Final year project
Sentient metanoia [Read more]
‘Metanoia’
This multiple piece artwork represents the strength of a person in the knowledge of needing to live a cleaner, simpler lifestyle. It is created using a double cloth with a natural coloured warp of sturdy linen and tussah silk for drape. It features bold black sections that were dyed on the warp before setting up the loom. Natural and hammer dyeing are also used.
‘Sentience’
This image features one piece from ‘Sentience’, which is a multiple piece artwork. It represents the romanticism of a slow lifestyle and the feeling of improved mental wellbeing and self-worth from this. It is created using a space and cram narrow warp with the ability to create mock leno patterning and pleats. It uses fine yarns of ramie and soft repurposed seaweed. Pleats will create movement and tie individual pieces together.
Bundle dyeing for ‘Sentience’
Bundle dyeing creates an infusion of pigment from petals and onion skins into the fabric by steaming. This technique uses a minimal amount of water during steaming and can be chemical free when using alternative mordants such as cyder vinegar. This makes it a sustainable and responsible alternative to chemical dyeing. The resulting soft fuchsia and sunshine yellow infusions will brighten the pieces and represent positivity.
Design work for ‘Sentience’
Design work for ‘Metanoia’
Natural dyeing for ‘Metanoia’
Logwood and iron was used to achieve black through warp dyeing. Post construction dyeing of walnut and cutch were used to achieve a blush colour. Natural dyeing is a chemical free dyeing technique.
Hammer dyeing for ‘Metanoia’
Hammer dyeing creates a direct transfer of plant pigment into the fabric. This technique is waterless and chemical free. This makes it a sustainable and responsible alternative to chemical dyeing.
Tamara Dew
Tamara specialises in small to large scale artworks and design work.
Tamara is a mature student who chose to work toward a Foundation degree in Art and Design (Distinction) after being unfulfilled by her previous career. Moving on from there, Loughborough University gave her the confidence that she could pursue a career in textiles. Being concerned about the current climate crisis, her current work reflects on moving toward a more considerate, slow lifestyle. It’s inspiration comes from the beauty in the simple and inherent connection between humans and nature. Tamara uses comprehensive technical understanding and specific yarn sourcing to ensure responsible design by creating high quality, durable work. This ensures a long lifecycle through reuse or upcycling and is also biodegradable upon it’s end of life.
Dissertation
The future of biotextiles
Final year project
Sentient metanoia
Awards
'20 Bradford Textile Society Commendation for Responsible Design.
'20 Bradford Textile Society Commendation for Woven Interior Fabric.
'20 Winner of the Worshipful Company of Weavers Stuart Hollander Top UK Scholarship.
'19 Selected to attend the Making it in Textiles Conference.
'19 Winner of the Milliken Carpet Design and Supporting Interior Textiles Live Project.
Experience
'19 Weave Tutor at Creative Community Day for LSU Arts - This involved teaching table loom use to children and parents. It involved adapting techniques and teaching for different levels of ability and experience.
'20 Commissioned artwork for domestic households - This involved creating bespoke products to the needs and brief of a client.