‘Ravel’ was a performative walk in which a small textile, woven in another place, on another continent, was unravelled and re-woven on 14th Street, New York City. As it was re-made, the textile absorbed encounters and materials from 14th Street.

The project explores how the identities that we project are made across space and time. It is also a homage to my grandfather’s emigration journey exactly 100 years ago. A Hebridean Harris Tweed weaver, he travelled to North America for work. As an immigrant, he took on the identity and clothing of a labourer but, as he did so, he temporarily lost his native Scots Gaelic language and his link to weaving culture.

‘Ravel’ was made for, and performed at, Art in Odd Places, 14th Street, New York City between 13-15 October 2023.