Weaving is inherently intertwined with Rome’s ancient mythology and ceremonial history. Throughout the centuries, textiles have shaped bodies, draped buildings, and sheltered civilizations. At the Academy, I will create a body of work, ranging from handwoven coats to sculpture and performative acts, to serve as a woven form of journalism. These works will subversively explore historical notions of the check and stripe, powerful social symbols within woven garments that signified the dangerous, the marginalized, the outcast, and “otherness.” Of particular interest is the medieval icon of Saint Margaret of Cortona (1247–1297), forever condemned to wear a checked tunic, which cemented her status as an outcast. I plan to visit the Basilica di Santa Margherita, where her embalmed body can still be seen, cloaked in her preserved checked textile.

Using Margaret of Cortona as inspiration, I intend to make a new series of nomadic “walking weavings” using a traditional backstrap loom, crafting woven drawings onsite in areas of historical significance in Rome. Through this act, I will create a poetic performance of resilience and empathy, intertwining ancient weaving techniques with a contemporary perspective. My aim is to reclaim the check and stripe and imbue it with new meaning: a symbol of unity, a celebration of diversity, and an expression of solidarity with the ostracized. I will blend this symbology with ancient Rome’s practice of draping and layering to highlight themes of textiles as shelter, armor, and structures of support. I envision my project in Rome as being a blueprint for future endeavors, where I hope to build larger narratives that catalyze conversation and positive change.