Lesson video

Hi, I'm Miss Miah.

Thank you so much for joining me in this art lesson.

I hope you really enjoy it.

Let's begin.

In this lesson, you will be able to unweave, draw, and build with fabric and recycled materials to make a sculpture.

Your keywords are on the screen now and you can repeat them after me.

Wrap.

Thread.

Unweave.

Great, let's find out what these keywords mean.

Wrap.

To cover or surround something by winding material around it.

Thread.

A thin strand of fiber, like string or cotton, used for weaving, sewing, or tying materials together.

Unweave.

To pull threads out of fabric to see how it's made or to create new patterns.

Great, let's move on.

This lesson is about unweaving, wrapping, transforming textile sculpture.

There are three lesson cycles in this lesson.

And our first lesson cycle is to do with unweaving threads to make pattern.

We then move on to drawing and building a wire form.

And lastly, wrapping and weaving.

Are you excited? I really hope you are.

I definitely am.

Let's begin.

Look closely at a piece of fabric.

What happens if we take it apart instead of adding to it? You can unweave threads from fabric to make a pattern using gaps.

When you unweave, you pull out threads to reveal the hidden structure underneath.

Over to you.

When you unweave, you pull, out a fabric to make patterns and gaps.

What do you think? You can pause the video here and click play when you've got the answer.

So what did you get? If you got threads, you are correct.

When you unweave, you pull threads out of fabric to make patterns and gaps.

In today's lesson, you'll be exploring how to unweave threads to make a pattern.

You will need a square of hessian, a flat surface, your hands or tweezers.

Unweaving threads can look like what you see on the screen here.

Pull threads from the edge of your fabric to make a fringe.

Can you see there? As you pull the threads, you'll be able to see a fringe forming.

Pull threads from the middle to create a clear line or gap.

Can you see the gap forming in the middle there as you pull your thread? This is a simple way to create a clear gap or line in the fabric.

When you gently remove one or more strands, the weave opens up, leaving a visible space.

This space becomes a natural line that stands out against the remaining woven texture.

Artists and designers sometimes use this technique to create patterns, borders, or pathways in their work.

The contrast between the tight weave and the open gap can help guide the viewer's eye or add interest to a design.

Unweaving helps us see how materials are made.

Unweaving is a slow, careful process.

You are creating new shapes by removing, not adding.

Look closely at the crossing lines.

The vertical threads are called warp.

The horizontal ones are weft.

One way I remember the difference between warp and weft threads are that warp threads go up and down, like the poles holding a tent up.

They stay straight and strong.

Where threads go left to right, like weaving ribbon across the poles, they go over and under the warp threads.

How might it feel to unweave and what might you discover? Izzy says, "When unweaving, it feels calm, like I'm uncovering something hidden.

The gaps made new shapes that I didn't expect." Lucas says, "Yeah, it's different from drawing because you're creating lines with space instead of a pencil.

It's like drawing with air." When I pull threads gently from the hessian, I watch the fabric transform.

It changes from a solid hole into delicate lines and gaps.

This slow unraveling reveals the hidden structure beneath, showing that breaking apart can be just as beautiful as building up.

It makes me think about what stories the loose threads tell and how does letting go create space for something new.

Over to you.

What changes when you take threads away from the fabric? Is it a, it becomes smoother and covers gaps, b, it starts to show new lines and gaps, c, it turns into paper and creates lines, or d, it gets heavier and has no gaps.

What do you think? You can pause the video here and click play when you're ready to ready to rejoin us.

So what did you get? If you got b, you are correct.

The changes that happen when you take threads away from the fabric leads to showing new lines and gaps.

Well done if you got that correct.

Onto the main task for this lesson cycle.

One, pull threads from hessian to make fringe and a clear line or shape through unweaving.

Look closely at how the fabric changes.

What patterns appear when you take threads away? Two, reflect on the questions below.

What does it feel like to take something apart gently? What shapes can you make with empty space? Does it feel different from painting or drawing? You can pause the video here.

Off you go, have fun, and click play when you're ready to rejoin us.

So how did you do? There are many possible outcomes.

Here's one of them on the screen.

Jun says, "It feels calm, as you are just focusing on slowly taking out the threads.

The gaps make new shapes, and it's really different from painting or drawing because I'm making lines and patterns out of empty space instead of color." Now let's move on to lesson cycle two, drawing and building a wire form.

Describe the types of movement you can see in this sculpture.

Nnenna Okore uses cloth and fiber to connect with Nigerian traditions, like weaving and basket-making.

Her sculptures often stretch across walls and floors.

