I went to the Interlochen Center for the Arts for the summer of 2008. This camp runs for students from grade 3 to high school graduates. It's for anyone that sings, dances, plays and instrument, writes, composes, makes films, or creates art. It is truly an amazing experience and if any of you have questions about it or are interested in attending, let me know and I can get you the information.
I went there to learn all about working in 3D (which is my specialty) and one of my classes while I was there was fiber arts.
Ooo! Fiber arts. Big deal you're probably thinking. You probably are thinking that it's all just weaving and quilting and sewing skirts. That's only one side of the coin, though.
The list about would be seen as home crafts and not as true art. Often times, people will use a pattern or kit for such things. Once we move out of the realm of kits and patterns, though, it becomes a whole different ballgame.
The various fields of fiber arts include:
Fashion design
The people of fashion design create everything that we wear from our shirts to our shoes. What they design ultimately ends up on our bodies. They are often very interested in sewing, but are in no way just seamstresses and sewers. They take the fabric and types of clothing out their and create something wholly new. They like to see how the fabric looks, feels, and moves with the body. How it can enhance or detract from it. Some famous fashion designers include: Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, Alexander McQueen, and Michael Kors.
Quilting
But not your grandma's quilts. These usually tell a story, address issues, or have a minimalist flare that something Granny whipped up on her sewing machine does not. Often art quilts will not follow traditional quilt designs but instead play off traditional forms to create something new. Quilters are often interested in design, the play of pattern and color, and bridging traditional crafts with modern art. Some art quilters include: the Gee's Bend Quilters, Catherine Kleeman, Faith Ringgold, and Laura Wasilowski.
Crochet
Also not like what Grandma did, modern artists that utilize crochet are usually women and use it to create modern minimalist pieces that say "hi, I am a woman using crochet, but I am making something at least as beautiful and clean look, if not more, as Judd's cube" (more on Judd in a later post). They tend to be more interested in process than a finished product, although many of the pieces created by crochet artist are quite beautiful. Some artists that utilize crochet include: Faith Wilding, Judy Chicago, Eva Hesse (in conjunction with resin), and Margaret Wertheim.
Now, to bring this lesson full circle, one of the projects I did at Interlochen was a weaving and macrame piece. It's not as crafty as it sounds.
Our teacher gave us the option to weave using a) a pre-made loom made of 2 stretcher bars and weights that you could get at the store with the warp already in place. b) a loom you made yourself using 2 large sticks and then add a warp and weight the bottom. or, c) gather a lot of sticks and branches and created a sculpture using the yarn and a small amount of wire and screws to hold the branches in place. I opted for option 3. One of 2 students to do so.
Our teacher showed us some basic weaving and macrame techniques to use on our sculptures and then just set us free to do as we pleased.
This was my resulting piece:
So, here is outside assignment #1:
Fabricate your own small weaving sculpture. Use whatever materials you would like as the base for your weaving. Use yarn, fabric strips, old clothes, ripped up plastic bags, or whatever else you can find that might be suitable to weave. Use techniques learned in class this week. Be creative and have fun! This assignment will be due in three weeks.
