To find out more details about the transfer to The Open University see A New Chapter for OCA.
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I’d started up an Instagram account a while back, but I’d fallen into posting very sporadically, going months without and not making much of a contribution. So I decided to try out the whole ‘post an image a day’ and use some hashtags to get the message out that although we were in lockdown, we were still here.
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When I drop shopping off some people like to have a distant chat, just general stuff about the weather and how they are coping, while others are very regimented and want their shopping leaving at the end of the drive and they come and collect, everyone is dealing with this pandemic in their own way and has to do what they feel is right, I completely respect that.
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What I learned here was not a specific technique but the process to research, not only in media but also in daily life, and to experiment material manipulation, then to combine these to create something conceptual, visible and tangible. Besides, some findings in the process led me to unrestricted exploration out of the course guide. I feel I have set out on my textiles journey. I do not know where it leads, and that’s why I take it!
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Imagine going to the doctor’s and coming out with a prescription – for a good book. It’s really not as daft as it may sound. And what’s more, the notion that our mental wellbeing can be improved by something other than pills is far from new.
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Embellishment can cover a wide range of approaches, from embroidery stitches to layering up material to add design interest and surface quality, and in this blog post I would light to cast a light on three contemporary practitioners exploring embellishment using highly sustainable approaches and processes, homing in at the start with a very common object for embellishment- the humble sequin!
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I am excited to share with you today a presentation made by Catherine Lewis who is currently studying Textiles 3: Personal Specialism. She made a recording to present her work to me during this time of COVID19, when physical work cannot be sent in the post.
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I realise I am very fortunate to be in my running group. It has opened my eyes to all the virtual experiences that people can now engage with. Lockdown has resulted in the creation of so many activities to connect people – virtual running competitions, online courses, online counselling – the list goes on. Being removed from family and friends is difficult, but having a great group of people online has kept me going. I can’t wait until we can run together again.
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Lockdown in mid-March prompted two responses. First was a recognition that getting outside for parts of the day without bumping into other humans would become a very valuable thing. Second, I had some new time, that used to be spent travelling and trolling the train companies about their poor service, and I could put this to good use by sorting out my embarrassing back garden.
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In this blog post I have the pleasure of sharing 3 videos made by BA Textiles student Hannah Roche. Hannah is currently studying the first unit in her degree, Textiles 1: A Textiles Vocabulary. These videos are part of the assignment two submission to her tutor for formative feedback.
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I frequently discuss the idea of exploring scale to my students-at least twice a week! It might be to look at exploring a technique at a smaller, more intricate scale or to do the opposite; take the choice of media or base larger. It is so easy to stick within the limitations of the size of your sketchbook, or to remain firmly in your comfort zone (I should know, for a good portion of my degree I only ever worked on pieces smaller than a sheet of A4, feeling too daunted to go any bigger!), but it can be so beneficial to investigate the possibilities of creating work at different scales.
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