FINAL WALL WEAVING
requirements: 36 INCHES LONG, width of the loom
*you must be excited making it
*you must want to have it hanging on your wall
*intentionality is a must (finished edges, selvage edges etc)
*you must justify breaking requirements, there has to be a reason
*convince me that your visual choices were not random
Now that you completed your weaving sample, do you have a clear vision of what kind of final weaving you would like to make? Do you feel inspired? Are you ready to re-thread your loom and begin your final weaving? Students who answer YES to these questions, break into groups of 2-3 students, share their plan with each other, ask for feedback and use the time in class to finalize their samples and future plans (ex. type and color yarn to be used, to scale sketches, final dimensions of the weaving etc).
Students who answered NO to the questions above and feel lost or uninspired with what to do for their final weaving, read through the instructions below and join a group of 2-3 students who answered the questions similarly.
INSTRUCTIONS
Prior to this class, each student identified a song that they enjoy. Use this song as a prompt to come up with a plan and design of your final weaving. Your challenge is to express visually how the song of you choice makes you feel into a weaving. I do not care if others looking at your final weaving understand what you feel about the song. I do not care if others can guess the song you chose to work with. This song is simply an inspiration, a launching pad for your weaving design.
Do not get stuck on the idea that this is a literal translation and that you can not veer away from the song if an idea that pops into your head calls you! The song is a PROMPT. What I care about is that you have a plan you are excited to execute. I care that you make a cohesive and intentional weaving. Your weaving will be an abstraction of a complex experience.
By the end of class, all students must have a simple plan for the final weaving. Work fast, don’t over think, listen to your peers’ suggestions, don’t judge yourself while brainstorming and foraging for ideas. Be playful!
STEP 1. Spend the first 20 minutes reflecting on your song on your own.
What shapes, textures, lines, colors come to mind?
Identifying adjectives that describe the song or describe how the song makes you feel. Be explicit in translating the song into terms that can be expressed visually. For example if the song makes you feel happy, go beyond that… What kinds of shapes, colors, textures express this feeling for you? When do you feel happy? What colors, shapes, textures express happiness for you?
Does the song feel hard or soft? Does it have high or low contrast? Are crisp lines or fuzzy lines more appropriate? Does the song elicit specific images? Write down and sketch all of the ideas that come to mind. Sketch to scale. Use oil pastels to get ideas quickly on paper.
STEP 2. Share your thought process, ideas, sketches with the group. 5 minutes max per person for sharing. 5 minutes to respond from the group.
The goal of the group is to:
- Make sure that each group member arrives at expressing ideas visually.
- Help each group member identify successful visual designs.
REPEAT STEP 1 AND 2 until everyone in the group has a plan, shortening STEP 1 BY 10 minutes after round one.