In this episode of The Trades Show, host Briana Ottoboni sits down with Cynthia Alberto — a weaver, multidisciplinary artist, and founder of Weaving Hand — inside the Fridman Gallery in New York City.

Cynthia shares her remarkable journey from a career in computer science at Merrill Lynch to becoming a full-time artist with her work now featured at MoMA. Along the way, she opens up about how weaving became both her livelihood and her lifeline — a way to heal, build community, and preserve her Filipino heritage through textile traditions.

Together, they explore:

• The role of weaving circles and craft communities in a disconnected world
• How immigrant roots and cultural identity are expressed through textiles
• The founding of Weaving Hand and its impact on education and healing
• Weaving as both fine art and a deeply personal form of resilience
• The cultural and environmental significance of textiles in everyday life
• Reviving traditional crafts and sustainable approaches to making
• Practical advice for aspiring weavers, artisans, and creative entrepreneurs

Whether you’re an artisan, aspiring maker, or someone who simply values handmade work, this conversation is a powerful reminder of how craft connects us to identity, community, and the fine art world.

🎙 The Trades Show is a podcast and video series about modern craftwork — a return to what makes us human: the ability to make with our hands.

🧵 Where to find Cynthia Alberto:

Weaving Hand’s Instagram: @weavinghand

Cynthia’s Instagram: @cynthiaalbertostudio

⚒️ Where to find The Trades Show:

Instagram: @tradesshow

TikTok: @tradesshow

YouTube: @tradesshow

Substack: Trade Secrets

Website: thetradesshow.co

✨ Where to find your host, Briana:

Instagram: @brianaaugustina

Substack: https://brianaaugustina.substack.com/

Website: brianaaugustina.com

🎬 In this episode

00:00 The Importance of Community00:47 Welcome to The Trades Show01:43 Meet Cynthia Alberto: Weaver and Multidisciplinary Artist03:12 Cynthia's Journey from Computer Science to Art07:55 Transition to Weaving and Textile Design10:22 Founding Weaving Hand and Community Impact14:03 Weaving as a Form of Healing18:43 The Cultural and Environmental Significance of Textiles26:15 Reviving Traditional Crafts and Techniques34:42 Advice for Aspiring Weavers and Artists39:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts