Studio (390-0-3)

Topic

Textile Tactics

Instructors

Allison Wade

Meeting Info

Kresge 1410 Art Flex/Seminar: Mon, Wed 1:00PM - 3:50PM

Overview of class

This studio course explores textiles as a medium for art making. Students will begin by creating DIY frame looms for weaving, employing basic techniques to gain an understanding of how fabric is constructed. The looms will be used throughout the quarter as spaces for investigating composition, color, texture and tension. Separately, hand-stitching and machine-sewing methods will be introduced as ways to assemble and adorn, moving from a pattern-based project to a more improvisational approach with found fabrics. The final part of the quarter will be dedicated to working with the pliable potential of textiles as sculptural objects.
Focus will be placed on tactile learning: materials will be woven, salvaged, deconstructed, dyed, pieced, mixed, embellished and re-imagined as art objects while drawing inspiration from contemporary artists who use fiber in their work. Readings and discussions will explore themes such as craft, labor, identity and the vernacular. Field trips include outings to a thrift store to source materials and to the Art Institute of Chicago to see On Loss and Absence: Textiles of Mourning and Survival. Students are welcome to bring their personal fiber-based skills and traditions to class, but no experience is necessary, and no prerequisites are required.

Evaluation Method

Approximate materials cost for course is $60. Some of the course materials can be found here: https://www.dickblick.com/lists/wishlist/300B71BUG8KBX/. Additionally, over the course of quarter, fabrics, yarn, and other materials will need to be purchased, at discretion of student, which make up the remaining material costs.

Class Attributes

Attendance at 1st class mandatory
Undergraduate Students Only