Applied Design :: Fiber
The Fiber program is part of the Applied Design emphasis in the Art major. The goal of the Fiber classes is to teach both traditional and experimental practices in order to provide students with the technical training and conceptual understanding to develop a mature and independent direction within the textile sensibility.
The contemporary fiber field embraces a wide realm of processes, materials, ideas and outcomes. These include the sculptural branch baskets and figures of John McQueen, the elegance of Ana Lisa Hedstrom's hand-dyed silk coats, the quiet provocation of installations by Anne Wilson and the brilliance of weavings by Lia Cook. The field has matured and expanded from its folk-artsy renaissance in the 1960's and 1970's to become a highly respected and visible field that ranges from the abstract and emotive installations of Ann Hamilton, a recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, to “The Quilts of Gee’s Bend”, a recent exhibition mounted at The Whitney Museum of American Art to superlative reviews.
Current work in the fiber field can take many forms, both two- and three-dimensional, as tiny in scale as an embroidered motif or as large as a room-sized installation, as insulated as a gallery showing or as public as an outdoor sculpture. Much of the work in the field is now multi-media and conceptually based, with the textile sensibility adding a crucial supporting dimension to such work.
The classes at SDSU reflect this broad range of current fiber art. Surface design courses focus on the creation of color and pattern with dyes as well as the three-dimensional manipulation of both the fabric and its surface. Fiber structuring is taught through hand construction techniques such as coiling, twining, crochet, knitting and tapestry weaving. In each of the areas, students are encouraged to use traditional and alternative materials as well as ideas in pursuit of a unique visual voice. This broad-based approach leads to works that can be functional or conceptual, small in scale or room size.
| Undergraduate Program | Faculty Bios |
| Area Facilities | |
| Student Gallery | Faculty Gallery |
Undergraduate Program
The undergraduate courses encourage students to pursue their own personal direction and career goals in fiber while developing a strong foundation in traditional and contemporary fiber techniques.
The undergraduate teaching format is based on lectures, demonstrations and slide presentations by faculty and visiting artists. The curriculum is formulated to broaden student understanding of the fiber field in both its rich historical context and vibrant contemporary presence through research, reading and discussion on critical issues in art and design. Course work places equal emphasis on creative problem solving and technical proficiency.
Students are encouraged to attend fiber-related exhibitions and conferences and eligible students can take independent studies in a fiber area of particular interest. Cross-disciplinary work between different studios of the School is also strongly supported. In addition, students are urged to enter their work in appropriate regional, national, and international competitions as well as pursue opportunities for foreign exchange study.
Click here for the Textiles (Applied Design) Undergraduate Checklist (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Area Facilites
The Fiber studios at SDSU consist of a spacious, well organized multi-purpose workroom and an adjacent dye room. The facilities are located on the 4th level of the Art Building. The main studio contains large work tables and includes sewing machines, a serger, knitting machines, tapestry looms and a light table for design work. The area is well-equipped with tools and materials for student use in creating fiber works. The room also provides space for slide presentations of historical and contemporary textiles as well as critiques of student work. The separate dye room contains a washing machine, dryer, sinks and tools for use in the dyeing process. An art store on the same level of the building provides a convenient source for further supplies or materials.
Faculty Bios
Kathryn Harris, Lecturer
Kathryn Harris holds an MFA in Jewelry/Metals from San Diego State University and a Bachelor of General Studies, with an emphasis in Art History, from The University of Michigan. She also holds an MBA in Marketing from New York University. She has been involved in the fiber field for over 30 years and began as an educator in 1985, previously working at The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. In addition, she worked at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Her sculptural fiber work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. It has been documented in publications such as The Art of Beadwork by Valerie Hector and Textile Techniques in Metal by Arline Fisch.