« Fall 2012 Courses & Workshops

COURSE DESCRIPTION
An overview of pattern drafting and an introduction to clothing construction. Students explore the different methods of pattern making, from using the dart for fit to adding shape for fullness, and learn how to take body measurements for fit. Pattern drafting and construction techniques are then applied to an original design.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Jennifer Varekamp is a freelance costume designer and associate professor of fashion design at MassArt. She holds a BFA from MassArt and MEd from Harvard University and studied fashion design at the London College of Fashion. Varekamp provided costume work for the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago. She received the Martin Arts Connection Award and the Ronald William Lane Designer Award.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
An overview of pattern drafting and an introduction to clothing construction. Students explore the different methods of pattern making, from using the dart for fit to adding shape for fullness, and learn how to take body measurements for fit. Pattern drafting and construction techniques are then applied to an original design.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Andy Chan is a fashion designer and educator who holds a BFA from MassArt and an MEd from UMass Boston. His designs have been exhibited at the Waldorf Astoria, NYC; Park Plaza and Copley Plaza, Boston; and Sheraton Commander, Cambridge, MA. He has been a Lord & Taylor "Dress for America" Top 5 finalist and his work has been published in Boston newspapers and magazines, including the Sunday Globe.

SPECIAL SCHEDULE
Two class meetings to be arranged

COURSE DESCRIPTION
An overview of pattern drafting and an introduction to clothing construction. Students explore the different methods of pattern making, from using the dart for fit to adding shape for fullness, and learn how to take body measurements for fit. Pattern drafting and construction techniques are then applied to an original design.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Donna Marie Cecere received her BFA from MassArt. In 2006, she was head costumer for the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA. She was also proprietor and owner of Donna Marie’s, an haute couture boutique store specializing in bridal wear and formal attire.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
The aim is to further students’ understanding of continuous patterns and expand their visual vocabulary through different media. With a strong concentration on drawing and exploring their individual artwork, students will focus on creating imaginative motifs and layering them into continuously patterned surfaces. Students will address applying traditional and fine art principles to industrial standards while exploring modern techniques like digitally printing directly onto fabric. Students will also incorporate additional color and texture using construction methods and embellishment to enhance their work and produce a portfolio of designs on paper and fabric. Basic computer skills are required and Photoshop skills are encouraged.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Jill Thibault is a textile artist and designer. She received a BFA from UMass Dartmouth and an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. She has worked for the Boston Ballet, the Royal Opera House in London, and the Santa Fe Opera Company and has created garments and costume pieces for television, theater, and performing artists. Her work has been shown in Laconia Gallery, Boston; the New York Design Center; and in Florence, Italy.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
An exploration of advanced construction and drafting methods for custom tailoring. Students learn how to design and construct a tailored ensemble using traditional methods that include pad stitching, foundation shaping, special lapel and collar treatments, and finishes. Prerequisites: Introduction to Creative Fashion and Introduction to Pattern Drafting.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Donna Marie Cecere received her BFA from MassArt. In 2006, she was head costumer for the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA. She was also proprietor and owner of Donna Marie’s, an haute couture boutique store specializing in bridal wear and formal attire.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
We survey the fascinating development of textiles around the globe, from ancient to modern times, familiarizing students with the specific styles, techniques, and constructions. Students will learn to identify motifs and patterns, as well as explore the cultural and historical milieu in which these textiles were created and used. Particular attention will be placed on understanding the role of textiles in clothing design.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Lauren Whitley is the curator of the Department of Textile and Fashion Arts at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. In addition to her curatorial activities at the MFA she has written several chapters for the Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion and co-authored many books. Lauren has a BA in art history from Trinity College in Hartford and an MA in museum studies from the Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY, NYC, and is teaching at Lasell College in Newton, MA.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Learn how to develop and market textile designs using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, the two powerhouses of design programs used in Fashion and Design. Topics include how to build a design from a motif, creating colorways for your print, using scanned artwork to create designs, and texture mapping. Students will create a series of print designs such as florals, ethnic prints and conversationals. They will also create a collection of coordinated prints based on a theme of their own choosing.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Meg Young holds a BA in art history from Emory University. She is associate director of academic computing at MassArt and has over fifteen years of experience helping artists use technology to make art. She has exhibited at NorthEast SIGRAPH Annual Show, Fort Point Open Studios, and CyberArts.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Explore the transformative power of fashion in film, the history and evolution of costume design, the powerhouse designers in the industry, and the most critical fashion moments in film history. The celluloid runway not only reflects the "Devil Wears Prada" and "Sex and the City" catwalk sparkle of the current era, but it can serve as a vital time machine for establishing historical context. It also has the power to thumb its figurative nose at its surroundings and create trends of its own. Through a combination of movie clips, discussions, readings, and research projects, students learn to look at how the clothes make the movie.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Christopher Muther is the Boston Globe’s award-winning style writer. In addition to writing about fashion, home design, and social trends for the Boston Globe, he is also a regular fashion analyst for local and national television programs. His writing has won awards from the Associated Press, the Massachusetts Press Association, and the Society for Features Journalism. His work has also appeared in the New York Times and the International Herald Tribune, along with magazines such as Ready Made. When he is not following fashion, he regularly DJs at clubs in Boston.

SEE MORE INFO
christopher.muther@gmail.com

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Participants learn to express ideas on paper using line, texture, color control, and figure type. Drawings eventually incorporate psychological and social symbolism in theatrical performance genres such as circus, exotic dance, festival, masquerade, or fairy tale, or in characters developed from literature. Basic drawing and graphic skills (watercolor, pen/ink, tempera) are helpful.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Mary-Frances Cusick is a professional costumer in Los Angeles and adjunct instructor of fashion/costume at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She has a BFA from MassArt.