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Finland Travel Diaries: Textile Studies, Craft Education and Makerspaces

Finland Travel Diaries: Textile Studies, Craft Education and Makerspaces
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In August 2021, Prof. Bärbel Schmidt from Osnabrück University and German textile designer and weaver Lucia Schwalenberg were in Finland on a research trip that focused on Textile Studies, Craft Education and Makerspaces. The trip was funded by the Lower Saxony Ministry for Science and Culture, through a support program that aims at strengthening the cooperation between European countries. Lucia tells us more…

The goal of the Textile Studies program at Osnabrück University is to train future textile teachers; stimulate the students’ curiosity and excitement for textiles, and encourage further studies of textile culture. The Textile Studies department offers a setting where the students experience that knowledge is unlimited and learning is for life!

Nordic countries like Finland are pursuing a holistic approach to Craft Education. They treasure  lifelong learning, which is cross-generational, cross-cultural and interdisciplinary. In addition to finding this learning methodology in the different schools and universities across Finland, it is also embedded in the Craft Organization Taito and several pop-up Makerspaces. And that’s where we focused …

About the trip…

Endless green woods, speckled by glittering lakes, surrounded by an archipelago of small islands –  flying over Finland from densely populated Germany feels like immersing into a deep force of nature. Our first stop was in the far north of Finland, at Lake Inari.

Lake Inari is a sanctuary of the Sami – the indigenous people of northern Europe – with their own history, language, culture and way of living. They populate the Arctic regions in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia. The Siida Sámi Museum, situated on the banks of the Lake, gives an insight into the Sámi culture and nature of Northern Lapland.

Calming down at Lake Inari is the perfect start to a journey through Finland:  We met up with our student Lisa in a cabin (in Finnish Mökki) equipped with a Finnish Sauna. The surrounding woods were filled with wild berries and mushrooms!

From here, we drove south for 350 km to Rovaniemi, seeing more reindeer than men along the way! Rovaniemi is situated on the arctic circle. It is the home of the University of Lapland, which is one of the northern-most universities in the world.

Jätemateriaalikengät: Art Exhibit by staff from University of Lapland, Arktikum Rovaniemi

Jätemateriaalikengät: Ana Nuutinen, Art Exhibit by staff from University of Lapland, Arktikum Rovaniemi

At this university, as well as at every other university we visited throughout the trip, we observed that textile culture is an integrated part of the Finnish cultural heritage.  This applies equally to textile design, textile art and handicraft. The workshops are excellently equipped, and the studios are spacious. Wellbeing and a culture of trust are crucial to the Finnish philosophy of life and education. This encourages a relaxed and focused atmosphere for work and study, and a feeling of togetherness.

Looms, dying facilities, sewing-, knitting- and embroidery-machines can be used by the students as they like.  Individual workspaces and self-determined spaces for interaction are spread out.  Erasmus exchange student Lisa, appreciates the Nordic feelgood atmosphere, just like we instantly did.

A traditional type of textiles in Finland are the beautiful handwoven Ranuus (blankets). The Local Heritage Museum in Rovaniemi shows a collection of stripes in plain weave. The pattern is composed of stripes, groups of stripes or Rya pile. The yarn is dyed with plant dyes. This Ranuus were used as coverings for wooden benches in the living room, or for sofa-benches. The bench can often be extended in width to the size of a narrow bed.

Finland is also known for textile industry, for example printed designs from Marimekko. On our way further south, we stopped at the well-known jacquard weaving mill Lapuan Kankurit. Here we were  warmly welcomed by German-speaking Jaana and Esko Hjelt.  Jaana and Esko are the 4th generation leading the textile company.  The company philosophy is to offer the high-end Nordic design and also to inspire cooperation with textile design students and Universities. They also count on long-lasting partnerships with designers.

Lapuan Kankurit: Jacquard weaving mill, Lapua

Rauma on the west coast of Finland is World Cultural Heritage site for its well-preserved wooden town architecture.  Rauma is also Finland’s foremost bobbin lace making town. Next to the historic center is the Rauma Campus of Turku University: Their main study is the education of Finnish Craft Teachers.  The educational concept reflects a holistic approach to Craft and Design learning, for primary teachers and early childhood education. The campus includes workshop facilities, a training school and an idyllic school garden.

In Turku, which is Finland’ former capital, we visited Taito, located next to the living handicraft museum. Taito is listed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, being Finland‘s foremost  provider of craft,  consulting and educational services. Taito manages craft shops with associated workshop facilities, as well as remote education.  In Turku next to the craft shop, we visited a weaving workshop equipped with countermarch-looms, a warping mill and lots of weaving material. They also sold simple weaving kits for beginners, and courses on specific textile techniques.

We also stopped in Fiskars, the place where the company making Finnish traditional scissors and metal tools was founded. The site is now transformed into an artists’ colony with workshops and galleries. The anniversary exhibition showcased contemporary craft and textile art.

1.500 kilometers south from Lake Inari, we reached the vibrant metropolis Helsinki, located on the south coast. Here we had 3 days packed with program:

Oodi: Helskinki‘s new library with maker facilities next to books

Oodi, Helsinki’s new Central Library: This is much more than a traditional library, it is Helsinki‘s #1 Meeting Place. Spread out over three floors are facilities for 3D-printing, laser cutting, sewing, video-gaming, music rooms, books, children’s area, cinema and Café.

‘Maker Culture and Design Learning’ are the research topics of Prof. Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen at University of Helsinki. She gave us a glimpse into the research workshop areas. At the Arabia Campus, Tiina Karhu from Metropolia University introduced a project for funeral textiles woven on TC2.

Välitila Studio is a perfectly equipped new Makerspace run by Finnish textile designer and Aalto graduate Pirita Lauri. Her background is dying with natural pigments, weaving on countermarch and TC2 looms. As well as tufting, knitting, sewing and upholstery. Pirita’s philosophy is to offer a makerspace for professionals, aiming at students after graduation, freelance textile designers and artists.

Aalto University:  Prof. Maarit Salolainen: She presented the incredible facilities, including an industrial jacquard machine, two digital TC2 jacquards, digital shaft- and countermarch looms, knitting-, dying- and printing-areas.

Sotftislab is a pop-up Makerspace in Helsinki. For 4 weeks, they are located in the space of the local artists’ association:  The space is equipped with looms, sewing- and knitting-machines and showcased the results of the participants/residents.

Softislab: Popup Makerspace in Helsinki. Jaija Järviniemi showing Prof. Bärbel Schmidt around

Pirita Lauri from Välitila Studio helped with her TC2 loom. The result was inspiring, and the aim of the group is to document the need for such an initiative, and look for a permanent space.  The philosophy was to offer a Makerspace to be used by professionals as well as the local community, children, young adults, unemployed and  – just everybody.  An encouraging example …

Thanks to…

Everybody who helped and shared information for planning this research trip to Finland. A special Kiitos/Danke to Lisa Schreiber, Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, Pirita Lauri, Urs Dierker and Katja Huhmarkangas.

About Bärbel: She teaches Textile Studies as a Professor at Osnabrück University/Germany. Her research fields are textile culture and textile education. She is working on a cooperative project with Textile Research Centre Leiden/NL and Immaterial World Cultural Heritage Blueprint.

About Lucia: After studying Journalism and Textile Design in Munich and Hannover, Lucia completed the Shuttle Course at Kunsthochschule Linz/Textiles Zentrum Haslach, Austria. She works as a textile designer, weaving lecturer and research staff member at Osnabrück University/Textile Studies. She is working on her PHD-project “The Beiderwand weaving workshop Meldorf as a textile place of memory”.

Links…

Osnabrück University

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