Inspired by Jinzenji Yoshiko
For wool project
Christien Meindertsma on her book ‘Pig 05049’
Christien Meindertsma: Texel Ottoman
The industrial production of wool
Christien Meindertsma: Flax Project
I’m fascinated by these videos. This particular one has beautiful photography of machinery and shows all the little details (like the fibers of the flax). This is very much like the kind of photography I have been trying for in my Me and My Machine project.
(Source: christienmeindertsma.com)
Christien Meindertsma: Flax Project 2009
This is one of a series of short videos at different stages in the production process of flax, one of Netherlands most important textile outputs.
(Source: christienmeindertsma.com)
Christien Meindertsma: One Sheep Sweater 2010
We are currently working on a new collection of knitted sweaters that are each made from the wool of one of these merino sheep. There is only one flock of merino sheep in the Netherlands, owned by Mathee Kamp. The sheep have been shorn and the wool is on the way to be washed and spun.
(Source: christienmeindertsma.com)
Temples: The Relationship Between Gyms And Our Broken Food System
by Alex Moore
I find the first part of this video interesting, I like the way the screen is split and you feel hurrying to observe both at the same time, consuming your attention even more pressingly than a video usually does.
Alex Moore, the artist behind this series of photographs that looks at people eating fast food alone, is back with a new project: a video that examines the relationship between consumer behavior, gyms, and unhealthy food choices.
The first part of Moore’s video features side-by-side images of people working out and highly-processed food being churned out at a factory. As the artist wordlessly points out, we are always trying to atone for what we’ve eaten.
The YAS Project
The Yas Project (or Yorkshire Agricultural Society Project) was started by Amanda Langdown, a senior lecturer of Fashion at MMU. The purpose of the project is the research and promote British wool, and particularly Yorkshire wool.
This collaborative project to design and create an exhibition at the Royal Yorkshire Show is beginning to take shape. The brief if to create something that will demonstrate how the science of wool influences design, how its unique properties allow makers to do specific things. It is part of a larger umbrella to promote British wool.
So far the project has brought together myself and two other students at MMU. We have met to discuss the brief, talk about our own experience and skills and what we might offer, and also gone on a field trip to North Yorkshire to see the site, and visit a farm.
Seeing the site was an important moment. It made visualising an exhibition much easier, and we also got to choose which space in the building we wanted and get measurements. Eva will be drawing up a scale drawing so that we can design around the space. We also visited Hazel Brow Farm which is developing an education and heritage centre. It was really interesting to see how our ideas for this short exhibition could have a place in somewhere more permanent. It was also interesting to see how input from creative people like Amanda have already helped improve the centre.
We met Anne ? who has a PhD in wool, and is a weaver having spent her career in the wool industry around Bradford. It was fascinating to get her insight into some of the issues the campaign faces, and to meet someone so knowledgeable.
In terms of my own investigation Hazel Brow Farm was a brilliant example of the kind of thoughts I’ve been having with awareness of origins and making processes. It is primarily a sheep farm, but has alpacas, angora goats, chickens and a few cattle. A day there offers visitor the chance to pet and feed the animals, see newborn lambs (even watch lambs be born!) hold animals, all whilst learning how each animal is useful. The development of the education centre will strengthen this extremely enjoyable and physical activity with a deeper understanding of how wool is processed, used, why is it important, how farmers are trying to make a living from it, and make a real connection between the original and reality of sheep farming with everyday familiar objects.
What is really interesting is seeing how a particular issue, this case wool, becomes interdisciplinary in its quest and through the people that concern themselves with it. As a team we are looking at it from a design perspective. It is clear that people also see it from an agricultural perspective, an economic perspective, and environmental perspective, and some from a cultural perspective. A wide range of people approach it, each with their own love for it. And I suppose with wool being such a unique and useful material it offered the perfect opportunity for many people to find something within it.
