Fibres

Fall admission only

The Fibres program allows for a rigorous and comprehensive study of the technical, conceptual and creative aspects of contemporary art and textile production. Interdisciplinary in nature, the Fibres program encourages a cross-fertilization of ideas, techniques and technologies. The rich history and tradition of fibres serves as a starting point from which to examine the medium in the contemporary art milieu.

Students work in a broad range of fibre structure processes including hand construction, loom and off-loom woven structures and experimental approaches to textile and fibre art. Classes are small to promote personal expression and critical discussion and the open studio format supports the development of each student's body of work. Students are encouraged to pursue special interests and to further their understanding of the philosophy and historical tradition of the medium.

Printing and Dyeing Textile courses examine a wide range of approaches to textile surface treatment including silk-screen printing, relief printing, discharge and resist dyeing, fabric constructions and embellishment. A component of advanced courses deals with digital media for textile design and rendering form. The emphasis is on creative and exploratory approaches to technique, and the use of materials as a medium of expression.

Major in Fibres — 60 credits

See Program-Specific Admission Requirements – In addition to the general admission requirements, this program have extra program-specific requirements. These additional requirements must be arranged with the departments to which you are applying.

See the BFA degree description for more information on general degree requirements. For a complete list of courses: Undergraduate Calendar

Sample courses include:

• Fibre structures
• Textile printing and dyeing
• History of Textile Art and Aspects of the History of Textile Art
• Art History and Art Theory courses
• Studio art courses chosen from disciplines such as Ceramics, Intermedia/Cyberarts, Painting and Drawing, Photography (limited access), Print Media and Sculpture

Facilities

Fibres Structures Studio: Drum carders, spinning wheels, a needle felting machine, several 4-8-12 harness looms, a 24 harness AVL Dobby loom with Compu-dobby and a double bed electronic knitting machine.

Printing and Dyeing Studio: Two 8 meter printing tables with registration rails, a light table, a heat transfer machine, screen coating/drying/exposing/reclaiming equipment, a well-stocked dye lab equipped with natural gas burners as well as a highly ventilated wax room for surface applications. A darkroom is also accessible.

Paper-Making Studio: Two 2lb capacity Hollander beaters, two hydropulpers, a vacuum table, a hydraulic press and two sheet dryers.

Computer Lab: Equipped with Macs and a PC running specialized software for textile design, a scanner, three printers including an Epson Stylus Pro 4880 dedicated to dye sublimation.

Fibres students also have access to several industrial and electronic sewing machines including a machine for digital embroidery.

Studio Arts Department

Studio Arts is the largest department in the Faculty of Fine Arts, with a long-standing reputation as one of Canada’s foremost environments for the study of visual art. Students can complete a BFA Major in one of the Department’s seven disciplines (Ceramics, Fibres, Intermedia/ Cyberarts, Painting & Drawing, Photography, Print Media, Sculpture) or take the more general BFA Major in Studio Art program. Introductory, intermediate and advanced courses allow students to develop as far as they wish within a given discipline. Each year, a variety of special topics courses provide the Department with the flexibility to respond immediately to contemporary currents in the art world.

Admission Requirements

Fibres (BFA - Major) requirements: Minimum cut-off averages, admission statistics and program requirements.

Undergraduate admissions guidelines: For information on international admission, required documents, proof of language proficiency, the university admissions timetable, selection and notification process.