Sunnydale has evolved into an NFT collection!
Lately I've been thinking a lot about physical and digital and how to explore the patterns and possibilities where handwoven and digital intersect. My handwoven series Sunnydale is off the loom and I’ve been sewing the panels into bags of all types, but that got me thinking, how else could this series exist, especially digitally, and how could I merge the physical with the digital. The twill patterns I used for the panels are literally graphic representations of the code used to create the pattern, and when I layered them over the final handwoven pieces, I found it very interesting to see the contrast between the code and the cloth (a little Matrix-y, but in reverse, from physical to digital).
Also, fun fact: Did you know looms were the inspiration for the first computers? Up/down on a loom, 1s/0s in code, it's the same!
So, here’s my toe-dip into making NFTs. You can find them here: OpenSea. I’m stoked to be part of the journey!
About the Sunnydale collection:
The handwoven series was inspired by Buffy the Vampire Slayer, one of my all time favorite 90s tv shows. The warp represents the physical location the series is set in, connecting the character panels with color (a cream for Sunnydale High School’s cream-colored limestone building, pink and blue that match the early evening sky and greens for the Southern California foliage) and a uniform foundation (they are all woven with the same base threads). The character panel uniqueness was created by altering the twill pattern with the treadling sequence, and the weft yarn was chosen based on the character’s personality, strengths and overall vibe.
There are 4 NFTs, 25 of each (for the 25th Anniversary of BtVS)
Sunnydale_01 is based on the character Buffy, blonde and badass. The yarn uses a combination of a lovely purple with flecks of bright, blood-red, and a soft golden yellow for the speedy stripes/blonde locks; while the pattern is a strong and balanced twill, like her personality, 1/2 slayer and 1/2 cheerleader.
Sunnydale_02 is based on the character Angel, the vampire with a soul. It wouldn’t be Buffy without Angel, they’re the yin/yang of the story. She’s the shining, golden warrior, he’s the shadow-clinging, brooding champion, atoning for his dark past.
Sunnydale_03 is based on the character Spike, a tough and tumble evil demon that turns into a human-kind-saving champion. The yarns create a strong light/dark contrast with the wool reminiscent of his platinum blonde locks, a nod to his punk rock persona (after all, as Buffy stated, “Billy Idol stole his look.”); and the pattern has great edges that look very fang-y
Sunnydale_04 is based on the character Willow (particularly season 4 on), she's mature, confident and strong in her powers, both tech and witch.