Dorothy Cross

Dorothy Cross used found and already existing objects and manipulates them to create new objects, re-energising everyday objects. The effect of her work is confusing, powerful, disturbing and occasional funny. She has created sculptures that include religious figures such as the Virgin Mary and then used materials such as cows udders to make her point of a Nurturing Mother (virgin shroud)
This piece is the hind of a cow, an old wedding dress which is draped over a statue of the Virgin Mary and then the udders have been formed around the head of the statue to create a crown.
A bit crazy but inspiring as to what point you can make with your choice of materials.

This is very important aspect which i need to carry into my work. The choice of materials, I'm now thinking about using really  boring rustic materials such as string? to make something beautiful and contempoary.

Bangles, Re-materialising

These are my first attempt at making bangles by using old materials, old bangles and giving them a new life.

This first bangle involved several strands of material that I plated and weaved to create this effect.

After creating this bangle I realised that f i wanted to progress further i would need to use thicker material to give the bangle strength and to hold its own shape.

Here I used 2 materials that were the same pattern and then an individual one. I like the colour combination and think this bracelet is more appealing. However i used thicker material which was harder to weave but the overall it created a much stronger bracelet.

Here i developed the idea further by creating a plait made from 4 strands of material instead of 3. This made the bracelet a lot thicker but also created an interesting effect because it is a lot more busier and chaotic.

The Materials Sourcing

I sourced all my material from a dress maker who had collected strands of material from as early as the war. These are pieces of material she could  not throw out but had never found a use for. Therefore influenced by postmodernism values I am using these 'wasted' strands of material to create items of jewelry that beautiful and giving them a new purpose.

I went to a charity shop to source the thin metal bangles that form the frame of the bracelet, I also had some old ones of my own.

The Making

It is a simple process that i have improved through trail and error, however i think they create individual and interesting designs. I simply measured and cut the material into strands, i braided the material whether using 3 or 4 strands to create a neat plait.

i then secured one end to a bangle, stretched the plait to make it taught and then weaved the plait inbetween the two bangles. This took a couple of attempts to get the correct thickness and to create a neat pattern.

I simply repeated this process adding on about 4 plaits per bangle to make it tight and secure.

Improvements

1. Thicker Material

2. Iron the plait before weaving

3. Strong bangles to act as a sufficient frame

4. Create new designs and develop further

Preserved Shop, How, When and Why

I recently asked a Preserved Shop a small vintage retail bussiness some questions on the influence of facebook on there bussiness, inspirations and how they started, here is a summary of the answers....

I started with just doing local markets at weekends and fairs while i was studying at university, then when i finished uni i had 3 years of experience to start up!

Facebook is the best promotion for the shop and any business! its free,plus you can use it as much as you like and how you kike to promote your business.. I also use twitter and link the 2 together ...

The website takes a long time to build up! i've had it for over 2 and a half years and you've got to be very consistent with it making sure you promote well with flyers in the shop and at fairs etc...

All what i sell is vintage and one off, I pick the stock from a range of suppliers from all over the world.. I like to hand pick stock so that i get the best quality and style for my customers,,,,

Finally my influences are a range, I love the Biba shop from the 70s and I love Barbra Hukilini. I am also influenced with fashion trends, as people are constanly in fashion as well as wanting something as unique, That's were i specialise in better, as its all one off!!

Power Of Making V&A

Cornflower, Centaurea cyanus , this ring made by the designer Nora, Fok has been created by weaving and knitting thin strands of nylon that have been dyed in bright pigments. Personally I like how striking the ring appears but it is actually very delicate due to the soft, translucent nylon material. Foks, inspiration for this ring developed from the cornflowers that were growing in her garden, you see the similarities in structure and form between the ring and the natural flower.

This dress completely captured my attention at the exhibition, how could something that appears so striking and beautiful be made out such harsh  material such as pins. Made by the designer Susie McMurry I think she has captured the idea of opposites, creating something beautiful out of ugly materials.
I would like to carry this idea into my project, make some slick accessories out of wasted materials or materials that you would not associate with being transformed into a beautiful item.

Reflective Summary

Initially I wanted to create something physical as this project enables me to explore different processes and materials that I would not normally investigate in illustration related projects. Therefore I wanted to challenge my self to create something completely different. My idea is influenced by the characteristics of post-modernism; in particular the idea of re-materializing already existing art or objects. I have carried out lots of in-depth research into process, artists and as a result I plan to create a series of contemporary accessories, which have been reborn from existing material. I have discovered that social network sites have become a key element of business to promote there products and therefore I aim to create a blog on which to display these accessories.

During this project I shall learn about different procedures of making accessories and will learn by trail and error in discovering the processes. Hopefully I shall develop new skills that could possibly influence future work.

This project is a challenge and I am very interested in making slick contemporary designs out of old material, I am very engaged in this project and will continue to research designers and experiment with my own designs.

Peer Review Summary

I found our group discussion very helpful I received specific feedback into what elements of the project need more attention and which areas worked effectively. The group responded well to my idea and thought it was a successful link to the brief; we also discussed further ideas such as creating packaging. Personally I think discussing our ideas in a group enabled us to influence each other and give particular suggestions to add to each project. Overall I think this discussion was a great Success. 

