1) Reflect on our trip to the UN. What did you think of your visit? Which speaker did you find the most inspiring and/or interesting and why? What surprised you the most about the experience? What did it feel like to be inside the UN to hear these conversations?
The visit is worthwhile. I find Timo’s speech inspiring. The number he showed is striking — one third of the garments produced is never sold/worn, which is a huge amount of waste. Knowing that Eileen Fisher is recycling material and making them into new garments is assuring, that designers are actually doing something. What surprised me the most is Denmark ambassador’s speech, that they are helping shape some parts of NYC’s sustainable structure. It gives me a sense of hope that people are doing things together to make NYC better. Being inside the UN feels serious, but less serious than I thought – because the conversation are really interesting and accessible, not in a politically serious way, which is good. It’s also a very exciting experience, because I never thought would have a chance to sit inside UN.
2 Post a digital file or documentation of your completed Systems Map/Model on your LP. AND bring a printed copy to class for presentation and crit.
3) Reflect on your process for the three Art + Science labs (kombucha, watercolor and natural dye). Post an image of all three projects in their completed form (your samples from each project’s process). Did your projects turn out as expected? What was it like to grown your own material (leather)? What vegetables/plants did you use as dye? What surprised you the most in the process of these projects? Which did you enjoy the most? Which was the most challenging? Will you continue to work with any of them in your future work?
Watercolor and natural dye turned out as expected. Kombucha leather is taking so long to dry. It’s been four days since I took it out and is still not dried enough. Growing my own leather feels like I’m in control of the whole process, it makes me feel assured that the material is healthy and sustainable. I used beet, blackberries to do the natural dye. I was surprised by how vivid the color is, and seeing them turning into different colors is very satisfying. I enjoy natural dye the most, maybe because there’s a lot of different samples. Natural dye is also the most challenging, the process is kind of long, and involves a lot of labeling and handling the wool, etc. All three projects are interesting, I’m interested in using all of them in the future, depending on the projects.
