Art 436 & Art 536
FIBER SURFACE DESIGN I & II SPRING 2015
Instructor: Carrie Burckle
Office:
Office Hours: M/W 2:45-3:45, or by appointment
Text Cell Ph: 323-377-3481
e-mail: cburckle@mail.sdsu.edu
Room 415
Spring Recess March 30-April 3
Final Critique and clean up: Wednesday May 13 10:30-12:30
*Be prepared to spend $100 on materials the first 3 weeks of class
Course Objectives:
This class explores a variety of materials, fabrics and techniques for coloring,
printing and transforming the surface of cloth to include dyes, chemical and mechanical
resists, screen, digital and transfer prints, surface embellishment through hand and
machine sewing.
Through substantial independent research and exploration of ideas students will
cultivate an individual vocabulary of color, texture, mark and form arrived at by rigorous
experimentation, investigation of contemporary and historical works, and by keeping a
record of what they notice in the world immediately around them and at large.
Curriculum will include written responses to artists works both on-line and via gallery
visits as well as reading assignments and discussions of the meaning, content, and
context of cloth. Emphasis is placed on deepening the understanding and use of color
theory, mark making on cloth as well as becoming familiar with a wide range of fabrics,
fibers and techniques.
Research into technique and material history will play a key part in determining the
direction of each student’s work. Each student is expected to formally present their
research to the class as a way of helping us collectively widen our creative toolbox.
The assignments and projects are designed to help you develop your artistic voice,
expand your skillset, and improve your working methodologies.
Course Requirements:
1. 3 substantial studio projects
2. At least 6 hours of outside of class work time per week
3. Numerous exploration studies (samples) for each content area
4. Written responses to reading assignments
5. Regular attendance and participation in studio time and discussions
6. Attendance and participation in ALL critiques
7. Research and development binder
8. Mandatory end of semester clean-up
Studies/Samples/ Evaluation:
You are required to maintain a notebook/Binder/folder for this course with your sketches, notes,
research and samples. Samples will be submitted for grading and will need to show
documentation tracking on the following:
Time it took to make each
Materials used
Cost
Processes used
Documentation tracking must accompany each sample discussed
Evaluation is graded on the tracking, presentation and fulfillment of assignment.
Other Pertinent Information:
1. Everyday is a workday. Demos and lectures will not consume every minute of every
class. Always come prepared with something to do for this class.
2. Be thoughtful and considerate of this space, its contents and your fellow mates.
It’s a congested classroom and there are only 20 minutes between morning and
afternoon classes.
3. Attendance is mandatory and is taken most every class period. More than 3 absences
will cause your grade to be lowered by one letter. You are responsible for all work
covered in class, whether or not you are absent. Please get 2+ student’s phone
numbers and call them for what you have missed, if you have to be absent. I cannot be
responsible to fill you in on what you have missed.
4. All critiques are mandatory and the due dates are listed in advance.
Failure to attend a critique will adversely affect your grade. If you are sick on a critique
day, you must have a doctor’s note. We will have pre-crits for the major 3 projects and
these are important to attend as an opportunity to get early input.
5. Unfinished work will not be accepted or critiqued
6. You cannot miss the final critique and clean up. Travel plans are not an acceptable
reason to miss the final.
7. Use of the school’s BLACKBOARD WEB Portal to stay current with assignments, view
slides, etc
8. Extra Credit may be offered to encourage attendance at specific lectures and exhibits,
but only when announced. I’ll let you know in advance.
9. Please inform me at the beginning of the semester if you have any disability that you will
need accommodation for. It is your responsibility.
10. No eating or drinking allowed in the Kitchen area, or around chemicals
11. No personal use of electronics during class- i-pods, laptops, cell phones, etc.
Projects 1-3 will be graded on a point system based on the following criteria:
Adherence to assignment theme
Presentation- wall/verbal
Critique participation
Material use
Technique use
Innovation/Concept
Finishing/Construction
Project Deadlines
Project 1 9 class periods, pre-crit: Feb. 18
Project 2 9 class periods, pre-crit: Mar 25
Project 3 8 class periods, pre-crit: May 4
DUE February 25
DUE April 8
DUE May 13
PROJECTS 1-3: research, design, execute
A. Colorful Cloth for the Edible Palette Banquet, part of the school wide Common
Experience – Food- Project
Using skills you learned in our demos and samples, you will design and execute a
specific color themed table cloth/banner. Use of Fiber Reactive Dyes with natural fiber
fabrics using batik and screen printing and machine sewing. You will be responsible for
documenting your process and formally presenting your ideation from concept to
creation citing your inspiration and sharing your technique and material use. Size
limitations to be discussed.
