CURRENT EXHIBIT
Interwoven: Fibers & Findings that Bind Community
Thayer Academy, Braintree, MA
February 6 - March 1, 2025
Artist in residence crafts art from unlikely sources
Feb 19 2025 5:00 PM, THAYER ACADEMY
Just like the artist who put it together, Thayer Academy’s current art exhibition, Interwoven: Fibers & Findings That Bind Community, seeks to reimagine the overlooked and/or discarded through the power of collaboration and connection.
The exhibit opened Feb. 11 in Koskores Gallery and runs until March 1. It showcases the work of Alexandra Adamo, Thayer’s current artist in residence, and features artwork crafted from unexpected sources: scraps of 3D-printed filament, reclaimed wood from a gaga ball pit, discarded soccer and lacrosse nets, secondhand frames, and bits of scrap wool imbued with new life.
Adamo spent much of January working closely with students as well as members of Thayer’s faculty and staff on various projects. For “Felt & Found,” the artist spent three weeks with Upper School students — those in Honors Arts as well as all four sections of Painting & Drawing — so that students could use needle-felting techniques to create tapestries that explored collective experience and responded to the question: “What does community mean to me?” These original creations were then displayed in salvaged frames. For “Wool & Wonder,” Adamo worked with Middle School students who, through the patient and rhythmic practice of needle-felting, transformed wool fibers into vibrant, tactile circles of imagination. For “Process & Product,” Thayer photography students captured the intricate details of felt-making — both process and product — through carefully composed photographic images. The multimedia artist, educator, and public artist even set up a studio of sorts so that students could witness Adamo at work and connect with her during free periods. She calls the current exhibit “a collective narrative of renewal and ingenuity that weaves together the unique voices in each and every one of us.”
The founder of Alex Makes Art, Adamo emphasizes such interactive experiences and takes the approach that art should be accessible to all. That has been made plain here at Thayer not only through the collaborative exhibit and her work with students but through a series of workshops held at various points through her residency. These workshops continue, with one "Stab & Schmear" event taking place Saturday, Feb. 22, and a second felting session slated for Saturday, March 1. Both Saturday sessions are open to the public and run from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in the Koskores gallery.
“As Thayer Academy’s artist in residence,” noted Adamo in her artist’s statement, “I was inspired to create a unique body of work in response to my time here. Curiosity, connection, and the vibrancy of this community shaped each piece I crafted using found materials and scrap wool. Alongside this personal exploration, I wanted to celebrate the incredible resources, talent, and energy at Thayer while respecting the packed schedules of students and staff. This process became an invitation to pause, see familiar materials in new ways, and discover creativity and connection in unexpected places.”
A Thayer Friends & Family Reception celebrating the experiential exhibit will take place Friday, Feb. 21, from 5 to 6:45 p.m. in the gallery. The family-friendly evening is designed for visitors of all ages and works in conjunction with the Upper School’s production of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical later that same evening. Participants will be able to explore the exhibition, enjoy a creative felting activity, partake of light refreshments, and celebrate the intersection of art and performance.
all photos courtesy of Thayer Academy
Interwoven: Fibers & Finding That Bind Community
Interwoven: Fibers & Findings That Bind Community is an experiential exhibit that delves into the boundless possibilities of found materials, collaboration, and creative transformation. Rooted in the spirit of discovery, the showcase features artwork crafted from unexpected sources: scraps of 3D-printed filament, reclaimed wood from a gaga ball pit, discarded soccer and lacrosse nets, secondhand frames, and bits of scrap wool imbued with new life.
In an era where so much of our connection is mediated by screens, Interwoven explores the profound intersection of our technological present and our tactile past. It challenges the perceived divide between innovation and tradition, blending the digital with the organic to highlight the enduring importance of hands-on creativity.
This exhibit is a weaving together of innovation and tradition to create stronger, more meaningful bonds. It is both a celebration of the resources and talents within this community and an exploration of how art can spark new avenues for creativity, connection, and shared discovery.
Artist Statement:
As Thayer Academy’s Artist-in-Residence, I was inspired to create a unique body of work in response to my time here. Curiosity, connection, and the vibrancy of this community shaped each piece I crafted using found materials and scrap wool. Alongside this personal exploration, I wanted to celebrate the incredible resources, talent, and energy at Thayer while respecting the packed schedules of students and staff. This process became an invitation to pause, see familiar materials in new ways, and discover creativity and connection in unexpected places.
Together, students and staff joined me in crafting felt paintings displayed in rescued frames. Interwoven: Fibers & Findings that Bind Community is a collective narrative of renewal and ingenuity that weaves together the unique voices in each and every one of us.
"This body of work grew out of my own curiosity and my deep appreciation for the dynamic athletic department, creative faculty, and countless helping hands that make Thayer so special! Interwoven celebrates what’s already here—the materials, the people, and the stories—turning overlooked scraps into meaningful works of art and connection."
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