Lia Cook

I never do posts about other artists and I feel its time I do as Lia Cook is currently my greatest inspiration. Shes a California based textile artist who specialises in weaving and has embarked on a new project based around neuroscience.

I don't think I have EVER felt this inspired.

"I work in a variety of media combining weaving with painting, photography, video and digital technology. My current practice explores the sensuality of the woven image and the emotional connections to memories of touch and cloth. Working in collaboration with neuroscientists, I am investigating the nature of the emotional response to woven faces by mapping in the brain these responses and using the laboratory experience both with process and tools to stimulate new work in reaction to these investigations. I am interested in both the scientific study as well as my artistic response to these unexpected sources, exploring the territory between scientific investigation and artistic interpretation. Recently I began using DSI Diffusion Spectrum Imaging of the brain and TrackVis software from Harvard to look at the fiber connections of communication between parts of the brain and to integrate these fiber tracks with the actual fiber connections that make up the woven translation of an image. In one case, I have included in an exhibition a participatory behavioral study (voluntary). I will be collecting data for scientific analysis at the same time as my audience is engaging directly with the work"

The above is Cooks artist statement explaining her current work. I was just blown away.  Looking at Cook alongside people like Freud has really made me want to cross the boundaries of science and textiles and be able to challenge myself in both subjects. I hope to develop my understanding of science by using my technical knowledge of weaving to display this.

Cooks work is available to view at: www.liacook.com

I don't want to go too much into my theory just yet but as my wok develops I will explain bit by bit.

Warp #2

Now, my colour scheme I have got from geysers, originally inspired by yellowstone national park, I do have som photos a friend took in Iceland however I currently can't find them (really don't know what I've done with them) so a google image will have to do...

 

(image found on: http://yetanotherhomeschoolblog-sheri.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/volcanoes-and-igneous-rocks.html)

And this then inspired by warp to create my tartan (see below)

This is only the inspiration for colour.. I have a whole other concept behind my work I will go into another time. But I felt the colours worked really successful. I won't bore you with all the maths but I worked out my total count to create a 6 inch wide fabric and then decided on a random assortment of numbers (as much as I love things being technically challenging.. I also love doing things my own way, I just can't help it) so unbelieveably excited to weave.

Warp set up on a 24 shaft ARM loom.

Warp #1

Tartan (textiles that changed the world) - Jonathan Faiers - available at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tartan-Textiles-That-Changed-World/dp/1845203771/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354317905&sr=1-2

When I decided to take the strive to learn tartan, I purchased this book and I am SO glad I did. I have a thing about buying books... I never get them out the library, I buy them. (an expensive habit I must admit) but I just love owning them. Theres just something about books! Anyway..

If you're interested in learning tartan, this book is a MUST. It's brilliant. Starts with the very basics, the origin of tartan, and just goes on.. everything you could possibly need to know. Even to weave.

The begining of the book starts to explain about the basics of weaving tartan.. with the initial colours of black, red and yellow. Running in the order of 2 black, 16 red, 16 black, 2 yellow. And repeat as many times as neccessary. You then repeat your warp backwards in your weft in a 2/2 twill.... and there you have it! Tartan!

This is my very, very first tartan sample (so exiciting)

As much as I love this sample, it is flawed. As the warp is 2 black, 16 red, 16 black, 2 yellow.
The weft should repeat 2 yellow, 16 black, 16 red, 2 black. However I forgot the 2 black. I honestly think I was just too excited about weaving it and the fact it looked like tartan that I just got carried away. I feel this will be a huge learning curve for me with realising the quality of weaving to create a perfect tartan.

Warp set up on an 8 shaft harris table loom.

Tartan

I've recently had a hand in and a presentation so have been a very busy bee!! But that means... new project. This time I am tackling........ TARTAN. My favourite thing, possibly ever. I remember when I was 13 becoming obsessed with the sex pistols and wanting everything I owed (including my curtains) to be tartan.... and now I'm a weaver, what could be better than being able to create it?

I've been doing some basic research into the sort of "classic" tartans, the peg pans, the drafts, the colours, the sets of colours in the warp. I'm intending to create tartans in the most traditional ways I can, alongside using very contemporary techniques and challenging what is classed as a "perfect" tartan and what would be rejected, although it still may be very aesthetically pleasing.

IDEOSPHERE

My work has recently been posted on the IDEOSPHERE blog and the Huddersfield University textile department blog too! Check it out, exciting.

http://texere.tumblr.com/

http://textiles-hud.tumblr.com/

"Fancy twills"