B. Merchandise marketing concept, wall or ceiling display that relates to or
features a specific market/season for apparel or home furnishing display (West
Elm, CB2, Anthropologie, etc.) Design a textile related display around a product
or concept using dyeing, screen printing w/ pigment techniques, mono printing,
machine and hand sewing. Using skills you learned in our demos, you will
research, design, and execute a textile based wall or ceiling piece. You will be
responsible for documenting your process and formally presenting your ideation
from concept to creation citing your inspiration and sharing your technique and
material use.
C. Natural Dyeing – notebook and wearable piece on natural fiber fabrics
Using natural dyes with vegetable matter collected from students, create a personal
notebook with as many different colors as possible. Create a simple wearable piece
(top, skirt, scarves, bag, etc.) Use of Shibori resist dyeing techniques, product
research, working with a pattern, machine and hand sewing, personal embellishments.
Using skills you learned in our demos, you will research, design, and execute a natural
dye notebook and wearable piece. You will be responsible for documenting your
process and formally presenting your ideation from concept to creation citing your
inspiration and sharing your technique and material use.
Assignments:
Week 1 Project 1
 Introduction to class, students, assignments
 *Start collecting vegetation for natural dyeing
 Read Health and Safety pages on Blackboard
 Find a minimum of 10 color study ideas/images that relate to food groups, fruits,
veggies, cheeses, meats, grains, sauces, etc. Must be large enough to find
interesting color areas within several.
 Find a minimum of 10 texture ideas/images that will help you/inspire you to
create interesting marks on fabric. Make your own copies of photos from food in
your kitchen, rubbings, magazine photos, collage ideas, etc. Have enough
different ideas to work from. Variety is the spice of Life!
 Buy 2 yds of cotton muslin, either bleached white or unbleached for initial
samples. Must be prewashed prior to class. Samples are a minimum of
8 inches x 8 inches, samples are separate from Final piece
Week 2
 Bring prewashed fabric to class
 sketchbook
 Show and tell, presentation of color and texture inspirations
 Create several study collages from your inspiring color and texture ideas
 Bring tool box with paints, drawing tools, glue stick, scissors, white crayon, etc.
 Go away with 3 valuable/inspirational color and texture sketchbook spreads
 Discuss purchasing of class supplies
 Discuss dye class, fibers and fabrics – burn tests of fabrics
 Dye Chemicals: Fiber Reactive Dyes, Chemical water, fabric preparation with
Soda Ash Soak
Week 3
 Strong quart size baggies for samples, plastic wrap, brushes
 Dye preparation, direct dyeing vs immersion dyeing, low water emersion dyeing
 Screen printing with dyes and thickened paste
 Paste preparation using sodium alginate
 Use of soft washable soy wax vs hard bees and parafin wax
 Batik tools, Demo
 Batik samples: 5 or more unique ideas with different tools and marks, refer to
sketchbook ideas
 Screen print with soy wax resist or cut out stencils
 Screen print samples: 5 or more unique ideas
 Work in earnest on Project 1, have idea and color formulated
Week 4
 Sewing and finishing construction: seams, piecing, hems, corners, fringe, linings
 Parts of a sewing machine, threading a machine
 *possibility (Fusible applique techniques, bring in light weight fusible
web/interfacing)
 Bring in neutral sewing thread that relates to color palette. (polyester covered
cotton-its stronger)
 Bring in sewing machine needles
Week 5
 Precrit on Wed. Feb 18, turn in all samples plus documentation tracking
 Continue working on project 1
Week 6
 Project 1 due on Wed. Feb. 25
 Be prepared to present your finished piece in a professional manner, with
tracking documentation, sketches, ideations, inspirations, etc
Week 7 Project 2
 Display Merchandise marketing for wall or ceiling
 To be continued
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