Information AboutFiber Art |
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Twylene Moyer , in her article, "Handle with Care: Loose Threads in Fiber," is here paraphrased to define fiber art as, "When the conscious choice of fiber as medium sets the agenda and the visceral and tactile import of fiber materiality forms an end in itself." Note: Moyer was actually defining what fiber art is not, and here the negatives were removed. FIBER Fiber is either taken from a plant or an animal material, for example fiber is either made from cotton, linen, wool, or silk. Which are the traditional fiber materials, but now man made synthetics can be used. But like many natural materials, fibers are widely available, but do not last forever. The most common method of use for fiber is weaving. But in order for the fiber to be woven it must be spun (or twisted) into a useable strand known as yarn. When the yarn is ready and dyed for use it is thread or wrapped on a loom or frame and pulled taut vertically. This is known as the warp. Then another strand of yarn is worked back and forth wrapping over and under the warp, this is called the weft. Most of the textiles are made by this process, whether it be for art uses or for commercial use. Weaving is used for two different types of art work either wearable art or to create tapestry weavings. For centuries weaving has been the way to produce clothes. Which in some cultures lead to an art to show status. The more intriquet the weaving would show higher status, along with certain symbols would stand for status. or who some one was. In the ancient Incan civilization, black and white designs indicated a military status (Mark Gertlein 288). "Tapestry is a special type of weaving in which the weft yarns are manipulated freely to form a pattern or design on the front of the fabric"(Mark Gertlein 288). "Often the weft yarns are of several colors and the weaver can use the different-colored yarns almost as flexible as a painter uses pigment on canvas"(Mark Gertlein 288). In Europe between the 14th and 17th centuries tapetries were the popular pieces of art work and took the places of paintings. The Unicorn in Captivity from The Hunt of the Unicorn by Franco Flemish is a famous example of the European art of this time period. The Unicorn in Captivity is part of a series consisting of seven tapestry panels known as The Hunt of the Unicorn. Much of the art at the time in history was used to tell common folktales that some how had a religous story behind what was being depicted on the tapesty, or other art, including the series of The Hunt of the Unicorn. At the same time period, in the Middle East, fiber artists did not make tapestry or wall hanging weavings. But instead created beautifully crafted rugs. The woven rugs did not depict scenes to tell a story, but instead used symbols and complex designs. An example of this type of art are to giant rugs known as the Ardabil carpets (Mark Gertlein 289). "Like most Islamic carpets, they were created by knotting individual tufts of wool onto a woven ground"(Mark Gertlein 289). Another fiber art technique is quilting, all though this technique has not been around for as long as weaving it is a popular form of art in American history. A few other fiber art techniques include knitting, croche, felting, and there are wide variety of dye techniques. FIBER ARTISTS SEE ALSO |
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