Ideas with Materails, Designs

This is a mood board i created with vintage fabric, just to experiment with different atmospheres,tones and colours.

Experimentation with material into the different shapes i could create the beads, fabric etc for earrings.

Another Design..

Experimenting further with material to create a pendent.

A Starting Point

These are very simple designs that I have made which I shall develop through the process of the project but this just gives a taste of the accessories I want to create. I shall elaborate on the idea but currently  I'm thinking of multiple flowers with thick fabrics, beads and exaggerated fascinators. Furthermore I would like to create a bracelet a pair of earrings, necklace and possibly packaging.

Methods of Crafting Jewelry

I have carried out research into different methods involved in making jewelry.

http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/61660/jewelry/the_lost_wax_casting_process_for_making_jewelry.html

http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/magicalritualtools/ss/TreeLifePendant.htm

http://www.tipjunkie.com/how-to-make-headbands/

http://www.wigjig.com/jewelry-wire/slhearrings.htm

http://www.how-to-make-jewelry.com/how-to-create-a-beaded-leather-wrap-bracelet.html


All of these link display different techniques for creating different accessories, however i want to create unique pieces and discover process myself for create some really beautiful pieces that have used old materials to create contemporary designs. I want to design slick, clean cut pieces using materials such as wire, beads and fabrics.

Contemporary Designs

I really like the contradiction in this design, at first glance it looks simple however the weaving and craft is complex. I would like to explore creating pieces like this, I shall experiment with wire and weaving old materials, intertwining different patterns to create a contemporary look.

Recycled cola lables is an example of re-using materail and giving it a new purpose. This is another aspect I could explore when expermienting with designs.

Summary of Ideas

Work by Felicity Powell Fueled my first ideas..
I initially  had an idea of Music Links posted on facebook and how we share them and express opinions. I wanted to explore making a physical link, posting someone a music link so that it is respected and gains more value. I thought about using a record and then creating images on top to suggest a music link, therefore re-materializing the link. I could play on the idea of possession and the digital world v ownership however I felt this would not have enough body or depth to create something. I want to create a physical object and then relate it back to the Internet and social media.



New Idea

I feel this project is a chance to challenge myself and create something that is not related to illustration. I want to physically create accessories (headbands, jewlerey ect) from old materials (beads,chains anything) and give them new life. I want to experiment with different materials such as glass, fabric, metal and source my materials from wide range. I am not very conceptual in my work and don't wish to portray an underlying meaning but i do want to experiment with the postmodernism values of complexity, freedom and recycle the old as new. I then want to challenge my self further by relating it back to technology and use of blogs,facebook,twitter and websites. Setting up a blog and page to show the items I have made and possibly creating a website.


Extending My Idea

Finaly another aspect i could gain from this as a project is by using socail network sites and blogs I can accummilate opinions of the pieces and reach a wider audience, use the interent to make teh project grow.

Examples Of Online Retailors

Asos has a sale and buy section of there website, is this almost a contemporary take on a bring and buy sale? Still it is effective and highlights another way to purchase individual items. Could I mirror this on a social website such a facebook? Exchange of images? or Objects?

Topshop has a vintage section in store but it also shows its links to twitter and facebook on the website. This maximises communication to the customer, keeps them up to date with new lines. Communication with customsers is developing fast via facebook, customers can follow new photos shoot posts.

Is this something I could develop the communication element of facebook?

Vintage shops Online, Old With The New

Vintage Jewelery, clothes and items are sold on the Internet everyday. Old jewls, beads, lace and material are reborn in new clothing to then be advertised and sold on the Internet. The mish-mash of old items advertised or 'posted' on facebook, twitter, blogs and individual websites that dominate our society. The motion of
Re-Materializing, to make an old object appeal to current trends or simply giving value back to the item.

http://preservedvintageclothing.com/Headbands.php


 This is an example of a shop that is re-materializing objects and then selling them through there website. This small shop has evolved into a thriving business and is now associated with ASOS. However I first discovered the shop on Facebook, they advertise through a page on facebook and upload pictures of newly customised stock. It is this element I want to explore in my project.

This is a vintage shop in Liverpool that has evolved due to technology, I have sent the owner a questionnaire on there sources and effect of Internet including facebook on there sales, I shall upload the responses at a later date.

Turning Tradition on its Head, Post Modernism

Recycling the old as new to me is an key element of postmodernism, this is evident in Yasumasa Morimura portraits as its is an example of artists borrowing work to be recreated as postmodernism art. He using great artists work such as Van Gogh, Manet and Photographer Cindy Sherman to manipulate. He put his own portrait and figure into the images therefore creating a new image, with new meaning, value and function.







Old art reproduced in a new way is also evident with Fashion designers who recreate traditional looks whether its in relation to the fabric, accessories or the design and cut. Vivienne Westwood and Malcum Mclauren punk phenomenon kings road was created out of many elements including biker gear and safety pins to introduce the do it yourself punk era.


This is also apparent today with vintage sections in retail shops, the flair of vintage clothing being altered into a new identity. I found this jewelery designer on brick lane who uses historic objects from different eras to create these beautiful pendants and necklaces.

I am interested to explore the ideas of creating something new out of old objects, I think this subject would have alot of depth to create objects, that not only serve a new purpose or function but can be renewed with a new life.