Abigail Doan

Fashion(ing) A.D. 2020 to 2021

Posted on: Thursday, December 17, 2020

Close to ten years after putting the journal, Ecco Eco, on pause, I decided in 2020 to reopen select conversations with the launch of a new project that aims to explore artifacts, objects, and ideas related to fashion(ing) materials in response to environmental phenomena and terrain narratives.

The previous archives (from 2008 to 2012) reflect documentation and writing from this period, although in many instances the content does not reflect our current era. That said, there are threads in these postings that I find useful in reflecting on where we might collectively venture.

Please join me on this new journey at Fashion(ing) A.D. for future projects and writings. Specific features include notes, terrain (monthly postings), and collaborative projects.

Additionally, this (blogger) studio journal (2007 - 2020) will now be archived.

Please visit www.abigaildoan.com for updates and news.

Walking Libraries Interview in Moowon Journal

Posted on: Thursday, January 09, 2020

“Walking is often viewed as an act of resistance, at least in terms of the individual feeling empowered to shed societal expectations, identify tendencies to subjugate nature, and assess the status quo.”

– Abigail Doan, Environmental artist and researcher

So honored to have Walking Libraries (2016-2020) featured in Moowon Journal this month. Mona Kim, Moowon's founder, asked some wonderful questions as part of an interview feature in the article.

All featured photos are from my on-foot travels in rural regions of the U.S. as well as Europe. Studio artifacts and objects were created as part of my documentation of traces of atmospheric conditions and acts of resilience while out on the trail. "The development of Walking Libraries as an archiving concept and movement practice was a way for me to confront my own layers of mental stasis, and in turn, come into contact with my surroundings in ways that might reveal solutions for greater resiliency and connectedness moving forward."

Learn more about Moowon here and become a part of their community here.

Prairie Editions | 2019

Posted on: Monday, August 19, 2019

woven palm raffia vessel by Monica Hofstadter | photo: Abigail Doan

Several months have passed since my May artist residency at The Jennings Hotel in Joseph, Oregon, but the slower summer tempo has allowed for some reflection on my time out west and the documentation of materials and project ideas leading up to my stay and the days thereafter.

fusing ideas + materials for the prairie vessel and Walking Libraries artifacts

Walking Libraries artifacts documented in room 4 at The Jennings Hotel

My idea to commission the above prairie vessel from Brooklyn artist/designer, Monica Hofstadter, proved to be an ideal way to further my Walking Libraries investigations.

Monica offered brilliant ideas re: the creation of a hand-woven vessel (wearable art object) that was to help me store gathered materials while out on the prairie or visiting ghost towns.

We looked closely at tule mat weavings and cordage methods, storage vessels and baskets from native traditions in the region, as well as delving into Monica's previous collections and designs highlighting tactile experiments and soft forms. Our final solution for this edition was a distillation of/homage to these sources, and also the embodiment of a dialogue between creatives and places.

Abigail Doan | residency workspace at The Jennings Hotel

For more information on Monica Hofstadter's work, visit her website and Instagram.

Zumwalt Prairie | Artist Residency

Posted on: Saturday, April 27, 2019

Prairie Kit | Abigail Doan studio

I am excited to share that I will be traveling to Eastern Oregon in early May for a residency at The Jennings Hotel. This opportunity will allow me to further my environmental documentation project, Walking Libraries, as well as survey the region's Zumwalt Prairie.

In preparation for these travels, I am creating a kit of materials that will be used during walking excursions on the prairie as well as for future grassland and regional terrain editions.

construction of a tule mat via Primitive Ways

Research for my trip has included tule mat weaving history and methods, 'prairie queen' quilt patterns, agricultural and traditional crafting methods/materials of the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) people, studies on what constitutes an intact or sustainable prairie system, like the Zumwalt, and writings by author, Marcy Houle. Her book, The Prairie Keepers: Secrets of the Zumwalt, exquisitely and often humorously, describes the blend of interwoven local characters and the unique plant and animal species that make up the prairie ecosystem.

I wanted to send a special thanks in advance to The Jennings Hotel, as their artist residency program coupled with the spirit of the Prairie Mountain Folk School has inspired me to look beyond my usual methods for investigating the spirit of place and site specific histories.

2018 to 2019 | Restoration AD

Posted on: Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Walking Libraries 'artifacts' | Abigail Doan | 2018

I want to take a moment to thank all of the talented individuals and key organizations who I collaborated with or who helped me to further ideas for the growth of this past year's studio projects.

It was a year filled with learning from others, slowing down (still), and going deeper into what might better sustain me/us for 2019 and beyond. I will be further fine-tuning my efforts in the new year, perhaps making less, but observing and quietly documenting more. I have loosely tagged 2019 as a year of 'restoration' [ #restorationAD ], as I work to rebuild what is in my immediate sphere and also reframe existing ideas as experiential, restorative initiatives.

Posted on: Sunday, July 29, 2018

Walking Libraries at 'Kraftmaking the Future' in Transylvania

I am so thrilled to announce my participation in a mid-summer workshop in Cincu, Brasov County, Romania. This week long gathering in Transylvania has been organized by KraftMade cultural preservation and craft/textiles studio. In addition to other workshops, my Walking Libraries project will be shared as an immersive experience for place-making observation and rural documentation.

KraftMaking the Future: Fibers and Foraging Heritage in Transylvania is a workshop taking place during 29 July – 5 August in Cincu for a selection of the best MA students of the Fashion Design Department/University of Arts and Design, Cluj-Napoca. This workshop aims to show, theoretically and practically, how sustainable practices and connection to culture and place narratives can be integrated in the fashion industry and creation of textiles. Results of the workshop and documentary will be presented first at Textile Arts Center (New York) and University of Arts and Design (Cluj-Napoca).

Workshop concept and host: Soxen Association, KraftMade.

Lecturers and workshop materials: Abigail Doan (USA), Zayaan Khan (South Africa), Victoria Manganiello (USA), Marlene Stanciu (Romania). Filmmaker: Kristin Kremers (USA). Project coordination on behalf of University of Arts and Design/Fashion Design Department: Prof.univ.dr. Elena Basso Stănescu and Conf.univ.dr. Lucian Broscățean.

Cultural project co-funded by AFCN. *The project does not necessarily represent the position of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN is neither responsible for the content of the project, nor the way in which the results of the project can be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the funding beneficiary.

A special thank you also to our event sponsor: Domeniile Averești.

Workshop partners include: the Textile Arts Center in Brooklyn/NYC Fashion Design Department/ Universitatea de Artă şi Design din Cluj-Napoca / UAD, Evangelic CA Parish Cincu, Primaria Comunei Cincu, Mesteshukar ButiQ - MBQ.

'Kraftmaking the Future' workshop announcement artwork by Aitch

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