Practice Project

PART 1: Collecting Stories

LIVE JOURNAL OF THE CONTAINER OF ARCHIVES

Members of my Latinx (art, dance and queer) communities in Tkaronto

COMMUNITY MESSAGE

💐🌟 I WANT YOU TO BE A PART OF MY THESIS FINAL WORK 🫶🏼💐🏠

Hey love,
I’m reaching out because I’d love for you to be part of my thesis project in a way that means so much to me. My thesis works with themes of place-making and sense of belonging, specific to the Latinx Diaspora in Canada, and I’m working on a huge quilted hammock that’s going to be made from pieces of fabric or clothing from the closest people in my Latinx community here in Canada—and that includes you ❤️
I’m looking for items that you don't use anymore, but that hold sentimental or personal value, or have a special story behind them 👕👚🥼🧥👖🩲🩳👗👘🧤🧣🧦 There’s no size or material requirement, whatever you choose is perfect.
This project is the most meaningful work of my career, and it wouldn’t feel complete without your involvement. You’ve been such an essential part of my life here, and you mean family and home to me, so having your fabric or clothing in this piece would be an amazing way to celebrate the connections we’ve built. It’s a collective, community-building exercise, and I’d be honored if you’d be part of it.
In terms of logistics, we can meet up on the UofT campus, or we can arrange a time in downtown Toronto, whatever works best for you! I need to collect everything by the last week of October so I can start working on it right away.
🥁 And mark your calendar because I want you to be my guest of honor at the final thesis art exhibition happening in April 2025 (exact date and place TBD). 🥂🎆
Thank you for everything, and I’m so excited to create this beautiful piece with you!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(October 21st, 2024 - 2:15pm)

Orange Neon, Music Band Hat

First thing they bought with the money they made working in a factory in a band concert. They worked in this factory to afford moving to Downtown Toronto independently. The only thing they have remaining from the place before moving in independently.1

1. Interview with close friend, October 21, 2024.

(October 24th, 2024 - 10:45am)

Pink pijama pants

"Holi Juani,
I’ve had the pants I gave you since I was 8 years old (I am 21 now). I never really thought about what made these pants so special — perhaps the connection between them and one of my happiest birthdays — and even less about why I ended up keeping them for so long, and refusing to throw them away. I would ask my great granny to stitch it if it ripped and with each wear it became more and more just like a second skin (I can/could still wear them to these day). I believe the pants grew up with me, and now it is part of your project, they will be kept safe in the archive of care that you are sewing and I am so glad I kept them all these years, maybe the pants knew they were going to be in this project and that’s why they didn’t allow me to throw them away. Thank you for giving them a space where they can finally rest.
Love, Salo."2

2. Anonymous, direct message to author, October 24, 2024.

(October 25th, 2024 - 6pm)

Doll from Mexico

"For me, this small doll holds a lot of meaning. It represents friendship, connection, and the appreciation I have for the people I give it to. I like to share it with those who are special to me, as a reminder that they’re always in my thoughts, no matter the distance or time.

Beyond just a keepsake, this doll also carries a piece of my country, Mexico. It’s a way for me to share my heritage with those I care about, hoping it brings a reminder of our friendship whenever they see it. In its own small way, I hope it becomes something meaningful to them."3

3. Anonymous, direct message to author, October 25, 2024.

(October 25th, 2024 - 7pm)

Yellow top

She went to buy this top with her grandmother. Reminds her of the vivid colours of her hometown and is something she holds onto to remember Veracruz.4

4. Interview with close friend, October 25, 2024.

(October 25th, 2024 - 7pm)

Blue Sports Jersey

"The piece is a sports jersey of the American football team, the Tennessee Titans, with the player "Chris Johnson" on it. It means a lot to me because I am a massive sports fan, but I grew up in a house without much memorabilia of any kind. My family didn't believe in having those things as they were not fans of sports, especially football. When I was 8, I finally got one after a year or two of begging for a piece of memorabilia of my favorite sports team, and it was this jersey. I would wear it so frequently that my mom would beg me to no wear it as it was looking more ragged by the day. And though it hasn't fit me in years, I brought it with me when I moved to Canada more so as a good luck charm and to be a reminder of the dream I am chasing by moving to Canada, away from my home."5

5. Anonymous, direct message to author, October 25, 2024.

(October 30th, 2024 - 1pm)

