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TCD Loose Threads Archive - December 2008
- TCD Graduate Student Zou Yi Wins IANR Travel Award
- New Digital Textile Printing Studio Opens
- TCD Grad Student Mary Pattavina's work featured on the runway in San Francisco
- A Family History Reclaimed
- TCD Students Work with Clinton Elementary to Create Fashion-Forward T-shirts
TCD Graduate Student Zou Yi Wins IANR Travel Award
New Digital Textile Printing Studio Opens
UCARE students Madison Simmons (l.) and Cassidy Dansberry (r.) working on the Mimaki digital textile printer in the new Digital Textile Printing Studio
After nearly five years in a space less than 75 feet square, TCD's digital textile printer and related equipment have been relocated to new quarters in Room 227, the former storage center for the historic textile collection. As the historic textile and historic costume collections are moved to what was once the International Quilt Study Center storage facility, space in the department is being released for other uses, and we'll continue to report on these as the various projects are finished up.
The new space for the printer operation, nearly 275 square feet, has an integral humidifying system that maintains an optimum temperature of 71 degrees and a humidity level of 55%, ideal for best printer performance. In addition, the Jacquard steamer is now in closer proximity to the printer, and its move means that sessions with the digital printer will no longer mean distractions or interruptions in the classes that were often ongoing where the printer was previously located. The addition of a window to the studio door also means that visitors to the department will be able to more easily observe the printer in action.
Hats off to office staff and to the various Facilities and Building employees who've worked over the last couple of months to help get everything renovated and operational!
TCD Grad Student Mary Pattavina's work featured on the runway in San Francisco
Mary Pattavina's garments on the Arts of Fashion runway in San Francisco, November 2008
During the Spring 2008 semester TCD design graduate student Mary Pattavina applied to the Arts of Fashion Student Fashion Competition with the help and encouragement of her advisor, Dr. Trout. The theme for 2008 was Influence. The application process required synthesis of a concept relating to the competition's theme in the form of a concept statement, mood board, three fashion illustrations, detailed flats of each garment, and fabric swatches. Mary titled her collection lyrical protection. Cocoon pouches are built into the garments embracing the wearer - suggesting security of personal space and objects. There is a lyrical, feminine quality emphasized by the curvilinear lines, soft pastel colors and subtle textural shifts in fabrication.
Mary Pattavina design illustrations
“A few weeks after my submission,” Mary said, “I received an email congratulating me on being chosen as a finalist in the competition, which both shocked and delighted me! It was - and still is - an honor to be one of the 60 chosen as finalists in this international competition.” According to the Arts of Fashion Foundation, sponsors of the competion, 270 applicants from 79 different fashion schools and universities and 23 different countries submitted entries.
On October 29th the Arts of Fashion Foundation held their annual symposium and fashion show at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Both Dr Trout and Mary Pattavina attended the events. They report that the symposium's discussion panels were excellent and covered topics such as copyright issues, fashion as presented in magazines and blogs, and an inspiring presentation from designer Ma Ke. Mary added: “I'll admit it - I felt a bit star-struck when I met Susie Bubble, whose blog I frequent, and Sandra Backlund, who makes radical knit garments.
Though Mary wasn't one of the lucky winners, she felt that the whole experience was a great opportunity. "I loved seeing all the talent that was presented at the show and am really thrilled that I was able to attend."
TCD graduate student & designer Mary Pattavina at the Arts of Fashion runway show event in San Francisco, November 2008. Congrats Mary!
A Family History Reclaimed
TCD graduate student Jennifer Graham's Option II thesis exhibition, Grandma's Talking to Ghosts - A Family History Reclaimed, opened on Sunday, November 30 in the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery, and runs through December 19. Gallery hours are Monday though Friday, 8:30 - 4 p.m.
The nearly colorless installation evokes the barren snow fields of the far north and its patterns call to mind the fractured cerebral networks that express themselves in memory loss. Nine interconnected works in wool, silk and handmade paper demarcate an intimate and shadowy environment that is as much psychological and emotional as physical. A family's past and its history, its stories of dislocation and transformation, are woven through the assemblages of textile fibers and forms that have allowed Graham to reclaim a personal history shared by many third, fourth and fifth generation Americans.
TCD Students Work with Clinton Elementary to Create Fashion-Forward T-shirts
Clinton Elementary student's self-portrait captures the sense of satisfaction that everyone associated with this project enjoyed.
A project involving TCD undergraduate and graduate students and students from neighboring Clinton Elementary School that was launched in conjunction with November’s Schoolhouse Quilts exhibition in the Hillestad Gallery was brought a step closer to fruition this week with the completion of screenprinted t-shirt self-portraits by the Clinton students.
Working under the direction of Lucy McHugh, Clinton School art specialist, whose art room is a place where young children can interact with CEHS students, first grade children designed self-portraits in the style of Picasso. TCD students currently enrolled in TXCD 225 Surface Design on Textiles translated the 74 original Clinton drawings into stencils and printed them onto white t-shirts.
TCD students in TXCD 225 Surface Design on Textiles shown working on the stencils for the Clinton School students' self-portrait t-shirt project. Above, Emily Bartels carefully lifts the stencil from a just-printed t-shirt. Below, Joanna Engleman displays the adhesive film used as the stencil material.
This project represents one of several collaborations between Professor Wendy Weiss and Art Specialist Lucy McHugh. Their mutual goal is to introduce the neighborhood children to the state university. Ninety three percent of the students who attend Clinton Elementary are eligible for free or reduced lunch, twenty eight percent are English language learners, and twenty one percent are involved in special education.
The Fund the Need program at Clinton Elementary and Wal-Mart Stores helped to provide supplies for the project. Katie Frisch, TCD graduate assistant carrying out taking a teaching practicum with Professor Weiss, helped to facilitate the project, and also worked with visiting Lecturer Judith James and the students in a second 225 section to print the t-shirts.
Clinton School students' t-shirts on display in the TCD hallway display cases
In upcoming sessions in Lucy McHugh’s art room, the children at Clinton will embellish their t-shirts with additional colors and details, and TCD students will again be involved in this culminating step in the project.
Congratulations to the Clinton artists and their teacher, and many thanks to Prof. Weiss and the TCD team for making this outreach experience an enriching one for all involved!
