EE Labels
Bindings and bytes
Tapestry design

This text is an extension of a tapestry designed by Julia Joosten and Karolina Borucka in collaboration with EE labels.
Example of a punchcard.
source: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/computinghistory/cuccjobcard.html
Image author: Garth Dawson, Accrington
Early computer memory was made of small magnets woven together by wire. Wire would go through to indicate 1 or bypass the magnet to indicate 0. The cores were made by skilled weavers and required a lot of manual work. each piece of information had to be carefully encoded. Once a module was completed it was almost impossible to alter the information within. In that way it is similar to tapestries - the weaver decides what story to portray and once it’s woven it is difficult to change it. It is an act that freezes information in time. This resembles the mechanisms in history that decide which events are remembered, being encoded in culture through art and writing and which go by undocumented and forgotten.
Image source: Draper/Raytheon
It happens a lot with digital images that are in circulation and become viral as quickly as they are forgotten. The speed at which they can be produced is exciting but also makes them vulnerable to digital decay due to the ever changing technology we need to read them. The image created for this tapestry is also digital but it can be preserved through weaving, to carry on the interwoven story of weavers and computer engineers.
Image source: CHM/Raytheon CN-4-421-C
Similarly to the memory weavers working behind the scenes, were the mathematicians performing mundane calculations for the Apollo mission. Since complex calculators were not available at that time, NASA employed teams of people calculating necessary trajectories to make the mission possible but they were rarely referenced as invaluable to the operation. The same lack of recognition was for the weavers creating the memory modules that were part of The Apollo Guidance Computer that helped navigate to the Moon and land on its surface.
Source: Raytheon CN-4-20C / Smithsonian Institution WEB15435-2016.
The computer components used to be big and clunky, had a strong presence, very different from the omnipresent, scaled down and more ambiguous computers that surround us today. Although they were more limited and required a lot of work, they engaged the users more in the work and required better knowledge on how they operate. The way they worked might have been more transparent and the amount of resources they were using was more obvious even to the untrained eye. This way they were similar to tapestries that used to require a lot of manual labour, small fingers pulling the right threads and the master weaver, to produce patterns. With the introduction of the jacquard machine the images could be more complex. The production of patterns became a separate venture that was slowly moving away from the loom and the relationship between the weaver and the machine became different.
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Process
In our tapestry design, Julia took the lead in selecting the colors, which were inspired by the concept of connectivity with a digital chip. The choice of colors was carefully considered to reflect the themes of technology, innovation, and communication.
To evaluate how these color choices would work in the final design, we created a sample swatch. This small woven piece allowed us to experiment with the colors and textures, ensuring they harmonized well together. By reviewing the swatch, we could assess how the colors interacted in the context of the overall tapestry, making any necessary adjustments before finalizing the design. This hands-on approach helped us visualize the end result and ensure that our tapestry would effectively convey its intended message.
In addition to the color swatch, Julia also created a template to serve as a foundational reference for our design. This template outlines the overall structure of the tapestry and incorporates the visual elements that resemble the layout of a digital chip. By using this outline, we ensured that the design not only complemented our color choices but also effectively represented the interconnectivity and complexity associated with digital technology. The template guided us in organizing our patterns and motifs, reinforcing the concept of connectivity that is central to our tapestry's theme.
Karolina Borucka took care of her part of the story, focusing on the text information, selecting the images, and contributing her section of the weaving. Together, we collaborated closely throughout the weaving process, combining our individual elements and expertise to create a cohesive and harmonious tapestry. This teamwork allowed us to weave not just the threads of fabric but also the narrative that connects our artistic visions, resulting in a unified piece that reflects our shared intentions and creativity.
Foundation illustration
Outline chip