A Re-introduction
who am I and why am I here?
Hello lovely readers,
This is where I weave together ideas from motherhood, art, nature, feminist histories of power, and the texture of everyday life. This is a space for curiosity, slow thinking, and creative connection.
For as long as I can remember, I've been fascinated by how we make sense of our worlds through making things and telling stories. I’m now an art historian, lecturer and writer - all of which lean heavily into narrative and how we shape and are shaped by our worlds.
Substack is beautiful because it provides a place to publish and consume longer form writing in a more considered and less chaotic digital space. And I am more of a letter writer than a town crier.
This does mean I’m not the person to come to for a hot take. I have a lot of opinions and I’m a quick thinker. But I also like to dwell in the greyer areas, within the contradictions and paradoxes of life. If I write something and feel expansive when I do so, I know it’s probably something worth sharing.
Why ‘The Weaver’?
The name The Weaver comes from one of my favourite images of parenthood — a 6th-century Indonesian bronze sculpture of a woman feeding her baby while working at her loom. I return to it often. It reminds me that care and creativity aren’t separate pursuits, but interwoven. I see something new in it with every encounter.
So much of my writing happens in snatches of time between lecturing and family life. Putting my notebook to one side to feed a baby, pausing as I type to help my child rescue an errant football. For a long time, I worried about my divergent mind, which meanders across multiple disciplines. But now I see the beauty in this.
This is the spirit behind The Weaver - a practice of threading together fragments, disciplines, and insights from across my life as a mother, maker, and thinker.
As a Cambodian proverb, which I love, puts it:
ផ្លូវវៀចកុំបោះបង់ which translates to don’t abandon the indirect road.
This newsletter follows that path.
What You’ll Find Here
Here, you’ll receive:
Exploratory essays, fragments, and reflections on art, caregiving, creativity, and cultural history
Thoughts on the writing process and working in the in-between spaces of life and care
Monthly updates on my teaching, workshops, and publications
Reading recommendations (especially on parenthood) via Bookshop.org (*aff link)
Here are some posts from my archive that readers have enjoyed the most and which might not be space junk:
Thread & Thought
As a paid subscriber, you’re also invited to Thread & Thought, a monthly live online session that combines art with gentle creative prompts. Each session is an hour-long invitation to look, reflect, write, and connect.
It’s open to all, no experience needed, just curiosity and a desire to pause.
Each theme explores ideas like:
The Body as Story
Mirrors, Shadows & Doubles
Threads of Inheritance
You’ll also get access to the full archive of previous sessions, prompts, and readings.
About me
I’m a specialist in Southeast Asian art history, currently teaching at The Open University. My background is in philosophy, and my work spans academic and public writing.
During maternity leave, I made a creative shift away from academic writing. A personal essay I pitched to the Wellcome Collection on breastfeeding turned into a book deal. That book, MILK, was published in January 2023 to national acclaim.
Now, I write nonfiction that explores cultural histories, memory, feminism, art, and the natural world. My writing has appeared in The Observer, History Today, Wellcome Stories, and more. I’m also co-editor of ASIA-ART-ACTIVISM.
Why Subscribe?
As a free subscriber, you’ll get:
A portion of new essays
Occasional updates and curated content
As a paid subscriber, you’ll get:
Full access to all essays and posts
Invitations to Thread & Thought workshops
The archive of creative prompts, plus material, tips and practical advice about writing and editing.
Access to Subscriber Chat, a space for community, conversation, and creative inspiration
First look at upcoming courses and offerings
Founding Members also receive:
An annual 1-hour mentorship session (1×60 or 2×30 mins), plus early access to editorial and mentoring services.
You can also explore other ways to work with me at joannawolfarth.com.
If my work resonates with you, a paid subscription is a generous and deeply appreciated way to support it, and helps me keep writing, reflecting, and weaving.
To find out more about the company that provides the tech for this newsletter, visit Substack.com.
Welcome to The Weaver. I'm so glad you’re here.