For over a month now,  we’ve all been witness to the deaths of over 11,000 civilians in Palestine, nearly half of them children, and I'm struggling to conceptualize the staggering number of lives lost every day. As we take personal actions toward a ceasefire and a free Palestine, Mandy, Sarah, Stella and I have been working to find the right, meaningful contribution we can make, as an organization, that's more than a gesture. For now, to reach beyond the powerlessness produced by the enormous urgency of this moment, we look to the legacy of FCCW’s expertise and impact. The thing we’re best at is paying radical creative practitioners to present their work and perspectives, and gathering our community to learn, connect, and share our joy, rage, and grief.

 

 

 

 

Restless and heavy,

Kamala

 

With Sarah, Mandy, Stella & Raquel

Feminist Forum: Indigenous Feminisms with charlie amáyá scott

 

Continuing our Feminist Forum series, this month’s forum will focus on Indigenous Feminisms, exploring the global considerations of Indigenous Feminists within a specific focus on Native-American Indigenous feminist frameworks. Please join us for a discussion facilitated by charlie amáyá scott.

 

A Diné scholar born and raised within the Navajo Nation, charlie amáyá scott (they / her) is dedicated to inspiring joy and justice. Their scholarship and writings are imbued with a desire for a more just and liberating education that supports and cultivates the next generation of Queer, Trans, and Indigenous brilliance. In addition, Charlie reflects, analyzes, and celebrates what it means to be Diné, Queer, and Trans in the 21st century on her personal blog, dineaesthetics.com, and celebrates her entirety on Instagram and TikTok at @dineaesthetics.

 

 

 

This month we’re presenting you with work by Michelle Flores, whose solo show Fields and Fountains opened Nov 2 at Neo L.A. Gallery, curated by PRMTVO, and closes today, Nov 14.

 

 

 

Preserving ancient weaving techniques, Michelle Flores’ work challenges socio-economic norms and their intersection with identity as a Mexican-American woman. Presently, ‘Fields and Fountains’ comprises land weavings and bead weavings. Through both, she uplifts the rich tradition of weaving and shares the power of handmade objects in opposition to modern technologies. 

All of Our Gardens Will Flourish, ceramic, 
30 x 46 x 2 in

 

 

In her land weavings, Flores creates representations of sports fields using fiber in a push-and-pull effect in the weft. Her ‘Field Work’ textiles portray an interchangeable piece of land that is placed upon an existing space to frame conversations about ownership in relation to the earth. These fields, decorated with woven markings, reference various sports, forming a metaphor for rules, relationships, and boundaries through the connection of painted line and

ground. Exploring Flores’ Native descent, ceramic beadwork weavings are inspired by traditional bracelets made on small beading looms. Textured glazes coat each bead, maintaining the essence of natural materials. Three fountains hang as a form of self-reflection and reference Fisher’s theory of 
three loves.

 

 

left: Touch Line, woven (cotton/wool), painted fringe, 
55.5 x 75.5 x 2 in

 

 

Through woven and painted figures, Flores explores taught narratives of femininity, expressing an outpouring of herself through flowing water to cleanse and release, while questioning body versus earth, masculine versus feminine, and reality versus fantasy. The work is expressed through organic and recycled materials, combining ancestral weaving techniques and patterns inspired by street souvenir collectables. Each weaving draws influence from traditional folk art, excursions, and the nuances of craft found in popular culture.

 

Fontana Primavera, ceramic, 30 x 52 x 2 in

 

 

 

 

 

Michelle Flores is a Los Angeles-based artist who explores themes of identity and social experiences, as well as concepts of land value and ownership in her work. Flores received her BFA in Fiber from California State University of Long Beach. She has attended and received fellowships from Haystack Mountain School of Crafts and Vermont Studio Center. Additionally,

she attended Texere in Santa María del Tule, Oaxaca, a textile-making residency where she learned traditional tapestry weaving. Michelle uses travel as a means to understand global traditions in weaving, allowing her to experience textiles throughout Mexico, India, China, Italy, and more.