Nnenna Okore uses slow, repeated actions to speak about home, environment, and care.

The shapes grow outward and flow like something natural.

You can make a sculpture inspired by Nnenna Okore.

You will need paper, pencil, aluminum wire, scissors, one recycled material, like netting, cloth, or fruit bag.

Draw a line or lines inspired by one of Nnenna Okore's sculptures.

Shape your wire or tape to follow a radial pattern.

Wrap or tie on your chosen material.

In this sculpture, the wire stretches out from the center, forming a radial pattern.

The original drawing has become a 3D form.

Look at the way Okore's work curves, twists, and hangs.

What similarities can you see? What kind of movement will you create in your sculpture? Izzy says, "My sculpture moves.

It can stretch, twist, or curl.

Can you see how it seems to dance?" Lucas says, "Using recycled materials changes how it feels.

It's rough, light, and full of character." Over to you.

Wire helps artists build, for their sculptures.

What do you think? You can pause the video here and click play when you've got the answer.

So what did you get? If you got structure or form, you are correct.

Wire forms the base that supports the shape of the sculpture.

Onto the main task for this lesson cycle.

One, draw a line inspired by one of Nnenna Okore's sculptures.

Two, shape wire to follow your design and wrap it with recycled fabric.

Watch how your line becomes form.

Three, reflect on the questions below.

What kind of movement is in your sculpture? What material feels most like the place you come from? Does your wire shape feel open, tight, strong, or delicate? You can pause the video here.

Off you go, have fun, and click play when you're ready to rejoin us.

So how did you get on? Here is an example of a drawing inspired by Nnenna Okore.

Here is a wire shaped form inspired by Nnenna Okore.

"My sculpture moves by stretching out like a flower in the sun.

The material I chose reminds me of my local markets and the fruits there.

The form feels open, light, and delicate.

Well done if you managed to create a sculpture inspired by Nnenna Okore.

Let's move on.

Wrapping and weaving.

Look at how the different strips of material feel together.

How is the shape changing? Look at the size.

Is it growing tall, spreading wide, or curling in? Sheila Hicks makes sculptures with thread and fiber that are soft and strong.

Some are small enough to fit in your hands.

Some are bigger than your body.

Wrapping thread around a shape again and again is a way of thinking through your hands.

Through wrapping and weaving, you are adding time, care, and energy into the sculpture.

Recycled materials carry stories with them.

Each knot or twist is a choice.

In this lesson, you will build up your sculpture by wrapping and weaving fibers, like the artist Sheila Hicks.

Over to you.

What does the word wrap mean? Is it a, to color something by using natural inks, b, to cover something by winding material around it, c, to break something apart and rearrange it, or d, to stretch wire flat across a surface.

You can pause the video here and click play when you've got the answer.

So what did you get? If you got b, you are correct.

That means to cover something by winding material around it.

Well done if you got that correct.

Let's move on.

To wrap and weave your sculpture, you will need recycled fabric, string, ribbon or plastic, masking tape, your wire sculpture.

Cut recycled materials into strips.

Wrap or tie your chosen material.

And you can see here that the artist is tying a knot.

Weave, wrap, and knot recycled materials around your wire sculpture.

Hold it in your lap or on the floor to make it easier.

Look at how the different textures and colors work together to tell a story.

Over to you.

A small sculpture can feel, while a large sculpture can feel.

What do you think? You can pause the video here and click play when you've got the answer.

So what did you get? If you got something like this, you are correct.

So a small sculpture can feel precious, while a large sculpture can feel powerful.

Onto the main task for this lesson cycle.

So you're going to weave, wrap, and knot recycled materials around your wire sculpture.

Look at how color and texture can change its meaning.

Ask, what does your sculpture tell through its shape and materials? Does it feel calm, strong, or full of energy? You can pause the video here and click play when you finish the task.

Off you go.

So how did you find that? Here is an example of a wire sculpture using recycled materials.

"My sculpture twists and curves like a wave.

I used soft fabric that reminds me of home, and the wire feels strong, but a bit delicate too.

The shapes make it feel calm and steady, like it's quietly telling a story about balance and strength." Well done if you managed to finish your sculpture by wrapping material around it.

Let's summarize our learning.

In this lesson, you learned about how sculpture can start by unweaving as well as making.

You now understand that fabric and thread can express culture, memory, and care.

Lastly, you now understand that repetition, wrapping, and scale can create emotion and meaning.

I hope you really enjoyed this lesson as much as I did and that you are proud of the sculpture that you've made.

Thank you so much for joining me.

Bye.