Textile Curtains

For the last few months I've been creating these three linear 3m long curtains each describing a process I've looked very closely at within my project. This idea is branched from when I created shadows with with maps because i'm intending to shine light through these three curtains to make shadows; creating an installation piece.

Paper:

I started this project cutting out maps from Karen O'leary and I've already used cut out maps to make shadows so cutting out a map from paper seemed an obvious start. Tord Boontje's work inically inspired me to create my curtains starting with cut out curtains with his 'Screen/Streamer' from his Wednesday collection, Until Dawn Curtain and Fallen Flowers Curtain/Screen.

While making this I had to hand cut it all out so like Tord I folded the paper to get a repetitive pattern that also links the the roads together creating one whole strip of map that is cut out.

Print:
One of the ways I created shadows before was from shining light through screen printing onto translucent fabric. From this it seemed obvious to do it again but on a much larger scale. ust one repetitive print was too simple and not as appealing so i printed another thinner map over the top. I tested different colour combinations stcking to the colour schemes within my sketch book.

Strips:
Looking through my sketch book my imitation of Sandra Meech strip pieces was something i looked quite deeply at and was the most adaptable from my other work to this.
Using this technique wouldn't give much light through but i could use different tranlucent fabric in the spaces inbetween. I tested four different types of translucent fabric, looking at: cotton scrim, netting, unbleached muslin and a looser weave bleeched muslin. I chose to use the cotton scrim and unbleached muslin because it didn't ruffle up when i sewn over them.

To make this i've used loads of different materials for strips all with natural colours like cream and brown, I used maps, route cards, squared paper, parcel paper, hand made paper, lino printed paper, textured wallpaper, old book pages, dress patterns, dress making pages and lace ribbon.
I intended for my curtain to be hanging up as an installation piece i needed to cover the back of this curtain. So I used cocoon stripping on the back for it's cream and natural colour and texture.

Collages with Maps: Peter Clark & Jerry Gretzinger

Dog Collage - Peter Clark
I looked briefly at college by creating one containing pieces of map like peter clark, after doing that it seemed obvious to add more to the piece by linking all the roads from each slice of map together to create my own personal made up map.

This reminded me of the work by Jerry Gretzinger, which started by a doodle on a sheet of typing paper while working in a ball bearing factory. This is now still being added to as an ongoing project describing an imaginary landscape called The Gretzinger Map (1963-Present). when he'd get to the edge of the page he'd add another continuing on. He uses I huge variety of media including collage within creating all (as of june 2008) nineteen hundred contigious panels.

'The Gretzinger Map' - Jerry Gretzinger

I like how this is an ongoing project and that it's all made up. It reminds me of when I was younger when I'd create my own pictures of fictional places and playing platform games on the playstation 2 like grand theft auto. it's obvious he's put alot of imagination and research into making these maps incorporate towns and cities with museums, government buildings, churches, parks, railroad stations and airports.

Jerry's Map (Video)