WEAVING WORDS

Saturday 25th October 13.30-15.30

 Explore woven fabric as a source of inspiration for creative and expressive writing. Facilitated by composer, sound artist and writer John Kefala Kerr, this session invites you to find poetic inspiration in the patterns, textures and colours of woven fabric, and the interwoven stories and associations embedded in everyday cloth. 

• No previous experience required

• Includes handloom weaving demonstration

• Bring along a piece of cloth, garment or other woven item that has a particular significance or meaning for you

John Kefala Kerr's fiction and poetry have been published by Live Canon, Arachne Press, and Magma Poetry. John's poem Wool Man was shortlisted for the 2025 Plaza Poetry Prize and his weaving-inspired pamphlet Fray will be published by Black Cat Poetry Press in 2026.

"Fray captivated me with its sustained emphasis on metaphors of stitching and fabric as a means of investigating social and historical hierarchies; it’s an intricately structured pamphlet and the accuracy of its descriptions reminded me of Elizabeth Bishop." John McCullough

The audio-visual installation version of Fray will be on display at Dry Water Arts on Saturday 25th October.

This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with the North East Combined Authority as the Lead Authority.