Haptic Images Workshop

Curious about the Jacquard loom and how you can integrate it in your artistic practice? Join Geneviève Moisan for an introduction to the Pointcarré Textile software for the Jacquard Loom.

Once a vitrine for innovation, the first Jacquard images were inspired by the popular imagery of the time and produced by different ateliers as a way for them to demonstrate their technical proficiency. In a contemporary context, we have become over-saturated with images, leading us to question which images warrant materialization, and why.

In this workshop, you will learn the first steps of transforming an image into an intricately woven piece of cloth and how to turn your digital file into a haptic piece of art: an image that you can touch and feel. You will explore the art of making an image by using the structures of crossed yarns in patterns that will shape its highlights and shadows,  simulating a fabric in which the raised design is incorporated into the weave instead of being printed or dyed on.

• Contrast: High contrast images are most successful. Please note that the final image will be converted to a grayscale, but you are welcome to bring in colour images and convert them using Photoshop.
• Resolution: Not too much detail—single objects, portraits, or simple landscapes work best. The resolution of the image will be brought down to 60 dpi, so even a screen capture is acceptable.
• Dimensions: Square format (but we can crop using Photoshop).