Artist Spotlight: Lauren Oland
Each month, we highlight one of the talented artists in our reuse community. This month, it’s textile artist, Lauren Oland of mezamé by Lauren!
Lauren learned the concept of zero waste at an early age, and has been applying it to her art form ever since. Continue below to learn more about what inspires her and about her process!
1. When did you start weaving and sewing?
One of my favorite childhood television shows was Reading Rainbow. When I was around four years old, they presented a story about a little girl who makes a quilt with her grandmother from pieces of various clothing items that represent special family memories. The book was called The Patchwork Quilt, by Valerie Flournoy. Something about that book really spoke to me. After seeing that, I had to try to create like that too! I always wanted to find ways to sew and craft with other types of fibers, but my mom didn't really know how to help me! She would encourage me to talk to her sister, so I eagerly awaited visits with my aunt with craft kits, bits of cloth, threads, and yarn in hand. Eventually, I took every craft and art related class I could find in our small Wisconsin town. I kept at it. By late high school, my studio art teacher helped me get special permission to walk to a local yarn shop so that I could learn as much as possible! I could never get enough!! I went to college soon after, to study apparel and textiles, and I have immersed myself in this craft practice ever since.
2. Which aspect of creating is your favorite?
It was important to me to find a way to keep creating and innovating through my work. That is why I chose freeform weaving as my main form of art. I love that I can try something new at the loom and the sewing machine every single day. It drives me forward and keeps me enchanted as I keep exploring!
3. Where do you get your inspiration?
My weaving is inspired by color theory, the play between negative and positive space, abstract art and dreams, landscapes and cityscapes.
4. What is your preferred way to engage with your audience?
I love participating in art shows! Often that is a great way for people to learn about what I do, try on the different styles, and notice how soft and wearable the weavings are in person. Often, when someone tries on my work, they immediately radiate with smiles! That literally is one of the best feelings in the world for me. I work very hard. I love using my online platforms to engage with my audience as well but connecting in person is so special.
5. How does reuse play a part in your creativity?
My entire business is zero waste and eco conscious each step of the way. I use only remnant fibers and sustainably sourced yarns when I weave. And then, each part of the weaving is used to create something! Even the smallest bits of thread are used to fill pouf ottomans 😊 The fully woven garments are zero waste in construction. The parts of my handwoven fabric that are cut are used down to the tiniest remnant. For example, strips leftover after I create the denim jackets are used to create small patches and keychains! I have so much fun with this process! My customers love to learn about it as well. It attracts a very delightful and thoughtful client base.
I used to dash to thrift stores all over the place and eagerly await specific garage sales to source my remnant fibers. Now that I live in Austin, I can frequent the Austin Creative Reuse center instead! This has helped me keep my business strong and maintain my zero-waste philosophy and that means so much to me.
6. What compels you to donate to ACR?
I believe in the mission to source craft supplies with remnants, reclaimed goods, and repurposed items with every cell of my being! My business is not just my full-time job, it is an important part of who I am. I am passionate about inspiring other creative folks to source their supplies sustainably and I encourage them to go to ACR as well! I have a hard time parting with supplies that I am not using, but when I donate supplies and funds to ACR, I know that they will be given new life and energy, and will contribute to my goal to inspire sustainable creatives in all sorts of media, and that is a very good feeling.
7. Do you have a favorite ACR find? How did you use it?
ALL the yarns. I have been able to increase the yarns that I have on hand so that I can offer new color varieties to my customers so much more easily. I have come across some absolutely beautiful, and very soft, hand-painted merino wools at ACR. My heart skips a beat at such finds, every. single. time. 😊😊😊 Before taking my loom and inventory supplies on the road for shows, I stop at ACR and then I put the new (old) yarns into vacuum bags so that I can pack up as much of them as possible to bring with me!
8. Where can we find out more about your work?
