Dear Friends,
I am writing to tell you about something wonderful that began last year. With generous support from the Craft Yarn Council of America, the Arts Ashore Legacy Foundation and a groundswell of hope for more positive activity and unity in our city, the Loop It Up Savannah Project was launched at the West Broad Street YMCA.
At first, a few Savannah College of Art and Design Fibers Department volunteers began teaching a small group of children to knit and crochet. As we got to know the children better, we began to develop a curriculum starting a few steps before the specific crafts of knitting and crocheting. We now offer independent and collaborative Fiber Art Projects ranging from exploration of materials and development of fine motor skills to such traditional crafts as spinning, weaving, embroidery, knitting, sewing and crochet.
These crafts are relevant and accessible to all of us, including the low income children of Savannah because they are easy to learn and have played a traditional part in community building. As the children grow into skilled artists and makers, they develop a stronger sense of themselves and experience a safer, more exciting community. Currently funded by the Hodge Foundation of Savannah Georgia, we work with about fifty children on a weekly basis. This number will more than double as we offer programming at additional locations.
I am creating an artist book about Loop It Up Savannah which will be displayed at the American Craft Council’s National Art and Craft Show this February. The book will include curriculum, documentation of students’ work and information about how we collect and work with a variety of materials. It will be a recipe book for our project, a memento of the work that we’re doing and a tool for others interested in joining out project, or starting a similar program in their community.
All successful community endeavors depend on each member of the community offering what they can. We have built this program through generous and selfless donations of time, art materials, space, funding and ideas. Now I invite you to join our community and contribute what you can – suggestions, ideas, stories, materials or a financial donation that feels appropriate.
Be warm, be well, and join the excitement!
Molly Green Lieberman
The Loop It Up Savannah Project
c/o the West Broad Street YMCA
1110 May Street Savannah GA, 31415
www.loopitupsavannah.blogspot.com
