The “Wild Loom”
Fifty hikers convened this month for the five-day 2026 LoHi Trek in Western Iowa’s Loess Hills. During last year’s hike, I shared with organizer, writer, and poet Kelly Madigan that I would be interested in offering a future fiber arts project during her event. What started out as a modest idea grew, developed, and eventually became a collaboration among Kelly, her partner Doug, clay artist Anna Stoysich, and myself to set up an on-site, permanent art installation created by the community of hikers.
Anna and I spent two days in early March at Kelly’s where the basecamp for the hike would be located. Using two existing posts spaced seven feet apart along the road, a tree trunk cut down by Doug for the top crossbar, and 107 warp yarns, we prepared the “Wild Loom”. It would be a hybrid tapestry/rag rug/Saori-inspired piece. I had made a drawing for my vision of how it would come together, and other than the extremely cold March winds, everything went to plan.
Loom complete with 107 warp yarns.
I spent the next four weeks hand-dyeing about forty yards of cotton fabric in thirty different shades. I then cut them into strips and arranged them in containers along with dyed mop yarns, leather, colored burlap, and a few skeins of wool yarn.
Two of the five tubs filled with weaving materials
On the first evening of the LoHi, Anna and I invited the large group of hikers to contribute to the weaving of the tapestry during the course of the long weekend. In addition to the provided materials, they could also add in organic materials found during the daily hikes. There were permanent markers available to write messages, names, and intentions on the fabric strips before weaving them in. After minimal instruction, the first weavers began to work.
The weaving begins.
The loom is large enough for multiple weavers to work together at the same time. At one point, I counted seven weavers working side by side, both on the right side and the backside. There were upright, short logs to sit on, and a view of the lake surrounded by hills.
Because there is a ditch between the road and the loom, the work was mostly done on the more level grassy yard. Then, after the hike concluded and everyone headed for home, we detached the top bar and hanging tapestry, turned it to face the road, and reattached it more permanently. It faces north now, toward the shining lake and the hills that glow golden in the setting sunlight.
Completed tapestry before turning it to face the road.
The tapestry created by many hands will weather in place, commemorating our time together and symbolizing what the hike means for so many of us: Something that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Facing north, where it will continue to stand outside commemorating the 2026 LoHi Trek.