class: small hand props
Oct. 5th, 2011 11:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
labricoleuseMy decorative arts students have just finished their second round of projects, for a unit i call "Small Hand Props." This is a new project topic i added this year, in place of a former unit on jewelry for the stage. I was never happy with that project or topic in general, jewelrymaking being one of the areas in which you can often find plenty of documentation and local classes and such, and my philosophy of graduate coursework in crafts is that it needs to cover topics and artisanship study you cannot likely find elsewhere.
So, the Small Hand Props unit was born of the inspiration that, in my career i have often been asked to create items which were essentially props--fans, chatelaines, reticules and other period bags--simply because the costume designer oversaw the design of them in tandem with the clothes. I wanted to offer a project which would address those areas in an atmosphere of guided study, with emphasis in both the aesthetic of the final product and the functionality. Here are some images of the projects they did!
First year grad Leah Pelz created this silk crepe de chine fan.
Leah used as a source image a Jackson Pollock-style splatter painting,
which she digitally manipulated to a fan leaf shape.
Check out the design on Spoonflower here!
Second year grad Adrienne Corral created this reticule from a 1930s source image,
then made a matching fan using the crossweave taffeta with which the reticule is lined.
Left: pattern showing box-pleat detail on reticule.
Right: Reticule of embroidered taffeta and lambskin on antique Bakelite frame.
Third year grad Kaitlin Fara used a historical pattern to crochet this
super sweet beaded gate-clasped 19-century reticule.
Left: Purse in cotton print with velvet insert and vintage hardware by undergraduate Michelle Bellamy.
Right: Chatelaine bag from taffeta and vintage lace by PRC Wardrobe Supervisor Whitney Vaughan.
Whitney's project includes an antique watch and heirloom pillbox as part of the chatelaine element.
First year Kelly Renko created this muff purse from faux fur and a cotton shirting stripe.
Kelly's pattern for the muff purse.
And, several of us are heading out tomorrow for USITT-Southeast regional conference and Master Classes, held in Athens, GA. I'm super-excited to be registered for two fabric painting sessions with renowned costume painter Margaret Peot. Three of our students will have entries in the student division of the regional Design/Tech Expo, to compete for a chance at a free ride to USITT National Convention in the spring. And, I've got an entry in the professional division as well, on the digitally printed inmate fabric for our world premiere of Mike Wiley's new play The Parchman Hour.
I don't know if i'll have time to post from the conference itself, but if not, i'll hopefully be able to share a write-up and images after we return!
So, the Small Hand Props unit was born of the inspiration that, in my career i have often been asked to create items which were essentially props--fans, chatelaines, reticules and other period bags--simply because the costume designer oversaw the design of them in tandem with the clothes. I wanted to offer a project which would address those areas in an atmosphere of guided study, with emphasis in both the aesthetic of the final product and the functionality. Here are some images of the projects they did!
First year grad Leah Pelz created this silk crepe de chine fan.
Leah used as a source image a Jackson Pollock-style splatter painting,
which she digitally manipulated to a fan leaf shape.
Check out the design on Spoonflower here!
Second year grad Adrienne Corral created this reticule from a 1930s source image,
then made a matching fan using the crossweave taffeta with which the reticule is lined.
Left: pattern showing box-pleat detail on reticule.
Right: Reticule of embroidered taffeta and lambskin on antique Bakelite frame.
Third year grad Kaitlin Fara used a historical pattern to crochet this
super sweet beaded gate-clasped 19-century reticule.
Left: Purse in cotton print with velvet insert and vintage hardware by undergraduate Michelle Bellamy.
Right: Chatelaine bag from taffeta and vintage lace by PRC Wardrobe Supervisor Whitney Vaughan.
Whitney's project includes an antique watch and heirloom pillbox as part of the chatelaine element.
First year Kelly Renko created this muff purse from faux fur and a cotton shirting stripe.
Kelly's pattern for the muff purse.
And, several of us are heading out tomorrow for USITT-Southeast regional conference and Master Classes, held in Athens, GA. I'm super-excited to be registered for two fabric painting sessions with renowned costume painter Margaret Peot. Three of our students will have entries in the student division of the regional Design/Tech Expo, to compete for a chance at a free ride to USITT National Convention in the spring. And, I've got an entry in the professional division as well, on the digitally printed inmate fabric for our world premiere of Mike Wiley's new play The Parchman Hour.
I don't know if i'll have time to post from the conference itself, but if not, i'll hopefully be able to share a write-up and images after we return!
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Date: 2011-10-05 04:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-05 05:02 pm (UTC)