ARTH 352 Studies in the History of Fibre Art: Hybridity in 20th Century Textile

• Fridays, 11:45 am - 2:30 pm
• Instructor: Dr. Susan Surette

A hybrid is created by intermingling heterogeneous sources and, understood as something composed of elements of different or incongruous kinds, is a rich approach to the study of the fibre arts. Sarat Maharaj expresses this eloquently in their 2001 text, “Textile Art ˗ Who Are You?” Hybridity has become a key concept in postcolonial studies as well as being closely aligned to interdisciplinarity, and even so-called postdisciplinary practices in craft and art, both through studio practices and in art⁄craft historical discussions. During this course we will explore the notion of hybridity in twentieth-century fibre art through four themes: cultural crossovers, textile reclamation and reuse, fine art/ craft transgression, and the expanded concept of fibres in art. We will investigate various nuances of hybridity that emerge within the context of the objects and productions we encounter, drawn from seminal Canadian and American works and others from around the world. Specific topics to be addressed include, but are not limited to, hooked rugs, Bauhaus weaving, basketry, quilts, the Lausanne Biennial, Métis beading, off-loom weaving sculptures, architectural textiles, and new materials. These topics will draw upon decolonizing strategies, the politics of gender, and the implications of craft/art tensions.