation in your closet?!

If your answer is yes: call Mojca and organize some workshop in your city.
If your answer is no: sorry, but there is no coming back…

p.s.1. but Mojca, honestly saying, you could be also a respectable singer too!
p.s.2. this blog entry today is definitely not an advertising cause I’m restlessly waiting to take part in the next workshop, either in Slovenia or Croatia!
p.s.3. this blog entry is definitely inspired by this particular article at we-make-money-not-art
p.s.4. this blog entry today is definitely dedicated to all yodel singers around the world!
p.s.5. (I really don’t know how it turned out now this yodl thing in my blog, but there is an article which I’ve found several minutes ago: ‘Will There Be Yodeling In Heaven?‘)