Due: Mon, Feb. 18, 11:59PM.

For this fourth assignment, we are going to incorporate shibori resist techniques to both shape and tint fabric samples. Our expectation is that the reshaping and texturing of the fabric in the shibori process will create opportunities for movement which include expansion, contraction, and stretching, possibly including changes of color as new surfaces are revealed.

The assignment will also be performed in assigned pairings. We would like each member of the pair to make their own fabric structure, then compose them into a single animated scene in which the movement considers the relation between the pieces. You are welcome to use the samples we dyed together in class as your fabric pieces or to create new fabric samples on your own.

The emphasis is on the possibilities of shibori, but all previous techniques (boning, cordage, shirring, etc.) are also available.

As before, please begin by manually puppeting the fabric pieces to explore movement ideas. After the choreography has evolved, please move to the capstan bench and create an automated version. Please carefully document the resulting performance.

Please document your discoveries and points of interest.

Assignment Specifics

For this exercise, please:

  1. create a fabric sample using shibori resist dyeing
  2. create two, three or four tendon attachment points for actuation
  3. experiment to find movement points of interest
  4. record a short (no more than a minute) demo video of the effect of the movement (s) using the capstan bench
  5. post a short blog entry with the video and a paragraph or two explaining your explorations.

Deliverables

To be uploaded as a post to the course blog:

  1. A brief paragraph outlining your explorations: intended effect, surprises, discoveries, successes.
  2. Short video clip (no more than a minute). Please shoot from a stable camera, not handheld; we have tripods and Magic Arms available at Lending, or you may use a laptop resting on a table. Please embed the video so it can be directly viewed; you may either upload an MP4 file to our server (up to 16 MB) or use supported third-party hosting. N.B. hosted .mov files cannot be embedded; please convert to MP4.

We will review your posts prior to class and select one or more to discuss at the start of our next class.

Grading rubric.

When you go to run the hardware, the exercise 1 lab notes will help.