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Welcome to Textile as Scaffold week, where fabrics become the heroes of design, innovation, and a bit of mad science! This week, we’ll take textiles on a wild ride, turning them into structural wonders and artistic playgrounds. Whether you're transforming soft fibers into strong composites, sculpting with CNC 3D milling, or growing shimmering crystals on unexpected surfaces, it’s all about pushing the limits of what textiles can do.
We’ll also dive into leather molding to explore its squishy-to-sculptural potential and experiment with materials that grow, stretch, and surprise. Think of it as a playground where technology, art, and alchemy collide. Get ready to stretch your imagination (and some fabric) as we uncover how textiles can become the backbone of groundbreaking creations!
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KAREN MARGOLIS: MAPPING THE INVISIBLE THROUGH CRYSTALLIZATION
Karen Margolis inspires with her ability to bridge the worlds of science and emotion through art. Her work often focuses on the invisible connections that define human experience—thoughts, memories, and neural pathways. By incorporating crystallization into her creative process, Margolis transforms these intangible ideas into physical, intricate forms. Her pieces often begin as delicate, hand-drawn maps, which she enhances with crystals to bring dimension and depth, representing the beauty and fragility of mental landscapes.
Margolis uses crystallization not just as a decorative process but as a conceptual tool, allowing natural growth patterns to interact with her artistic vision. The crystals mimic organic structures, blurring the lines between control and chaos. This interplay of order and unpredictability is a significant source of inspiration, showcasing how a scientific process can illuminate deeply personal themes in art.
ALICE POTTS: BIOCRYSTALS THAT WEAR YOUR STORY
Alice Potts is a visionary in biofabrication, transforming bodily processes into wearable art through her innovative use of crystallization. She collects sweat, tears, and even urine from the body, harnessing their natural salts and minerals as a foundation for crystal growth. Each fluid contributes unique compositions, resulting in crystals with distinct colors, textures, and structures.
This process turns something as intimate and human as bodily fluids into extraordinary, sustainable art pieces that reflect individuality and celebrate the connection between biology and design. Potts’ work not only pushes the boundaries of wearable art but also offers a glimpse into the future of fashion where natural processes and cutting-edge creativity intersect.
Her ability to collaborate with major brands amplifies her impact, blending her techniques with global fashion icons like Gucci, Alexander McQueen, and Adidas. These partnerships integrate her bio-crystallization methods into both luxury and streetwear, redefining how materials are used in design. Potts’ innovative approach inspires by proving that fashion can be deeply personal, environmentally conscious, and conceptually groundbreaking all at once. Her work embodies a new era where art, science, and sustainability meet to reshape the possibilities of textiles and wearable technology.
VLIEGER & VANDAM: FUN WITH LEATHER
Vlieger & Vandam is also renowned for their playful and provocative approach to leather design, particularly with their Guardian Angel series of bags, which feature bold, unexpected shapes like knives and guns molded into the leather. These bags are more than just accessories; they challenge traditional notions of fashion and functionality. The designs incorporate sharp, edgy details that evoke strong emotions and raise questions about society, protection, and violence, all while being entirely wearable. The knife or gun shapes are intricately crafted in leather, allowing these otherwise dangerous objects to be transformed into fashion statements that provoke thought and conversation.
The bags play with the idea of blending everyday functionality with objects typically associated with danger, offering a playful critique of modern life. Their work inspires me by proving that design can be both serious and fun, challenging conventions while making a statement about identity, culture, and the materials we choose to engage with.
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My CNC milling adventure during Fab Academy 2023 was nothing short of thrilling. Armed with the ShopBot PRS Alpha at Fab Lab Armenia and a head full of ideas, I dove into the challenge of creating a music stand for my violin-playing daughter. After a whirlwind of brainstorming, safety training, and design tweaks, I finally settled on my project—because who doesn’t love combining art with function? With VCarve Pro software in hand and plywood on the table, I embarked on a journey of turning flat wood into something fabulous, complete with laser-cut floral decorations to give it a charming twist.
Of course, the process wasn’t all smooth sailing. From discovering a misaligned spindle to reworking pieces that didn’t quite fit, there were plenty of moments that tested my patience and problem-solving skills. But nothing beats the joy of seeing your design come to life, especially when your curious kid is right beside you, mimicking your every move. In the end, we had not just a beautiful music stand but also a shared experience that made the journey even more meaningful—and a workspace full of sawdust that told the story of a job well done!
My experience with 3D CNC milling was a deep dive into digital fabrication and materials exploration. For the milling, I used FreeCAD to design a precise two-part mold for a flying saucer, carefully adjusting draft angles and scaling for the wax material. Generating G-code through Mods, I faced challenges like scaling errors and surface imperfections, which I resolved by fine-tuning stepover values and mesh settings, ultimately achieving smooth mold surfaces using the Roland SRM-20 CNC machine.
In the casting phase, I worked with Babbitt metal, melting it to a precise temperature in the VULCAN A-550 oven. Despite initial issues with air pockets and a narrow injection hole, I successfully created a metal saucer by modifying the mold.
For the bioplastic, I experimented with a recipe inspired by Fabricademy, adding creative elements like pencil shavings for a cosmic touch. These experiences expanded my skills in working with diverse materials and reinforced the value of adaptability and problem-solving in fabrication.
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