Written and Photographed by Jordan Petteys, Video by Negan Fu and Tyler Rispoli
More than 1,300 thread and material lovers congregated at Pepe Hall Friday Feb. 28, to witness a day in the life of fibers students. From marble wrapped handkerchiefs dip dyed in indigo, to soapy felted wool, students demoed a variety of fiber techniques.
According to Mary Liz Sargent, fibers professor, “our amazing staff at Pepe Hall work extra hard during the winter quarter in order to make this tremendous event happen, changing classrooms and hallways into galleries for fibers work,” Sargent said.
The ground floor presented woven and dyed structures. Here, attendees learned to use looms and knitting machines to efficiently design patterns. Lines snaked around boilers and heat presses in the dye lab as participants waited to manipulate their fabric. Meanwhile, senior and grad students discussed their thematic embellished, embroidered and sewn projects. Hand painted murals, knit swatches and large woven structures decorated the hallway.
Katherine Sours, third year fibers student, displayed pieces from a recent collection about vulnerability near the stairway to the felt lab.
“The fibers program has been where I’ve found my home at SCAD. It’s not only an environment that fosters creativity, but a community of professors and students who push and support each other. After three years in the department, I can’t see myself anywhere else,” Sours said.
Guests intrigued by alternative process like screen printing and felting wandered to the basement for more student-led demos. Squeegee boards and hair dryers echoed into the room over where pool noodles, bubble wrap and olive soap transformed wool to felt. Pruny hands caressed the cotton candy colored material in warm water until it became a swatch.
Erin Mahoney, second year fibers student, led children, students and adults through a felting demo. “I loved sharing a piece of my major and the excitement of learning something new. Interacting with people from all walks of life was an enriching experience,” Mahoney said.
From upholstered furniture to hand-woven tapestries, students displayed work combining a variety of material and technique upstairs. Many artists in the department choose to source sustainable materials, hoping to create beautiful and innovative pieces by recycling common objects.
These timeless techniques proved relevancy in design. Whether a fiber’s purpose is practical or artistic, the department encouraged the community to consider the creative properties of materials.
