The Duffy Speaker Series is a lecture series presented by the James Pearson Duffy Department of Art, Art History, and Design at Wayne State University. The series invites distinguished artists and designers to campus to address students and the art community for lectures, reviews, and studio visits. The Duffy Speaker Series is free and open to the public. Seating is first come, first serve.

Counterfactual thinking is a form of asking “what if” questions that consider how the present would have unfolded had historical events had different outcomes. In this talk, I’ll draw from my research as an artist/computer-scientist and design researcher to present a counterfactual narrative of technical progress rooted in my deep fascination and immersion into the world of complex weaving (the practice of creating complex 3D, electronic and/or robotic structures). For example, how might our relationships with devices change if we hand crafted them from fiber, mended them with thin metals, and adapted them to our changing bodies with crochet hooks? I’ll mix historical narratives of textiles and technology with the work of students and artists-in-residence at the Unstable Design Lab to craft this narrative of technology that emphasizes humility, care, and community.