Our V&A Course Ends on a High - Next Workshop Jan 22nd!

Vivian Hidalgo Nava (l) and Amanda Goode (r)

In our final Ballets Russes class everyone's designs came together.

Inspired by the V&A exhibition with particular focus on the work of Natalia Goncharova and Mikhail Larionov, and their influences, each textile was a true hybrid of slow and fast processes with digital and manual tools.

A new textile horizon emerges that combines history, museum archives, tradition, imagination and interpretation with the latest in digital technology.

Jennifer Glastonbury

Julia Brendel-Lee

Pat Shenstone

Inspiration from Mikhail Larionov's Buffoon costume for Les Ballets Russes production, Chout, 1921, and Goncharova's Le Coq d'Or's Stage curtain, 1914.

Some of Natalia Goncharova's inspiration was ours also.

For instance, Ivan Bilibin, who was introduced in Week 5:

More pics coming..

Join us for similar on January 22nd in West Hampstead, London!

Liberty's scarf link.

Pics from our recent freestyle patchwork workshop:

A co-design discussion followed the making process and products made from post-consumer fabrics will be developed from some of the constellatory ideas. Watch this space!

Co-design workshop in Stitched Portraiture:

Students start by drawing the person opposite in stitch.

Colours are timed to keep the pace up.

After 30 minutes, students give their drawing to its subject to finish off.
The image becomes collaboration.

Stage 1: observed.

Stage 2: self-portrait.

This exercise represents part of a larger exercise introducing co-design systems, group working and participatory design to students.

Derick Melander sculpture

American artist, Derick Melander, is creating some interesting work.

Clothing Loop, 2004

Description:

Seven articles of clothing are drawn and arranged one inside the other, as they are typically worn.

Gather 14, 2003

Description:
A figure wearing a suit is delineated by piercing rag paper with needles and awls of varying diameters.

Slow Textiles at the V&A - week 5

The Goncharova and Larionov Ballets Russes themes begin to find their new landscape in the work of contemporary textile designers.

Here is the work of British artist, Pat Shenstone, as she works on a structured sleeve in class,

and Brazilian designer, Luz Rodriguez as she composes her applique and quilted effect before sewing:

Slow Cards on the Table

Simon Cook Illustration

We recently discovered British illustrator, Simon Cook's collage work and feel somewhat enamored.

His montage effect is like a cross between Mary Blair, El Lissitzky and Memphis.

All his work is generated in paper.

He did these two screen wallpapers for iPhone:

We can feel a workshop coming on.

On 'shop-placing'

Grafitti with a sponge.

We found the following passage on 'shop-placing':

"Shop-placing" is a collective of artistic inquirers who investigate relational understandings. It is an emerging concept from the dialogical understandings among artworks, written works, musings, and conversations of many artists, researchers, and scholars. Other artists/researchers/pedagogues are investigating relevant themes/issues/concepts.

"Shop-placing" is used as a variant to "shoplifting."

Shoplifting occurs when items are stolen from a place of commerce by an impersonating customer. Shopplacing, in contrast, occurs when a "shopplacer" generously "places" a voluntary constructed artifact in a specific context with the intent of it being received by a willing, and hopefully delighted recipient. This is done with intentions of good will, generosity, whimsy, inquiry, pedagogy, and to provide feedback for artistic inquirers.

"Baptism into a way of sustainable thinking"

The recent Fashion Transitions conference at CCANW was described as "more than a conference, it was a baptism into a way of sustainable thinking.."

We look forward to seeing the presentations here.

Co-designer, Alistair Fuad-Luke gives his presentation after Otto von Busch, Fashion Transitions, 4th November 2010.

Slow/Fast Making in Progress at the V&A

On our course at the V&A, students are progressing with their

Diaghilev & the Ballets Russes-inspired

scarf and cushion designs.

Here is some of the work in silk before the final upcycling stage:

This week, digital textile design expert, Melanie Bowles, gave participants a fascinating introduction to the application of digital print in fashion, with particular focus on

'the engineered print'.

Melanie also explained how digital print is bringing back local industry, reducing US cotton exports to China and stimulating home-grown designers and textile production while consuming 30% less water than silkscreen printing.