Weaving

Materials

Loom

Crochet Hook (optional)

Weaving Material

My Experience with the Process

I found this process easy yet a little boring. I loved creating potholders as a kid but would be more interesting in weaving different materials on my own and in the art classroom. Weaving on the larger loom and with yarn is something I want to investigate more.

Ideas on Weaving in Art Class

I would love to integrate weaving into a lesson on Native American art, where basket weaving is a common technique used. In this way weaving could be an art lesson integrated with history and culture, as well as a way to gain perspective outside one’s own tradition and culture.

I would begin a unit like this by having students practice weaving in their sketch book or with other paper. I would suggest them cutting and using different sizes of paper to see what happens. Once they have practiced weaving that creates a sheet, I could have them attempt to “sculpt” or create a 3D shape by weaving. Then I would introduce history, Native American Culture and basket weaving techniques.

Overall, weaving would give students creative thinking skills in dimensional thinking, play and learning new technical processes.

Thoughts on Collaboration in Art Class

Thoughts on the Idea of Collaboration in Art ClassI like the idea of having one large collaborative project in a class. Maybe one per semester or trimester depending on how the year is broken up. This gives students a chance to learn about teamwork and also allows them to share the pressures they might feel when creating art.

One excellent collaborative experience that I had comes to mind for me. My class created mosaics in high school. It was an optional volunteer project that we were able to work on in addition to individual works, while they were firing or when they were finished.

We created two mosaics as a group, starting with collaboration on the design and then dividing up sections for each of us to apply glass to. The first end product was a large installation for the entryway of our school that named our school logo and had wings for our mascot the little hawks. The other products were eight large mosaics that framed pillars at the entrance to a walkway in a park in our community.

These were rewarding experience because we worked as a team and got to create something permanent and beautiful for our community.

I also think that as a teacher, collaboration projects that end up in the community build school spirit and a sense of community within the classroom, especially when the project becomes a community area installation.