Hand-sewn baby dress

"This little dress was gifted to me when I was merely months old. Woven and crafted completely by hand back in Colombia, it is a testament to my ethnic background and my familial ancestry. My mother immigrated to Canada in her late twenties. She then met the love of her life, married him, and had me in her early thirties. Being fully Colombian by blood yet entirely Canadian in life experience has provided me with a certain sort of dichotomy that is only experienced by first-generation children of immigrants. My connection to my “latinidad” may feel a bit frayed at times, as if I am not latina enough because of the way my Canadian identity intersects with my family’s culture. Regardless of this, though, I try to connect with my Colombian roots a bit more every day, whether it be through the way in which I dress or through the art I create. This little dress is a testament not only to this dichotomy, but also to the beauty of the immigrant who succeeded; my mother changed her life forever when she boarded that plane many years ago—and I would not exist if she had not done so."6

6. Anonymous, direct message to author, November 13, 2024.

(October 31st, 2024 - 11am)

Black Linen dress and Yellow Crochet Bag

"El lugar dónde conseguí el crochet bag fue en Magnetawan, ON. Y me trae muchos recuerdos de estar en el verano con mi familia disfrutando el bosque 🤗
Y la otra prenda, quería mencionar que me trae muchos recuerdos de cuándo vivía en Oakville con mi mamá y mi hermana, y trabajábamos en el estudio de arte de mi tía :) Y fue de las primeras prendas de ropa que me compré y me sentí YO. Entonces por muchos años lo use para eventos del estudio y con la fam."7

7. Anonymous, direct message to author, October 31, 2024.

(November 1st, 2024 - 5pm)

Linen bodysuits (White and Grey stripes & Grey/brown-ish stripes)

"i really like overalls, bodysuits, generally one-pieces of clothing that cover my whole body. i think it all started as a comforting transition out of boring uniforms at catholic school or teenage body issues and then they turned into a bit of a personal trademark that kept going once i was healed from the above. the light overall with grey/brown-ish stripes was a gift from my mom when i was in high school, right before i moved to Canada and her heart would break from having me away. the other bodysuit with white and grey stripes was a gift from my roommate in second year of university, another trademark gift but this time from a found home. i think they look mine, they come from different homes but they’ve been worn just the same, with the ends of the pants dirty from being dragged on the ground (as pants usually do when you’re 5'1 and body suits are made for a average height that is always taller) and pockets because i refuse to wear clothes that don’t have space for trinkets. You can run away as much as you can, but there are always things like this to show you how much your recreate your past in new versions of yourself."8

8. Anonymous, direct message to author, November 1, 2024.

(November 1st, 2024 - 6pm)

Green Striped Shirt

"green striped shirt: i stole this shirt from my stepdad and wore it to school when i was 15. it was one of the first times i felt masc, and i didn’t expect it to feel so good. walking out of grade 10 science felt like floating on a cloud because a friend said i looked really good in it. i don’t know if she meant it in this way, but i took that to heart as being seen in a way i never expected to want to be seen. i don’t wear it much anymore because i’ve since bought other clothes - clothes that i didn’t have to steal from my stepdad, clothes that are mine - that make me feel that way."9

9. Anonymous, direct message to author, November 1, 2024.

(November 1st, 2024 - 7pm)

Blue and Red Stripes Shirt and Brown T-shirt

The shirt holds a special meaning to him as it was the shirt he wore the first time he went to the gay village in Toronto, so he was feeling really confident and good in his self. The brown t-shirt was the piece of clothing he used to cross the border to come live in Canada for the first time.10

10. Interview with close friend, November 1, 2024.

(November 4th, 2024 - 1pm)

"Colombiana" Blue T-shirt

She got this shirt from Colombian local brand and it represents one of the most iconic Colombian brands and symbols.11

11. Interview with close friend, November 4, 2024.

(November 4th, 2024 - 2pm)

White T-shirt and Blue jeans

She wore this t-shirt in a specific birthday back in Mexico, when her grandparents had recently passed away, and her family was going through these hard times. This piece holds this moment in time as well as the feeling from her hometown. The blue jeans reminder her more of adventure.12

12. Interview with close friend, November 4, 2024.

(November 4th, 2024 - 3pm)

Pink sweater

This sweater reminds her of her friend Vanessa, the first friend she made when coming to university from Guadalajara. She went with her thrifting, and it reminds her of the sense of adventure and that everything is possible, the first year of uni living abroad. Her first year in uni involved a lot of discovery and wonder, because she bought the sweater in a thrift store that wasn't even in downtown Toronto. Overall, her first year was the time when she felt most excitement.13

13. Interview with close friend, November 4, 2024.

(November 4th, 2024 - 6pm)

Black Uni Sports jersey

This shirt was from the university she attended in Brazil, the first time she left her home in Mexico to live abroad as an independent person. It's her first reminder in a clothing piece of living by herself outside her hometown.14

14. Interview with close friend, November 4, 2024.

(November 4th, 2024 - 6pm)

