INSPIRATION: MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

PALEONTOLOGIST AS THE MUSE

 

I am inspired by science and how different areas of study can create this very specific aesthetic and mood. I try to read everything I can about whatever I’m interested in in that moment and then ideas come from there. Right now I’m reading “The Sixth Extinction” by Elizabeth Kolbert, which I picked up during my inspiration trip for this project. The starting point for most things I’ve been designing this semester has been specifically paleontology. I feel really romantic about this lifestyle of going on these long trips for excavation digs.

The original inspiration for this collection of fabric manipulations was my favorite place in New York City, The Museum of Natural History. I love the dinosaurs because they take me back to being a kid, when you’re filled with such an overwhelming wonder because you feel that there is so much to discover in the world. As adults we lose that, but when I think about prehistoric periods, your mind is free to roam, and accept what you do not know

My craft inspiration was pieced fabric, patchwork and applique. I utilized the laser cutter to cut canvas in different colors and piece together drawings I created on illustrator using both the positive and negatives of the cut outs. I also added embroidery onto some of the swatches, to add a second layer of dimension and texture. Finally, I played with patch pockets, and how I could use topstitching to create detail.