Fibers & Textile Studies
The Fibers & Textile Studies concentration in the Craft & Material Studies program will allow you to explore materials such as loom-woven and mixed-media fabrics and gain a thorough understanding of the inherent physical qualities and potential image-making possibilities of fabric. You'll learn in many ways, in and out of the classroom, through demonstrations, slide presentations, field trips, informal discussion and group critiques.
Mi-Kyoung Lee is the director of UArts' Fibers program.
Her massive piece “Yellow Forest” was a featured installation in Terminal E of the Philadelphia International Airport. The 40-foot by nine-foot sculptural form was created entirely out of thousands of industrial plastic twist ties, knotted together to bind the huge amounts of material into a singular structure.
In the piece, the twist ties were joined to create a field of color and texture resembling a living wall.
Creating a new space by using different materials, it is playful. I begin every piece by playing, like a child plays with her toys. I believe this is the way to open my mind.
Since graduating from UArts, Qiang Gong BFA ’13 (Fibers) has, among other exciting things, designed and constructed costumes and sets for the International Opera Theater in Italy for its world-premiere project “Azaio.”
Qiang says that when she was 7 years old, she had the experience of nearly drowning in a river. “Years passed, and I still remember the first breath after being pulled out of the water. From that moment on, I have lived in the moment. The simple act of breathing- the inhale and exhale- become part of my attention in the work.”
Qiang’s work investigates people’s psychology, and she works with the idea of creating a space that can interact with the viewer, calling it “interior interaction.”
“Creating a new space by using different materials, it is playful. I begin every piece by playing, like a child plays with her toys. I believe this is the way to open my mind.”
More than lecturers, professors in the Craft and Material Studies program are skilled artists and innovative thinkers. Meet the faculty in the Craft and Material Studies program by reading their profiles and artist statements.
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Sample Courses in the Craft + Material Studies Major with a concentration in Fibers and Textile Studies
First Year
Drawing: Objects & Space
Drawing: Natural Forms & The Human Figure
Image/Time
Color
Object/Environment
Found & Fabricated
Second Year
Sophomore Projects
Computers for Object Makers
Fibers Mixed Media Exploration
Color and the Loom Exploration
Constructed Surface Exploration
Third Year
Junior Projects/Discourse
Fibers and Textile Studies Junior Studio I
Fibers and Textile Studies Junior Studio II
Fibers and Textile Studies Junior Projects
Fourth Year
Fibers and Textile Studies Senior Thesis I
Fibers and Textile Studies Senior Thesis II
Fibers and Textile Studies Senior Studio
Craft Senior Projects
About the Curriculum
At the heart of the curriculum of the Craft + Material Studies Major with a concentration in Fibers and Textile Studies is the notion of thinking through making. Fibers and Textile Studies students are passionate about working with their hands and about discussing the ideas and concepts underlying their art. Fibers and Textile Studies students learn to express themselves through material and process. A student who pursues Craft and Material Studies will work closely with an advisor to determine the curricular path that best matches their artistic goals.
Students who complete the Craft + Material Studies Major with a concentration in Fibers and Textile Studies will:
- Demonstrate independent, creative problem solving and original thinking. They exhibit a distinct and personal approach to art making.
- Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary issues and historical precedents. They have an appreciation for experimentation/innovation as well as for the traditions of making as applied to contemporary craft practice.
- Acquire and demonstrate the professional skills needed to be successful as artists, entrepreneurs, designers for industry and productive citizens.
- Be able to talk and write about art (including their own work) critically, intelligently and with considerable insight.
- Acquire the level of technical skill required for them to reach their career goals. They establish a work practice appropriate to their ideas and demonstrate a deep familiarity with materials and processes.
Fibers and Textile Studies can also be studied as an emphasis in the Fine Arts Program.
To explore the full curriculum, click here.
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BFA '13
BFA '15
BFA '05
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