The Project, finally

I’m making a a woven collar using industrial or machine related materials. The collar is to have an appealing visual aesthetic that is to contrast its unappealing tactile properties. In doing so I hope to bring in an element of surprise for the viewer.

The form of a collar is significant because of its functional reference to the neck, a vulnerable and sensitive part of the body that we comfort and protect. My metal collar will not fulfill either of those functions. If worn it is irritating, itchy and discomforting.

In making it so, I wish to communicate my concern with our technological age and its rapid conquest of the body. Our perception of technology and its benefits is highly susceptible to manipulation. We are desiring (needing) more technology, while our attention to our own intricate inner processes as well as our connection to the natural world decreases.

For materials I have successfully used linen and steel wool, but wish to try a few more alternatives. I was considering using coarser steel wool or copper wire with a different material in the warp. Instead of linen I will try wire, plastic or fishing line.

Book, the final product

I am very happy to have it finished. I wanted to showcase my artwork, so I kept the design of the book pages simple. I payed most attention to the layout of the pieces on the page, and the positioning of the text. As it is an informal venue for my pieces I did not include the size of the artwork. I wanted the viewer to get an overall sense of my aesthetic, and my interests. Enjoy.

Sibila’s Book of Textiles

The Book

Don’t know about the rest of you folks, but my book has taken over. I figured if I stick to my initial idea, as opposed to changing my mind 5 times, and keep it simple, I will be ahead now. But, no. Wrong.

There I was the other day, spending hours shooting weaving, because I wanted to have it in the book, but had no good images. And there was all this other stuff, also, things just needed to be documented. In the end though, I have no regrets.

I worked out my entire layout on paper-nothing fancy, fast, fairly simple. Then I was in the lab for hours, seeing double by the end of the layout part, let alone the inserting of the pictures. Then there was that part where I thought I saved everything properly, yet didn’t, and had to do it again the next day.

Loved seeing it all come together.  Kind of like weaving. Take all these elements, and a lot of technical mumbo jumbo and voila! something beautiful. Most of the time.

My big thing was that I wanted to make a book of things that I have made, that I actually like, and pair those with some writing that was informative, but not dry. Coming up with what that writing was another story. I wrote a whole letter to myself, and a personal history, and, had some emotional moments, trying to nail it down.

Today I went to the lab to finish things up-ha! was I dreaming? There was a big class in there, and all the other rooms not available.  Lucky thing I ran into Genvieve, who had a lucky key, just so happened… Thanks so much!

Did I mention that I am working extra this week.

I’m not too crazy about the encouraged size for this publication. I kinda wanted it to be less than 11″, almost square, maybe.  Maybe next time, as I couldn’t justify another detour.

I’m going in again tomorrow, to wrap things up. Trying to remember if I remember how to create a pdf. I could swear I wrote it down when Suzi was showing, or did I. Seemed so easy?

Diving off the deep end

The first week of classes behind me, and still in a more than a bit of a shock.

A couple of months ago I innocently went to student services to snoop around and familiarize myself with the environment of this institution. Before I knew what I was doing, I registered for 2 summer courses. Not the best way to ease in, but , I figured I might as well. A day into each of these classes I realized the extent of kaka I’m in. My inner superwoman wakes up here, and tells me that I’m not dropping any classes, and that I’m going to just figure it out.

I’m super excited about all everything new I will be encountering, learning, making.

I keep in mind a couple of brilliant insights my weaving instructor at Cap, Ruth Scheuing, shared with me:

1) When you have less to do, sometimes you just do less

2) You are in art school to learn, explore and stretch, you are not expected to create your most brilliant work

I have been doing less for a couple of months now and am ready to stop.

Looking forward to all.