An evolving community project
The concept behind “Woven Welcome” began in 2012 at the Open Engagement conference sponsored by the Art and Social Practice program at Portland State University in Oregon.
Odegaard joined artists Sandy Sampson and Anne Greenwood in forming a “Welcome Committee” for the conference. Participants gathering in Portland worked together to weave a welcome mat, establishing the collaborative process that would guide future versions of the project.
The following year, Odegaard expanded the concept for the 2013 Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener in Park Rapids. The community cultural development project was created through partnerships with the Nemeth Art Center, Hubbard County Developmental Achievement Center, Park Rapids Chamber of Commerce and community members.
Approximately 1,200 square feet of woven rug was presented during the event’s community picnic. The completed work served as a welcome mat for then-Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton and other attendees while symbolizing the connections formed when individuals work together to create a public art statement.
The project later came to the Lehigh Valley through a partnership involving Odegaard, the Allentown Art Museum, Via of the Lehigh Valley and community participants.
In 2015, Odegaard worked with groups across the region to create woven sections for an installation at the museum. Visitors could also contribute using a loom placed inside the exhibition, allowing the artwork to continue growing throughout its display.
The project brought people together through hands-on artmaking while creating a connection between the museum and the broader community, according to the Allentown Art Museum.
“Weaving can symbolize the roots of trees and, by extension, the roots of a community,” Odegaard said.