Packers Long Sleeve Green shirt

"This Packers green long-sleeve shirt is so important to me because my dad would always wear that growing up; that was basically his favourite shirt, and I inherited it sometime (or I probably took it from his wardrobe at some point). Whenever I missed him, I would wear it, and a lot of hard things have happened with him, some being him having to go to prison or even being deported; there's been moments where I've really had to miss him and not have him around. So, wearing his clothing has meant a lot to me, it's a way of connection, a way of remembering a simpler time when we were together. That's why it was a lot to part ways with it, but it's also a piece of clothing I know it's gonna deteriorate at some point, even the sleeves are breaking! That's why it's significant to me, it's my daddy, mi papito. It's a piece that connects through time and space. Offered my dad a way to connect with the culture here but offers a way for me to connect emotionally with him even in his absences."15

15. Anonymous, direct message to author, November 4, 2024.

(November 5th, 2024 - 6pm)

"Colombia" t-shirt and 1 "Hustle" t-shirt

These t-shirts were brought to Nicolas by his uncle form Colombia and, since he has not been in Colombia in many years, and neither sees his uncle a lot, these shirts are valuable to him, as they remind him of a family member he really loves and has a close relationship with.16

16. Interview with close friend, November 5, 2024.

(November 6th, 2024 - 6pm)

Cherries black top and black glove with rose

"The first item, the top, I got it in Colombia. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve worn it since then. It means a lot to me because it gave me confidence and made me feel good about (how I see) myself. Eventually, it no longer fit me, but I kept it because I had that feeling that I might wear it again someday. The second item, the glove, was the first pair I had when I arrived in Canada. My grandmother gave them to me, and I couldn’t stop wearing them. Eventually, I lost one, but I kept the one that remained because of the special meaning it held as a gift from my grandmother when I first arrived in this country."17

17. Anonymous, direct message to author, November 11, 2024.

(November 7th, 2024 - 4pm)

Blue Jean Short shorts

"So this is what happened with those short shorts.
I think this was second year or third year, but I was invited to a Halloween party at someone’s place who was also studying engineering. I’m not a big dress up guy, but I know these parties can be quite funny and ridiculous in a good way, so I decided that I wanted to dress up! I decided that I was gonna go and dress up as a sexy construction worker, because I didn’t wanna buy something new. I grabbed an old pair of jeans and cut them super short, to the point where my boxers were actually longer than the short shorts themselves hahah. One of my friends roommates, luckily, had a construction vest that he let me borrow. So when I got to the party, I changed out of my regular clothes into my sexy construction worker clothes. It was amazing because these parties get really hot so I was in short shorts and just construction vest! I had a blast and still have a good memories from that party."18

18. Anonymous, direct message to author, November 8, 2024.

(November 8th, 2024 - 1:30pm)

Cream white thrifted t-shirts

"When I first arrived to Canada, my mom used to buy our clothes from the most affordable locations possible. My pants would be extra large and drag on the floor as I walked to school, and my shirts would be too small as I began to grow up. When my dad began to make good money, it showed in the clothing on my body. What was once too loose fit just right, and anything that was too tight or tacky was cut up and used as a cleaning cloth. At one point I realized the clothing I was wearing was all brand new, and I felt grateful to be able to own that. But I still had reminiscence of my old clothing lingering through my closet. When I did my final spring cleaning to be donated away to someone in need, I found a NASA shirt that my mom bought me when I started High school. This was a transitional time when our funds improved and so did our clothes, but I would keep the clothing I still liked. I looked at the shirt and felt scared to throw it away, afraid I would forget where I came from and therefore who I am. The shirt, once was too large for my skinny body but now fits just right, reminds me of the humble beginnings I once lived. Now, as I donate my old clothes, I wonder if another Latin American kid, navigating life in oversized shirts, might see themselves in me."19

19. Anonymous, direct message to author, November 8, 2024.

(November 12th, 2024 - 1:30pm)

Black t-shirt

The shirt she donated was a shirt inherited by a large network of family members, passed down across different, intertwined circumstances of their lives; moving to different places, travelling with them, and she ended up keeping this reminder of the movement and dynamic relationships of her familial network.20

20. Interview with close friend, November 8, 2024.

(November 12th, 2024 - 7:30pm)

Grey sweater

"Este saco lo usamos desde antes del año 2000 en distintas ocaciones y países:
•⁠ ⁠Carolina
•⁠ ⁠Maria Isabel (cuando estaba esperando a Santiago)...por lo tanto,
•⁠ ⁠Santiago
•⁠ ⁠Chris
•⁠ ⁠Juanita."

"Ya esta muy viejito y descocido en unas partecitas!!"

"Ese es de Guatavita"21

Carolina Arango, personal photo of her with her dad, a Sunday in the early 2000s, Santa María del Lago wetland, Bogotá, Colombia.

Carolina Arango, personal photo of Familia Arango Corchuelo, December 2006, Via Chingaza, Colombia.

