2020 Fibreshed Field School – Call for Students
Shumka Centre for Creative Entrepreneurship, Aboriginal Gathering Place and TARP Lab
Led by Emily Smith, Fibreshed Field School is an experiential mentorship program that will investigate ecologically sensitive and economically viable methods of local textile production. The program runs from September 2020 – December 2020.
This program is inspired by and works collaboratively with Fibershed, an international network founded by Rebecca Burgess. Fibershed develops regional and regenerative fibre systems on behalf of independent working producers, by expanding opportunities to implement carbon farming, forming catalytic foundations to rebuild regional manufacturing, and through connecting end-users to farms and ranches through education.
The Fibreshed Field School program will offer three distinct Mentorship Cohorts: 1) Reciprocity and Stewardship; 2) Warping and Weaving; 3) Regeneration. Students are invited to apply to one of the three cohorts, but will converge with each of the other cohorts throughout the program to produce a publication about ecologically sensitive and economically viable methods of local textile production in BC.
The program will offer:
- Industry exposure and knowledge transfer between fibre producers, designers, and entrepreneurs.
- Immersion in the hands-on, real world context where fibres are grown, harvested, and processed.
- Practice and support as well as greater understanding of how to instantiate ideas and make projects happen outside of the classroom.
- Opportunity to contribute to a Fibreshed Field School publication.
All cohorts will complete field trips (please see details below). This project can be completed as a Directed Studies for eligible students. Participants will devote approx. 12 hours/week throughout the Fall term, with activities ranging from 4-8 hours on Fridays and some weekends.
This program is best suited for students who are interested in working in the textile industry and want to create new relationships with Indigenous knowledge holders, farmers, ranchers and material producers in Vancouver, Sunshine Coast and rural Bowen Island.
Mentorship Cohorts
*Please note Fibreshed Field School activities are subject to change in line with social distancing guidelines for the Province of British Columbia. See the Emily Carr website for more information on campus closures.
- Cohort 1: Reciprocity and Stewardship
In partnership with EartHand Gleaners Society, and the Aboriginal Gathering Place, this cohort focuses on responsible land stewardship and practices informed by Indigenous ways of knowing. Activities include processing of nettle, salmon leather, dogbane and milkweed, guest speakers, material research.
All activities will take place on Fridays between 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM in various Lower Mainland locations, compliant with social distancing guidelines for the Province of British Columbia.
Mentors: Aboriginal Gathering Place and EartHand Gleaners Society. Guest Speakers and workshop facilitators TBA.
Location: Trillium Park, Means of Production Garden, Emily Carr Aboriginal Gathering Place located on the unceded, ancestral and traditional xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Watuth) territories
- Cohort 2: Warping and Weaving
In partnership with Macgee Cloth Company, this cohort focuses on transparent practices around textile production. The main activity of this cohort will be to learn how to use Fibreworks software to create two blankets woven in ring spun cotton and lambswool for which students can affix their own label. Students will visit a small industrial mill in Robert’s Creek, meet with industry experts, learn about warping and weaving techniques, and the process for ethical sourcing of yarn.
This cohort includes a possible overnight stay in Robert’s Creek Friday – Sunday, compliant with social distancing guidelines for the Province of British Columbia.
Mentors: Nicola Hodges (knitting pattern tech editor), Macgee Cloth Company
Location: Macgee Cloth Company located on the unceded, ancestral and traditional xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Watuth), ḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and shíshálh (Sechelt) territories
- Cohort 3: Regeneration
In partnership with Rebecca Burgess, Young Agrarians, and Morning Star Wollen Farm, this cohort will be focusing on regenerative agriculture. Students will visit farms, meet with industry experts, learn about natural dyeing techniques as well as biodegradeability. The focus of this cohort will be to respond to a design brief and raise public awareness to regenerative farming practices in BC.
This cohort includes a possible overnight stay on Bowen Island, compliant with social distancing guidelines for the Province of British Columbia.
Mentors and Facilitators: Rebecca Burgess, Star Hoerauf, Valerie D Walker.
Location: Farms located on the unceded, ancestral and traditional xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Watuth), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) territories
Eligibility
Please note that access to this program is competitive and requires availability on Fridays. Applications will be evaluated for depth of proposal and suitable match with the program intent.
If interested in getting credits as Directed Studies for this course, students will need to:
- Be in their 3rd or 4th year of undergraduate studies at Emily Carr University of Art + Design.
- Have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
The credits will be administered as a 3 credit elective (studio) and overseen by Helene Day Fraser, Associate Dean, Master of Design, Jake Kerr Faculty of Graduate Studies.
How to Apply
Please fill out this form
Deadline – June 30, 2020
