8 minute read
Woven together
by Sean McCarthy
By recognizing the skills and histories that make us unique, Rhonda M. Fazio is focusing on the things that can bring us together. WovenTOGETHER
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With its eclectic offerings, welcoming atmosphere, and explorational vibe, Fazio’s “maker space,” Interwoven, is contributing something unique to downtown New Bedford. From art and music, to food and fashion, to movies and games, the 634 Pleasant Street location presents an opportunity for experiences that enrich us as individuals and enhance us as a community.
With the reemergence of social interaction that was hampered by COVID-19, Interwoven offers a fluid and evolving array of opportunities for the culturally and socially minded. Whether it’s showcasing your talents, enjoying the talents of others, or simply meeting new people and learning new things, Interwoven will provide plenty of creative programming in the coming months.
“Interwoven isn’t based on a business model, it’s simply based on the needs of artists who require a platform – an affordable venue that is whatever the artist needs it to be,” Fazio says.
“Whether it’s a pop-up store, a gallery, a musical performance, education, writing, playing board games, whatever.”
Since opening its doors last spring, Interwoven has been experimenting with a variety of programming on a variety of nights, getting a feel for what is possible. In addition to an Art Wall featuring works by local artists, there have been vintage clothing events, concerts by local musicians, movie nights, art classes, as well as a “Game Night Unplugged,” where visitors can play non-electric board and card games while acoustic music is performed by a local musician.
“Interwoven is a great opportunity for artists and businesses to network and get their message out about what they offer. It’s a space to meet people and promote yourself,” says Amber Vaughn, owner of Rayn’s Revolver, a vintage clothing and antiques business that has held fashion shows at Interwoven. “It’s very inclusive, warm, and welcoming. I’ve met a lot of great people from downtown.”
Vaughn has hosted monthly get-togethers, combining Cowboy movies and Western fashion. She has also taught art classes, including scrapbooking, which is the craft of making art from recycled items.
Artists’ retreat
Another unique offering at Interwoven is the Artists’ Salon, evenings that are devoted to artists of all disciplines to gather and share what they’re currently working on and what is inspiring them at the time. Interwoven has held two of these events.
“Unexpected Music” is the brainchild of New Bedford “sound sculptor” Scott Bishop, presenting concerts at non-traditional performing spaces in the city. There have been three shows at Interwoven featuring local musicians.
Another unique offering at Interwoven is the Artists’ Salon, evenings that are devoted to artists of all disciplines to gather and share what they’re currently working on and what is inspiring them at the time. Interwoven has held two of these events. “Unexpected Music” is the brainchild of New Bedford “sound sculptor” Scott Bishop, presenting concerts at non-traditional performing spaces in the city. There have been three shows at Interwoven featuring local musicians. “Interwoven is a great listening environment, different from what a bar or restaurant might offer.” Bishop says. “Each of our shows has included a debut of some kind, as well as people who want to try out new material and do some things they couldn’t normally do at a typical gig.” Music events have also been hosted by Double Bar Music of Westport. “Interwoven is a different scene every time I’ve been there,” says Nick Matthew of New Bedford, who discovered the location on Facebook. “Everyone’s there with the intention of seeing new music, talking to different people, and playing games with people. It’s a good vibe – super low stress and laid back, with a variety of local musicians. “Interwoven is one-of-a-kind and a good fit for downtown,” Matthew continues. “It contributes to the variety of venues to be enjoyed. It’s needed and appreciated. It’s an opportunity to build the community that we want, and a great place to meet people.” But Fazio is quick to point out that Interwoven is a work in progress with no limitations for what the future has to offer. “Every kind of culture exists in New Bedford,” Fazio says. “There’s so many different people living in this one place, but there’s still division in the city. So in an effort to get through that, I wanted to create a safe space, a place where people can create or enjoy other creatives and find commonalities without judgment.” “I like that Interwoven is a flexible space,” Bishop says. “There’s tables and chairs and you can find your place. It’s configured in a way that makes it friendly to performers and artists to come in. It’s an environment where people are inclined to relax and take in whatever music or art is happening at that time.” “It’s a charming spot furnished with eclectic chairs and a lot of love and intention,” says New Bedford musician Sarah Donner, who has hosted two of the Artists Salons and debuted her new band, Middle Spoon, at an “Unexpected Music” event. “Rhonda is a warm presence who welcomes artists of all disciplines. She’s all over the city supporting everyone and hustling like nobody else.” Fazio co-owns Interwoven with Margaret Philbrook, both are Dighton residents. Philbrook offers instructional classes at Interwoven in Upholstery, titled “Restore, Recycle, Renew.” “Rhonda is a sweet, wonderful person,” Philbrook says. “She’s very helpful, caring, and talented. She’s teaching with everything she does. She’s inclusive and very much for the community.”
Finding each other
A major catalyst for the opening of Interwoven was Fazio’s desire to establish a home base for her company, Dyer Maker Studio, a business she founded 24 years ago. Dyer Maker Studio is a traveling maker space which offers experiencial workshops throughout New England and New York, teaching people how to design and create their own wearable art with sustainable materials that have been used for thousands of years. Since 2005, her workshops have been called “Dyeing To Wear It,” and classes range from three to 20 people. She is now offering classes at the Interwoven location.
Classes at Interwoven will begin in October with a brief hiatus in November when Fazio will be traveling to Peru for an artists residency, which will further enhance her skills.
But Fazio brings another passion to the Interwoven experience – raised in a large Sicilian family, she learned much about the culinary world from her mother and grandmother.
“Growing up in a big Sicilian family in the 1970s, my mother cooked like some of the chefs you’d see on the Food Network,” Fazio recalls. “I would really like to bring my love of food to Interwoven someday.”
Fazio’s love of food finds its way to the community through her work with the Coastal Food Shed and the New Bedford Farmer’s Market. Her programs, “The Art and Language of Food,” and “SNAP to the Max,” teach people how to cook creatively with less waste and get the most from their SNAP benefits while introducing them to local businesses and farms from the South Coast region. Fazio will be offering farm-to-table cooking and food preservation classes with the Coastal Food Shed throughout the New Bedford community in 2023.
While much of the work Fazio does is grant-based and for the community, she is not a nonprofit. Donations are always welcome to keep the downtown location an affordable space for working artists.
Born and raised in Berkley, MA, Fazio has degrees in Professional Craft and Art History. She enjoys incorporating history into her "Dyeing to Wear It" and cooking classes, and deems it important for many reasons.
“The future depends on our understanding of where everything comes from and how we use it moving forward,” she says. “I pull authentic materials from the past and bring them into my workshops to provide an opportunity for people to creatively learn and understand these histories through a hands-on approach. My work with food and fabric reflect the essential connection between people from all over the world in relation to the journey of the human narrative. In America, it is a story we all share, and we are all ‘Interwoven’ because of it.”
