Repurposed, Recycled & Alternative Materials

This week was the first online class since the closure of ECA due to the Coronavirus outbreak. It has felt quite strange how much things have escalated over the past few weeks but nevertheless I was really excited about this weeks focus of using alternative materials to embroider onto/with.

Samples & Experiments

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In the sample below I used a mixture of scraps of old fabric and materials found in the recycling bin to create a collage. I combined a few embroidery techniques and stitches, such as: couching using an old cloth, running stitch and seed stitch. I also used the sewing machine to attach the larger pieces of fabric.

Exploring alternative materials – JOIN

Artist Research

Josh Blackwell

Josh Blackwell is an American artist who aimed to redefine the value of ‘rubbish’ by reclaiming discarded plastic bags and turning them into art works through the process of embroidery. These pieces are part of a series of embroidered plastic bags called ‘Neveruses’ in which Blackwell explores the connection between value and function. This series is particularly relevant as it addresses the issue of plastic polluting the environment, bringing embroidery into a contemporary context.

Regarding my personal project, I am interested in exploring how found objects and materials can be incorporated with embroidery to create a sense of narrative, perhaps acting as a document of a specific environment or location. I would like to further investigate the use of alternative materials in embroidery through exploring how I can reuse different materials to create decorative works.

By Josh Blackwell
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By Josh Blackwell
  1. 2019. Talking Textiles with Josh Blackwell, Phaidon, https://de.phaidon.com/agenda/art/articles/2019/august/15/talking-textiles-with-josh-blackwell/
  2. Blackwell, J., http://www.joshblackwell.com
  3. 2017. MAD Process Lab: Josh Blackwell, Museum of Arts and Design, https://madmuseum.org/exhibition/mad-process-lab-josh-blackwell
  4. Pyrnokoki, K., 2017. Crafting with Plastic, Selvedge, https://www.selvedge.org/blogs/selvedge/crafting-with-plastic