Diana Guerrero-Maciá

Color is everywhere. This fiber studio will teach students basic color theory and applied color mixing techniques using fiber reactive dyes to make a variety of projects. Experiments will begin with immersion dyeing to create solid color swatches and a comprehensive dye book of color dying charts for student to use in the future. Surface design explorations will include block printing and painterly techniques with dyes. Over-dyeing and discharge processes will be introduced as methods of adding layers of color to cloth.

Lectures on contemporary, historical, and global use of color in artworks will vary greatly and cover various centuries and methods of making. Readings in color will include Josef Albers, John Gage, and David Batchelor to name a few. Critiques will emphasize the use of color as formal & conceptual element within artwork.

Students will complete several projects while testing and compiling over 100 dye test colors into a dye-sampler book with recipes for material explorations, and fabric dye testing. Students will also research color meaning, study basic color theory, and finish color-based projects of their own design and using textiles they have hand dyed as a final project.

This studio course will consider how to compose a picture plane with a variety of materials including paper collage, fabric piecing, applique, heat press, direct dye application and other handwork, to create line and form. Students will make use of drawing and form invention methods including stitching and dying, in conjunction with, or in place of, painted surfaces. Projects and critiques will address the critical use of compositional elements and materials within the picture plane.

The seminar aims to help artists deepen their relationship to their own work while developing critical dialogue skills and community building aimed at sustaining a long-term creative practice. In addition to contemporary and historical art practices, we will practice understanding of each artist?s unique lived experience, personal story, and encourage honest vulnerability to inform the authentic voice of each artist. We will engage in silent looking, group discussions, and written reviews of each other's artwork to best access the strongest work from everyone. Of particular interests of discussion will be hybrid visual art forms, the expanded fields of craft, textiles, painting, sculpture, and print. We will discuss market forces and how gallery systems and museums operate and what needs to change to build a more sustainable and inclusive future practices. This interdisciplinary studio seminar is open to all students working across visual art practices. Each artist will have at least two individual studio visits with sustained work in progress conversations and writing responses to each other work. Studio critiques will be augmented by shared critical, historic, and poetic readings to provide context to the work and critique process as well as written feedback.

Taken every semester, the Graduate Projects courses allow students to focus in private sessions on the development of their work. Students register for 6 hours of Graduate Project credit in each semester of study.

Taken every semester, the Graduate Projects courses allow students to focus in private sessions on the development of their work. Students register for 6 hours of Graduate Project credit in each semester of study.