Colleen Choma

Knotted Into Nature

The human population is currently living through a global pandemic, environmental climate change, and the political polarization of our people. Let me rephrase this; the entire ecosystem we call planet Earth, is battling multiple crises resulting in subconsciously feeling the pain of species loss, human untethering, and environmental degradation. How could we not? We, biotic/living parts, as well as abiotic/nonliving parts, are a part of this system whether we realise or acknowledge this or not. We/ you/ I/ us/ they/ them/ all are a part of an eccentric, mathematical, infinitely repeating patterns of energy and atoms when you daydream back to science classes šŸ™‚ Knowing this is comforting for me. 

The word fracture shares an etymological link with fractal, which refers to a pattern that repeats itself no matter how much you break it down. With all the crises happening in our country, it is critical that we look at these attacks in the context of the larger patterns they represent because patterns define everything in our universe. 

Think about someone who struggles with addiction. The first step to recovery is to break the pattern of addiction, admitting to themselves there is a problem, surrendering to the addiction cycle, an action that has taken over your control, something that has a repetition UNTIL you pause the flow of energy that is being fed into it. You can lead a horse to water but you canā€™t make it drink. We need to learn the power of our own mind and learn that vulnerability is the key to success. This is by no means an easy process however, a necessary one. To sustain the future, the next, the now that will continue on. 

Patterns define everything in our universe. Just as the patterns of our DNA defines our constitution and the pattern of our actions defines our character, the same is true for our country. It can be overwhelming, but also empowering to recognize our place in these patterns-our ability to change them.

The patterns of injustice we have witnessed in the United States over the past year is evidence of a country with white supremacy woven into the very DNA, replicated at every level. Changing that pattern means recognizing our place in it and examining where it lives around and within us. The activist and author Grace Lee Boggs explains, ā€œYou cannot change any society unless you take responsibility for it, unless you see yourself as belonging to it and responsible for changing it.ā€ 

You can take a walk through the woods and feel much appreciation and gratitude for your surroundings but when you start learning or becoming aware of the intricacy of what is happening in the woodsā€¦ this opens the layers of complexity to where our roots are found and invites us to recognize ourselves as part of the larger whole.

ARTIST STATEMENT:

Colleen Choma strives to express the importance of slowing down in a fast paced culture, encouraging us to reconnect with the roots and surroundings that make the Earth’s ecosystem exist. She has recently discovered the art of knot tying; macrame. She works on art textiles, home decor, and jewelry. All products are uniquely handmade with love and passion interwoven. Colleen urges us to recognize the injustice of repetitive harmful patterns and invites us to consider the beauty of natureā€™s sustaining patterns. Equal treatment of all people, tolerance, justice, respect for nature, our planet, home, life, non-violence, anti-racism, the right to education, and health & mental wellness are all topics that she passionately views as important. With her woven macrame she hopes to highlight the importance of each and every individualā€™s mental health and unite all creatives to step forward with confidence and vulnerability.  

In a time of uncertainty, confusion, and isolation, Colleen has taken time to explore within. The mantra ā€˜make time to take timeā€™ has helped her to check in on herself with what she needs. Life has felt hectic, heavy, and challenging in recent times with the pandemic altering plans. The work flow she has found with Macrame allows her to let go of any conditioned standards others have projected and fully immerse into a pattern of her own. A friendly reminder Colleen hopes to spread is to pause for appreciation and gratitude for the present moment and for the things we do have.

Macrame helps her lose the sense of structuralized time. Life moves at a fast pace and it seems to only proceed faster each day. As an individual who does not work at the quickest pace, finding different ways to slow down fears, express thoughts, feelings, and creativity flow is an important way to be grounded. 

Attached to nothing, connected to everything. Make deep connections; not deep  attachments. Weā€™re all in this together. Letā€™s coexist in this magical knotted world.

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTION/CAREER ASPIRATION: Create my own business selling macrame jewelry, wall hangings, and miscellaneous decor. Once my business is up and running, having 50% of my proceeds go to local artists, stores, or companies that help with climate change, anti-racism, and mental health.

WEB PRESENCE: @knottybynature_macrame

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