Sisterhood Storycloth

A lovely example of a small group workshop held in natural surrounds. This storycloth workshop was about coming together in celebration of a wonderful community of women - "The sisterhood".

Small individual circular cloths were begun with marking motiffs in the centre. To then be taken home , where symbols can keep being made as an ongoing symbolic connection to each other in remembering the support, love, empowerment, and strength we stand for as a group.

Womens Group : Unstoppable Women @ 
Chris Hendersen Coaching
Video Credits : Wendy Rogers, Producer and online Media Strategist, PPIPC MEDIA 
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Each time you sit to create your symbols on your cloth is called a sitting. Signifying a moment in time.

A sitting is a time when  the cloth is unfolded. Together you sit  and make your mark on its surface. Each time the cloth is worked on as an individual or group -  you are connecting to yourselves or to each other.
 One ring  - A sitting , a time to pause , be mindful , reflect and  make  our  mark to record  a moment of time, captured forever.

Patterns of outward growth
Rich with symbolism, your cloth begins at the centre and gradually evolves outward.
Other patterns that you may like to use to guide the growth of your mark making are :
Concentic cirlces,  a spiral, a spiders web, a mandala, labarynth, or sun rays.

Elements that make up a story cloth

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Canvas Fabric

Sensory and kinestetic qualities of sitting on the cloths surface and the groundedness of working on it directly on top of the earth appeals beautifully to the senses.
The cloth is deliberatly prepared in an earthen toned surface. This works beautifully as it replicates nature , and the way it makes its own natural marks . Think of fossils and bark and textures and patterns that mother nature makes. and it keeps a beautiful traditional aesthetic in its contrasted dark background with the fresh contrast of the lighter toned mark making .
The tactility and tradition of cloth .
The ease of  no paint.

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Mandala
​framework 

All circular structures with a centre are mandalas. 'Mandala" is sanskrit for "circle". Mandalas appear in all world religions and have been used in a ritual context since the earliest times . Mandalas reflect the underlying structure in all nature. Because of this deep connection to the bio -logos, the law of nature , they are capable of restroing order within a congregation of people or of reconnecting  you to inner order.  

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Tree rings 

One tree ring represenst one " sitting ". A sitting is the name given to the time you or others sit and make symbols and marks on your cloth , adding another meangfull layer to your story, capturing another valuble moment in time and the essence of the people who become a part of the story. Just like tree rings , a sitting represents growth or a new period of time in the growth or capture of your story. 

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Symbols 

Mark, sign, or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, object, or relationship.

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Mark making 

A term used to describe the different lines, patterns, and textures we create in an artwork. It applies to any art material(s) we use on any surface(s), not only paint on canvas or pencil on paper.

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Visual
​metaphor

A visual metaphor is the representation of a person, place, thing, or idea by way of a visual image that suggests a particular association or point of similarity. Eg : Cloudy day can be a visual metaphor for
feeling a bit under the weather..

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