Rugs and floor-coverings from different counties and cultures, both historical and contemporary, will be shown as examples of how material and design are developed within a cultural and functional context. This will serve as a foundation for students to develop their own vision and sources of inspiration. Each student will design and execute a woven rug intended for a specific use and/or space. Students will learn to set up the loom and will experiment with a variety of rugmaking techniques for both flat and pile surfaces. Exploration with a wide range of materials, from wool to reeds to plastics, are encouraged to find new solutions for each project. Special yarn dyeing techniques will be taught as a way to expand the range of color effects.

Elective

Starting with making their own screens, students in this introductory course will learn various stencil making and printing of repeats using water based dyes and pigments. In addition to considering the screen a tool merely to reproduce an existing design from paper, students are encouraged to think of it as a flexible means for creating totally new designs through experimentation at the print table.

Elective

Students work independently to develop ideas, materials and processes in preparation for the spring semester degree and thesis projects. The work is self initiated and self directed. Students meet as a group on a weekly basis.

Please contact the department for permission to register. Enrollment is limited to Textiles Students.

Major Requirement | BFA, MFA Textiles