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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "AS 251"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Textiles and Fiber"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2024
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: James Gardner
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: T6:30 PM 9:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: This class requires a materials fee of €75/$85 to cover all basic art supplies
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Textiles and fiber are crucial to today’s conceptual and technical creative practices. This?studio-based?course introduces students to a diverse range of textile materials, processes, histories,?traditions and?applications?of fiber and to their relationships to contemporary art and design. Projects engage with the historical relevance of fibers, its relationship to issues such as labor, identity, decoration, and functionality. These are taken to be vehicles to explore the use of textiles and fiber within?the expanded field of contemporary art and design. Emphasis is placed on researching and developing creative ideas through material sampling and exploration of surface and structure. Students investigate dyeing, printing, weaving and manipulation of fabric to investigate imagery, color and form.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Textiles and fiber are crucial to today’s conceptual and technical creative practices. This?studio-based?course introduces students to a diverse range of textile materials, processes, histories,?traditions and?applications?of fiber and to their relationships to contemporary art?and design.?Projects?engage with?the historical relevance of fibers, its relationship to?issues?such as labor,?identity, decoration, and functionality. These are?taken to be vehicles to explore the use of textiles and fiber within?the expanded field of contemporary art?and design. Emphasis is placed on researching and developing creative ideas through material sampling and exploration of surface and structure. Students investigate dyeing, printing, weaving and manipulation of fabric to investigate imagery, color and form. ?? 
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Textiles and fiber are crucial to today’s conceptual and technical creative practices. This?studio-based?course introduces students to a diverse range of textile materials, processes, histories,?traditions and?applications?of fiber and to their relationships to contemporary art?and design.?Projects?engage with?the historical relevance of fibers, its relationship to?issues?such as labor,?identity, decoration, and functionality. These are?taken to be vehicles to explore the use of textiles and fiber within?the expanded field of contemporary art?and design. Emphasis is placed on researching and developing creative ideas through material sampling and exploration of surface and structure. Students investigate dyeing, printing, weaving and manipulation of fabric to investigate imagery, color and form. ?? 
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Attendance and Participation Active participation in class. Engagement during critiques.10%
Repeat Pattern Project Technical skills, explorative use of media, ability to connect research with process. Awareness of the principles of 2D Design; scale, pattern, color etc. 35%
Structure and Form Project Technical skills, explorative use of media, ability to connect research with process. Awareness of the principles of 3D structures; form, repetition, scale etc. 35%
Final Portfolio Emphasis should be placed upon the professional presentation of projects, including research and developmental samples. The fluency of idea-generation, editing and selecting work, visual risk taking and use of process. 20%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed.  
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

Week 1

COURSE INTRODUCTION 

Research 

Using drawing and photography, students will explore the built environment and architectural structures to investigate patterns, colors and mark-making. 

 

Week 2 

Pattern Development 

Using the work completed in the previous class, students will generate motifs and placement prints which will be developed into repeat patterns. Referencing existing pattern samples, students will produce a series of block and mirrored repeat designs. 

 

Week 3

Screen Printing Technical Demonstration

Artwork-preparation, screen-coating and exposure, color mixing, types of inks, registration, image layering, finishing techniques. 

 

Week 4

Printing of fabric.

  

Week 5

Printing of fabric.

 

Week 6

Dyeing and Wax Resist 

Exploration of color and texture through dye and wax resist. Students will experiment with natural dyes, using food sources including beetroot and tumeric to color fabric. Using wax resist, students will develop a series of textures and patterns in response to their research. 

 

Week 7

Mid-Term Critique

A Mid-Term critique will allow students to present their research, print samples and final printed fabric  to the class. 

 

 

Week 8

Stitch and Form

Students will explore embroidery and joining techniques in order generate two examples of form inspired by the built environment. 

  

Week 9

Visit to Design Studio 

This onsite class will support students’ understanding of the expanded field of fiber within Contemporary Art and Design. Visiting an exhibition which incorporates the use of fibers within contemporary artworks will be offset by a visit to the Design studio.  This will encourage students to question functionality, fabrication, craftmanship and decoration. 

 

Week 10

Laser Cut Structures 

Students will be introduced to the laser cutter and explore its potential for cutting and engraving a variety of textile surfaces. Students will develop their earlier patterns into digital drawings suitable for cutting.  

 

Week 11

Woven Structures

Via both practical demonstrations and lecture, students will explore basic kinds of weaving. Using simple grid systems, students will develop an understanding of warp and weft. By constructing woven structures, supported by contextual examples of historical and contemporary approaches to weaving, students will engage with the medium’s relationship to labor and identity.  

 

Week 12

Development 

Students will develop a series of 10 x 10 material swatches, combining multiple techniques explored within the course. Emphasis will be placed on the use of texture and color to create innovative structures. 

 

Week 13

Development and resolving ideas into a final collection of fabric samples. 

 

Week14

Development and resolving ideas into a final collection of fabric samples.