PIPORNOT: Superorganismic Upcycling&Mending (Part II)
March - June 2022 at Encore Senior Center
Every Monday & Thursday 11am - 1pm

aricoco hosted a series of workshops inspired by the collective behaviors of fungus-growing leafcutter ants that are known to repair their nests by recycling refuse dump materials, and introduce participants to various different methods of upcycling, repurposing and/or mending old/worn-off/unwanted clothing items and other everyday materials. We held clothes swapping sessions, collage-making hours, cardboard-weaving, pompom-making, simple styling and repairing demos. (Unfortunately, in-person guest speaker series were cancelled.)

The workshops culminated in an informal DIY fashion show, featuring senior participants as models wearing what they “upcycled”(=swapped/previously-owned/mended/styled/newly-created using repurposed and recycled materials.)

We reevaluated our own human ways in order to live more sustainable and superorganismic life together (like ants!), drawing parallels between human societal organization and non-hierarchical social insect systems.

aricoco was a participant in SU-CASA. This program was supported by public funds from the New York City Council, in partnership with the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) and Department for the Aging (DFTA). It was carried out in collaboration with New York City’s local arts councils. Additional support was provided by the Tiger Baron Foundation. LMCC.net.

Week 1