the active sessions of twisting rope, cooperation needed!

And twist an turn!

For young and old, making a rope is fun!

Let’s make some giant ropes, choose the color you like.

The basic material for this cummunity art project: discarded fashion items, a major waste problem all over the world.

sewing all the cut up clothes together into looooong strips…..

cutting up lots of discarded fashion items into strips…

schoolkids selecting the textile waste by colour.

The result of all this: colorful big and unique twisted ropes and braids!

This community art project took place in 2021. The Nest, an art piece designed by Femke van Gemert was to emerge in the library of of Alphen aan den Rijn. From around 100 kilo’s of fashion waste from the municipality ropes were made in the library. In various workshops, with assistance of Tineke Koelewijn, the clothes were cut up and sewn together in long strips. After that the twisting and braiding could begin with various groups of inhabitants. Kids from a primary school selected the waste by colour, skilled ladies and girls came to help for the cutting and sewing of long strips. Than all kinds of people, young and old, used their muscle power and cooperation skills to create the large ropes in very active an fun sessions. The Nest is made from around 300 kilo’s of textile waste all together. The ropes and braids adorn the big nest, people can find the rope they made in the Nest, when visiting the library. For the making of The Nest, see video below.