Rosa Smits: Collective Weaving – A Participatory Textile Art Exhibition at Museum Het Schip

This exhibition at Museum Het Schip features the work of Amsterdam-based artist Rosa Smits, exploring the social and tactile nature of weaving. Smits engages local residents in a collaborative weaving process to create new tapestries, questioning how we can live and work together.

Museum Het Schip presents 'Rosa Smits: Collective Weaving,' an exhibition showcasing the participatory textile art of Rosa Smits. Based in Amsterdam, Smits is fascinated by the social, tactile, and procedural aspects of weaving. Her practice is deeply inspired by communities that coexist harmoniously, prompting fundamental questions about communal living and collaborative work. Smits expands her artistic vision by inviting local residents to participate in the shared process of weaving tapestries, fostering a new collective language and strengthening social and tactile bonds among people from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and professional backgrounds. The exhibition is accompanied by a 'Collective Weaving Manifesto' by the artist, highlighting the power of participatory art and the beauty of handmade craftsmanship. Smits emphasizes the slow, repetitive nature of weaving as a process that encourages connection, reflection, and a deep awareness of touch, inviting participants to be fully present. As conversations unfold and threads intertwine, a new collective fabric emerges, reflecting the unique network of people, stories, and shared experiences that contribute to the artwork. The artist also mentions related weaving sessions where visitors can directly contribute to a communal artwork.

The exhibition is on view in the Museum Café. Information regarding specific dates and times for related 'Collective Weaving Sessions' with the artist can be found via provided links, which indicate they are free to attend.