Fabrication in the Fiber Arts

Fabrication in the Fiber Arts

Grant:
Instructional Development Fund (IDF)
Academic Year:
2017 - 2018 (June 1, 2017 through May 31, 2018)
Funding Requested:
$500.00
Project Dates:
-
Applicant(s):
msmyers
Overview of the Project:
As a costume designer and theatre artist my design aesthetic has been informed by my long history with the textile arts. I often infuse my choices with unique, manipulated textiles. Whether it’s marker and ribbon plaids, aging and distressing, or simply not settling for the original color of the fabric, as resources allow, I do not feel tethered to what is available in the store; all fabric is a blank canvas. This creative practice should be conveyed to students in out theatre technology courses. In the past fifteen years, the tools and materials available to fiber artists have changed. More options are available and some have been phased out. I will develop a series of teaching textile samples that incorporate surface treatment as well as new fabrication techniques. I hope to discover new techniques that will be integrated into practice and develop new instructional modules for our costume technology courses.
Final Report Fields
Project Objectives:

The objectives of this project were to hone my own textile manipulation skills by exploring various methods, including new-to-me digital fabrication techniques. CRLT funding supported the registration fee associated with my participation at a week long fabric printing workshop at ProChemical in Fall River, MA. At the workshop I used some of the materials I created in the Duderstadt Fabrication Studio.

Project Achievements:

I have been maintaining a blog outlining weekly achievements and discoveries of my sabbatical, including a daily log of my work in Fall River: https://msmyers9.wixsite.com/christianne-costumes/blog/categories/textiles When I teach Costume Crafts W20 I will include two new assignments integrating these new techniques as part of our module on fabric manipulation. An awareness and facility with these methods will also inform my practice as a costume designer.

Continuation:
Yes. In addition to course impact, we are developing an installation in the Duderstadt Gallery Fall 2020 to showcase this work, the work the students develop, as well as other creative projects inspired by the source material (as noted in the blog- BioArtogrpahy, Astophotography & Xray Flowers).
Dissemination:
In addition to the blog, I am submitting an academic poster proposal to the United States Institute of Theatre Technology for presentation March 2020. I also believe the SMTD marketing department will will feature this overall project in an upcoming publication.
Advice to your Colleagues:
None. Easy process.
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