The Brief

THEEDUCATORSNEWCLOTHES 1^st Year Project with artist Mark Rautenbach

This project affords the students an opportunity to participate in a public art performance (job-shadow/apprentice style), with an established practising artist. Learners engage first hand in yarn and fabric production from re-used material. The project introduces Learners to conceptual frameworks which contextualise the symbolic content (in this case conversations about education) embodied by the material and product produced (yarn, fabric, public engagement, community conversation, public space installation/intervention).

Embedded in the project is; Design as a method to engage with/raise awareness with/converse with the public, and generate community. The project relies on social media and crowd sourcing.

Learning Outcomes:

• To use Design as a vehicle to engage with the public, creating community
• To develop yarn and fabric by reusing material
• To engage with traditional techniques, knitting and crochet, in an unorthodox and innovative way
• To use social media forms as an integral part of Design production, communication and documentation
• To introduce crowd sourcing
• To engage ethically, responsibly and meaningfully with public space and community

Task:

By working in groups of 4/5, manifest a public intervention/installation/performance, thus developing community, by using fabric made from knittable yarn which re-uses material.

The project needs to include the following:

• A clear concept of the community developed (e.g. Public conversation about education)
• The symbolic content of the re-used material for yarn production clearly understood and apparent (e.g. Education documents used for yarn production, in a public conversation about education)
• Thorough documentation of the entire process via social media formats (recommended Facebook, blogger and twitter)
• This includes photographic documentation
• Can include video
• Descriptive writing
• Reflective writing
• Cohesive and genuine group work
• Yarn production from re-used material and fabric made from this yarn
• Crocheting and or knitting, this can include arm and finger knitting crocheting
• Crowd sourcing, funding

Marking Criteria:

How successfully does the installation/intervention/performance develop a community and embody the content?

• Material
• Sourcing of material
• Symbolic meaning
• Techniques
• Creative application of knitting and crochet
• Interaction with space
• Relevant/appropriate
• Responsible
• Development of community
• Cohesive

How successfully has the group worked as an entity?

• Has there been genuine teamwork?
• People working with their strengths
• Challenging team members

How thoroughly has Social media been use?

• Comprehensive, legible, appropriately transparent and aesthetic documentation
• The documentation should be so comprehensive that the project should be able to be marked via these formats. This allows you to create pieces which don’t last
• Level of written content (appropriate, incisive)
• Ethical and responsible

What is the standard of the presentation (for assessment?)

• Concise (working within time frame)
• Relevant and appropriate use of visual aids and media
• Easy flow
• Group cohesion