Now that the semester has started, I am integrating this idea of "Radial Symmetry" into course assignments. On Wednesday all three of my classes met at U-Ms Museum of Natural History to explore, take photos and think about ways to integrate patterns from the natural world into their work. This Museum reopened in a beautiful new building in 2019. Most of the taxidermy and diorama style displays were reconceived into interactive paths and hands on learning labs. The building itself it stunning, blurring the lines between museum, classroom, laboratory and study space. Natural light floods the main entrance.
I'm excited by this partnership and while there met with various members of the staff from education, display & design, and public outreach. Jade Marks, my main point person, provided students with some scientific context and opened the discussion for my Costume Crafts students before sending them into the galleries. The current plan is that some curated work from my courses this term will be on display at the Natural History Museum in late summer and early fall before the larger gallery show, including work from other teachers and other departments, in the Duderstadt Gallery in late fall.
The Costume Design 1 courses (two sections) are using radial symmetry, spirals, or mirror symmetry as an inspiration to create a red carpet or runway look, and using the same inspirational source, design an alien or creature. The idea is that the patterns are deeply integrated into the whole form and silhouette, not simply treated as trim or surface pattern. We'll see what they come up with! There are 20 students in two sections. The next step if for them to rough up three thumbnails for each design before creating two final looks.
The Costume Crafts course is an advanced techniques course. "Radial Symmetry" specifically will inform many of the projects throughout the term. The first thing we did in class last week was a marbling sample and one student quickly identified how the marbling paints (left photo from Dharma Trading), floating on the sizing before being combed, closely resembled the Petoskey Stone (on right) on display in the museum.
Students will also use these patterns for future fabric manipulation techniques, stencils, hat design, and resin casting for making jewelry. A great side note is at one of the labs in the museum, you can see scientists cleaning and casting fossils and they are basically using the same tools and materials we will be using in class.
I'm excited for this partnership and seeing what the students come up with.
All images from the museum are courtesy of my students.