Painting/Printmaking ART 597, Fabric Lab

A hands-on, materials-based course, Fabric Lab explores fiber-related praxis through a series of investigations into weave structures, stitching, needlecraft, and knots, as well as the application and removal of color from fabric via printing and dyeing techniques. Instruction is intended to serve individual studio practice. Weekly meetings in the classroom space provide an opportunity to develop and share technical skills as a group in relationship to specific prompts. Readings and presentations contextualize our material explorations within contemporary art practice, unpacking historical hierarchies of “fine art” vs. “craft” and attending to the diverse social histories that underlie our engagement with textiles. The course includes some site visits, including an artist’s studio, a textile conservator’s workshop, and an institutional fibers department.