Chris Hammel

Ekphrasis Defined Designs

Studio 315
221 Pine Street
Florence, MA 01062
(413) 588-8406
Ekphrasisweaver@yahoo.com

My path to becoming a weaver was happenstance. During college and graduate school, I often balanced out the rigors of my studies with a creative arts class in the summer. When I was unable to get into a papermaking class one summer, I happened upon a weaving class. I could not have foreseen how the decision to take this class would impact my life.

Shortly after I completed my graduate work in Latin Language and Literature, I enrolled in Hill Institute’s six-year weaving program.  In 1998 I earned the Master Weaver Certificate, and in 2004 I became Director of the program. My work has been seen in juried exhibits, magazines and other publications.

I work under the name Ekphrasis Defined Designs. Ekphrasis is a term associated with classical poetry. It occurs when the poet breaks from the narrative to offer a long, rhetorical description of a work of art. Weaving is my ekphrasis – diverting me from the path of teaching Latin. Unlike the poet who returns to the narrative, I remain willfully captivated by the art of weaving.

I produce textiles for the home, wall hangings, clothing and accessories. I also enjoy spinning, knitting, quilting, sewing, dyeing, making Japanese braids, weaving baskets, making paper and bookbinding.