Art as Everyday Object
Left: “Super-Cloth” made with layered dictionary pages and stenciled and stamped surface design on Tyvek construction sheeting. Right: Belts and bags made with cloth for upcoming sales.
I have been playing around with a new surface design technique for the last few months. As long time blog followers know, I love to experiment and try new things. Last spring I got my hands on a book published by Interweave Press by Kelli Perkins called “Stitch Alchemy- combining fabric + paper”. Of course as we artist are want to do I quickly abandoned Kelli’s directions and went off on my own tangent but her ideas inspired mine. I had a roll of Tyvek sheeting (used in construction as a moisture barrier) left over from a camp kite-making project, and I’d been itching to do something with it. The surface is smooth and very strong and can’t be torn but is easy to cut and thin enough to sew. I had been making banners and garden flags but was searching for a more durable substrate. Tyvek was the answer. I love words in my work and I am forever cutting up books to use in my collage. I decided that layering dictionary pages on the Tyvek would be a great background from there I kept piling on the layers using both commercial and hand made stencils and stamps. This created a gorgeous and durable “super-cloth”. But what to make? Really the question is what can’t I make? I introduced this technique to the families that attended The Bishop’s Ranch Generations camp last summer and it was very successful. Every family made banners or mobiles with their cloth. Now I’ve been dreaming up what else to do. I love to make wearable art and artful, useful objects so I turned my eye to functional fun. This fall I’m have three sales I’ve already made a ton of fantastic jewelry (something for another blog) and this week was devoted to my yards of super-cloth. I’ve made about 25 gorgeous belts, and about 50 zippered bags of various sizes; I’m experimenting with wallets and luggage tags too! Why should art be confined to the wall, let’s wear it, and share it, hold it and give it. I hope the folks who come to my upcoming sales feel the same way!
Speaking of everyday art, don’t forget to get your 2013 calendars, here is the link CALENDAR.
Karin Tredrea
What can’t you make indeed!
Love it all and can’t wait for the sales. Have you posted their details yet?
lisathorpeartist
Nailing down dates and time for sales right now, will keep you posted.
Valerie Komkov Hill
Lisa, I have that same book, and I’ve recently done something similar to you but put my collages on old canvas I have removed from stretchers when I didn’t like what I was painting. I’ve added gel medium transfers and stitched printed leaves and now I am contemplating just folding and stitching it into a clutch purse. With all those layers it’s pretty sturdy.
lisathorpeartist
Very cool I have some canvases that I’m not sure what to do with too. In the past I’ve cut them up and made cards out of them, just writing right on the canvas on the back, but making them into something new would be more satisfying!