WIRELESS was a cycle of thematic artist residencies aimed to visual artists interested in learning or deepening knowledge in textile techniques such as: Embroidery, Weaving, Stamping and Dyeing.
WIRELESS wanted to encourage visual artists to learn and to incorporate the “textile language” in their artistic practice, understanding it in an expanded way without necessarily contemplating the use of wires, hence the name wireless.
WIRELESS took place mainly in Arraiolos, a town where rugs have been hand embroidered since the Middle Ages, located in Alentejo, one of the least-populated regions in western Europe. In this first edition WIRELESS invited 21 artists to participate in the residencies in 2022 and to join a group exhibition in 2023 in Arraiolos, Évora and Poznan (Poland).
Every residency started with a portfolio presentation day. Studio work was divided into four disciplines with the guidance of the teachers: embroidery, tapestry and dyeing at the Córtex Frontal house, and stamping at the silk screen studio of the School of Arts of Évora University. Participants visited CITA (Tapestry Museum of Arraiolos) and the Oleirita lake, where they collected plants and seeds to use in their work. Each residency had an open day with a practical workshop for visitors.
