String Theory

Welcome to String Theory. The year end fiber arts show at The Gallery.

Denise had three sections for her felting class this year. One was the full time fiber arts students and the two others sections were students from other studios who chose to take felting as an elective.
Denise had them do two major projects based around the different techniques that she taught them. The first was "ethnographic samples". The students were required to come up with a symbol that meant something to them and, using different techniques covered in class, make three different personal symbols. Bellow are the best of the 17 students that took the felting class. From left to right their symbols are Paisley, Wheat, Blossom, Eye of Horus, Honey.
And then there was Katie. Katie is an over achiever and we are so thrilled to have her in our program. She finishes her assigned projects early and then puts on other project to do in her "spare time". We really really really like students like Katie. She also came and helped us to set up the show. And if any of you have ever had anything to do with setting up a show in a gallery, you know how helpful a spare set of hands can be. I could have the random thought of "ARGH! I didn't put the table clothes for the food table in the dryer!" and ask her to do it, and she would. Ahhh.

Katie's symbol was "Comet".


The first year students also made blankets. There were four full time students and one part time student. Left is Rosie and right is Christine.

Left is Celine, and right is Katie. And in the foreground is Keith. Keith is our part time student. Keith was a prosecutor for the provincial government before he retired. He became interested in genealogy and while researching his family tree discovered that his family was from Scotland and not from Ireland as his grandmother has insisted. But as he said "No one dared to contradict Granny". In any case, he decided to design a family tartan and have it registered with the tartan authority in Scotland, but he needed a sample of fabric. And upon having a hard time finding someone to weave his tartan for him, he decided to weave it himself. He designed both a dress and a hunting tartan and they have been accepted by the Tartan Authority in Scotland. He has also decided the he likes weaving and I have been coaxing him to come back next fall to take second year weaving.

The first years also did a section in tapestry. Here are some of their results. I had brought in a small tapestry that I did of a drawing that Mira did when she was about 5 to show the students an example of a small tapestry. I left it in the office and unknown to me it was included. It is the rooster on the far left.


There was also an elective book binding class and many people decided to take this also. There were many different types of books that were explored and the diversity was amazing.


Here are a few more.
The second major project that Denise the Felting Queen had her students do was boots. The students worked about five weeks on their boots. They were encouraged to really play with the idea of footwear. The first are the best of the best.


And here are some of the others. Not every one's boot made it into the show. They were all told that it was a juried show and that only the best would be shown.
Stacey is a graduate from last year that came back for advanced studies. Next year she is off to NSCAD to further her education. I will miss her dearly. She has such wonderful ideas and works mostly with wire embellished with other materials. She had a show of her work last year along with another graduating student and her work really pushed the boundaries. I will watch her career with great interest.
When you get close to the mask and look in the eye, this is what you see....

Next are some complex weave scarves by the third years. If anyone would like to see the details, just ask. I didn't want to post too many photos in one post.


Pippi (called Paula by her mom) was a true victim of the flood. She was working feverishly away on her tapestry of the world when we were locked out of the school for almost two weeks. There was no way that she would be able to finish her tapestry in less than two days to have it ready in time for the opening. Then Micheal, our new director, posed the question "Why don't we just bring the whole loom down to the gallery and present it as a work in progress?" Why not indeed!
Here is a detail. All of the yarns are dyed by Pip with natural dyes and most of the ocean is hand spun as well. If I had several thousand dollars hanging around, I would buy this from her when she was finished it. It is truly a work of art.

Congratulations to all of the students! You all make me proud!

Note: The show is at The Gallery at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design at 457 Queen Street In Fredericton New Brunswick.