I would like to burn fabric on a sweatshirt and after burning the fabric, I would like to embroider an image onto the front of it. After doing all of this, I would also like to tie dye the sleeves of the sweatshirt. This would all be inspired by the science seen at the CAFAM exhibit, as well as the skills and approaches to textile making and fashions social role in society.
Nathalie Miebach is an artist who incorporates all of her passions into every artwork she makes. These passions being music, science, and of course art. The Craft and Folk Art Museum in Los Angeles, California currently holds an exhibition of her work titled “Nathalie Miebach: Changing Waters”. This exhibit is home to artwork she has created focusing on the science of weather and the musical practices of composure and rhythm.
The artworks were all three dimensional and made from some very unconventional materials. Although they included paper, the paper source was printed weather data. This of course, being the science portion of her artwork. The musical compositions accompanied by each artwork was made from the same paper. And the rest of the materials used were raffia baskets and wood. It was very interesting that some were held down by rope as well. The most elaborate artwork in the exhibit was the center artwork, which was surrounded by all of the other works of art. It was called “To Hear An Ocean in a Whisper”. It was inspired by the natural processes of the gulf of Maine. It looks like a giant carnival scene. There’s a Ferris wheel, a swing ride, and a roller coaster present in the a work of art and of course, made from raffia, reed, wood, paper and rope. The artwork has a nice rhythm to it and is sort of a controlled chaos. It is very pleasing to the eye and is kept at a happy mood by supporting primary and bright colors. It was the first thing I saw in the exhibit and was very pleasing to the eye.
Another giant artwork was along the right hand wall from the entrance point of the exhibit. It included many objects including my favorite piece, a blue dragon made from woven raffia and paper. And the best part about this was it looked like a Chinese New Year parade on a wall. It was very exciting and had a contrasting orange dragon facing the blue dragon with a burst of firework in between the two dragons. This specific scene was very long and covered the better of one long wall and the accompanying two walls at each end of the long wall.
This exhibit inspired me through its color and processes. It was really interesting to see the use of reported printed data as a medium for a work of art. The concept of creating such fun and care free scenes of an amusement park or theme park rides from serious data is contrasting in thought. The child like color palette also contrasts the very sophisticated science behind the printed data charts that make up the artwork. I would respond to this exhibit by using similar colors, and perhaps using a scientific process of my own. Perhaps my passion for culinary arts would be science enough to bake, fry, or burn fabric and make a similar color palette would suffice as a project based on inspiration from this particular artist and exhibition.
The reading was very interesting. I love the idea of architecture as fashion. Architecture is just as interesting as fashion in my opinion. The similarities are sometimes identical. Some designers use techniques that go hand in hand with structure and architecture. “Popova’s inspiration for dress took shape in uncompromising silhouettes and vivid, abstract motifs” (Quinn, 7). Some things that come to mind are column style dresses, as well as structured shoulders. One can think of structured shoulders from the 1980’s and how big shoulder pads were, as well as the inverted triangle silhouette, and how popular it was during that time. Another artist that interested me was the Korean artist Do-ho Suh, who makes really interesting art from fabrics. He makes entire rooms from fabric. “He expands the spatial confines of clothing to produce habitable structures, such as rooms, buildings, and houses made from fabric” (Quinn, 12). I couldn’t imagine a room or house made from fabric. It makes me think of my childhood and building forts using sheets and chairs with my cousins.
drewtsimmons 