Back to School Update 2020

Last back to school instalment - well ... sort of back to school. What a different experience it was going to school virtually during a pandemic. It was sad in many ways for this to be my last semester but I am DONE and will graduate in the spring which is satisfying. Taking studio courses virtually was pretty challenging but the instructors did a remarkable job of making the best of a very difficult situation. There were obviously many downsides - like not seeing work in-person and not being able to touch fibre which is so important, plus getting to know other students and their work was challenging. Don't get me started on the technology side, especially living remotely with poor reception - I attended a few classes in a wifi parking lot while freezing (my feet, not the screen which was happening at home). But there were also upsides - a very short commute and I feel like I got to know the instructors much better. There is something very valuable about close eye contact that rarely happens in a classroom. Anyway, it was a very good semester under the circumstances.

I completed three courses (essentially equivalent to four courses because of their credit value) which was a pretty heavy load. However, because most of the regular shows that I participate in were cancelled and I opted not to teach in-person workshops, it was actually a pretty manageable semester.

The History of Ornament course was fascinating and different than I anticipated. The first assignment was about surface design. We did quite a bit of reading and then had to create three pieces. The first was a repeat pattern inspired by hillside medieval villages that look like buildings are stacked on top of each other.

The second was a felt tessellation. So fun to make tessellations! I've always wondered how Escher created some of his figure ground pieces and now I know. There are lots of great "how tos" on the internet if you are interested.

The final piece was a landscape inspired by some of the patterning on Gustov Klimt's pieces.

The second assignment was about creating an adornment. 

I chose a paleolithic take on an elizabethan collar felted from raw fleece and closed with a cave art cameo.

In the final assignment we were to create a garment. I chose to make one more hat for the "Sustainability on My Mind" series of head gear that I am working on. It was about extreme weather events such as hurricanes and tornadoes. It was a fun and different technique made with three joined stuffed cylinders. Turned out to look like something between a top hat and a turban.

Another class was a 4th year directed studio. These are wonderful classes in that you create your own proposal for the work for the semester. I was the only one in this class and it was attached to a different course so followed their projects to a certain extent so that I could participate in the critiques. I also had to write a research paper. I chose to research the history of mask making and their uses - very interesting. The first project was about identity - not one of my favourite topics. I chose to do a "Fall" mask as a metaphor for my stage of life. It was quite the technical challenge. The felt was eco dyed and then mounted on a thermoformable material called fosshape. My instructor thought it would be interesting to do a video - not my favourite thing to do but eventually came up with a video of a series of stills that I am quite happy with.

I completed two more hats for the "Sustainability on My Mind" series as well as making supports for displaying them. This is a Tricorn Venetian hat.

 

I finished off my Covid Hat and Mask.

The last class was a senior studio - also self directed. I also had to develop an exhibition proposal which was a very valuable experience. I created a proposal for the "Sustainability on My Mind Series" so a lot of the work has been done when an appropriate exhibition call comes out.

I spent the first few weeks experimenting with how to work with fosshape in conjunction with felting - it is a thermoformable synthetic felt. It has the potential to add rigidity and structural integrity that cannot be achieved with wool felt on its own. After sampling lots, I started with some simple covid face masks.

Then did a full face sheep mask - reflects my annoyance with being called a sheep for wearing a mask when their use is clearly supported by science, never mind being required by law.

The final piece was a coral mask - another addition to the "Sustainability on My Mind" head gear series.

So ... I am finished my degree and am very happy to have done so. There were a few points where I was wondering whether to persevere to graduation. The curriculum changed along the way and there were lots of administrative hurdles. At one point, it looked like I would have to take some courses which really didn't seem worthwhile for me personally, although I understand their importance in general (e.g. 3rd year English course). Fortunately, after reviewing my transcripts from two other degrees, I was given transfer credit. In the end, I mostly needed studio and art history courses which were all very worthwhile. I cannot say enough good things about how supportive the faculty and staff were in helping me find my way, especially towards the end. I am not sure that I would have completed had this not happened. Regardless, the journey would have been worthwhile. After all, a degree is just a credential and a piece of paper - my objective was to learn which I certainly did!