Carolina Arango, personal photo, December 2021, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. In the building of her first home in Canada, has been demolished and no longer exists.

21. Arango, Carolina, direct message to author, November 12, 2024.

(November 14th, 2024 - 10:41am)

Beige Hoodie

"This piece of fabric that seems insignificant reminds me of one of the hardest years in my life. I left everything I knew behind, to look for hope and opportunities in Canada—but looking back—I was really looking for a new home. I learned how much I was capable of doing, one can only discover their true capacity when nobody is watching, when you face yourself in the mirror. This year was very lonely as most classes were online and I found myself in an unknown city with unknown people, although friends to meet soon. I wore this beige hoodie every day at 5:30 AM, on my way to the gym in this new cold city. I tried to hide myself in work, exams, productivity, cleaning, productivity, yet every day that passed it felt more empty; the loneliness was getting louder and louder.
Self-doubt has always kept me company. Why did I put myself through this if my parents, grandparents and great grandparents had to do it too? Were their efforts and sacrifices lost once I left home? What if we are eternal refugees, migrants, nation-less people? What if there is no home where I can feel safe?
Thank you self-doubt for keeping me accountable for my lineages of trauma and hard work, thank you fear for protecting me, and thank you courage for pushing me to do things with fear. Now it is time to move forward and build my home, as no place will ever make me feel safe, it is the people that protect, not spaces.
With solidarity,"22

22. Anonymous, direct message to author, November 14, 2024.

* Not all stories from all the other clothing pieces are included, due to privacy requested by the contributors, as well as some pieces that remain to arrive in my hands (due to delay of shipping, etc)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PART 2: Weaving Stories

SEWING, EMBROIDER, CONNECTING PIECES

- A process, experiment, tests -

(November 4th, 2024 - 7pm)

Sewing the word "Abue", how I call my grandmothers, into a piece of fabric from a friend's shirt.
Practicing (a lot) of patience, since I really struggle making work that takes a long time, going for the faster, more active, dynamic methods (spray paint, graffiti, printing, body paint, movement-based, large-scale) -> this practice I'm undertaking of sewing small elements into important elements of the archive is the opposite of that.22

Juanita Arango, personal photo, November 4, 2024.

Finished hand-sewn word: realized faster = less quality, as seen in the vertical stitches that look very loose. It's better to be patient and take more time doing horizontal stitches to fill up the letters and have a stronger and better-looking embroider.

Juanita Arango, personal photo, November 11, 2024.

22. Lois Wade, “How to Thread a Needle and Tie a Knot for Beginners,” wikiHow, June 11, 2024, https://www.wikihow.com/Thread-a-Needle-and-Tie-a-Knot

(November 7th, 2024 - 9pm)

Tinker Open Studio - Bampot House

Went to this art mixer/ open studio with a friend who knows embroidery, specifically Tatreez, to practice and experiment with sewing and feeling more familiar handling the needle. I brough a piece of jean shorts one of my friends donated to me as well as remains of fabric from last year's Latinx feminist collective encounters. I was trying to patch the jean shorts open gaps with the coloured fabric sewing around it. It wasn't the most successful and strong technique to use single stitch.
So, I decided to practice different stitch patterns/techniques to keep in mind when sewing for my big project.23 It was very hard to concentrate and felt very anxious trying to work within a group of people. especially with the pressure of working perfectly among artists, paired with doing something new like hand-sewing, led me to crumble a bit when trying to sew. But at least I tried this new setting-work combination and learned is not for me!

Juanita Arango, personal photo, November 7, 2024.

23. Julie Stuart, “Julie Stuart ⋒ on Instagram: ‘Here’s Your Sign to Learn Embroidery! 🪡 Our Beginner Stitch Sampler Kits Are Our Best-Sellers, and for Good Reason. I Think It’s Because They Are Such a Perfect Way to Start Learning Embroidery. There’s No Pressure to Make a Design. Just Relax, Watch the Videos, and Learn 8 Beginner Embroidery Stitches with Me. Grab Yours at: Www.Cleverpoppy.Com ❤️ #embroiderykit #embroiderydesign #stitchsampler #embroiderytutorial #beginnerembroidery,’” Instagram, accessed November 7, 2024, https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-EV_NVhG91/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA.

(November 8th, 2024 - 8pm)

I finally got my sewing machine and dedicated my whole Friday night to learn how to use it, reading all the manuals, watching some beginners videos and testing some work on connecting fabric pieces, to get familiar with the operations.24
I'm glad I decided to learn and use fabric scraps to experiment first because I literally got the fabric stuck under the machine and had to break it down and do a lot of modifications, but I did so in a controlled environment where I wouldn't freak out with the clothing pieces that I am actually using for the final project.

First straight stitch = success!