/ national wool museum
26 Moorabool Street, Geelong, 3220 Tel: 03 5272 4701
Email:
Web:
Open: Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.00pm, Sat & Sun 10.00am - 5.00pm
Closed: Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Good Friday.

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Teacher Overview

Exhibition Overview:

This year’s Scarf Festival theme is ‘divinely wicked or devilishly good?’. It challenged scarf makers across Australia and overseas to think about:

  • What path will you take?
  • Will you be tempted by good or bad, or naughty or nice?
  • Are you one or the other? Or a little bit of both?
  • What happens when darkness meets the light?
  • What does it mean when the lines blur and the balance is broken?
  • And how will you say it in a scarf?

Scarf makers could use any technique and any material to express themselves. Scarves were entered into 1 of 11 scarves and judged by a panel of 3. This year 329 different scarves are featured in the exhibition. Every scarfmaker and scarf has a story and scarfmakers this year include primary students, home crafters and professional artists.

The exhibition also includes a program of craft demonstrations, check the website for a list of demonstrators, techniques and times.

Key ideas in the exhibition:

  • Art vocabulary
  • Interpreting theme and the role of artist’s statement
  • Introduction to textile/fibre art

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Key Words

(Definitions from the Oxford English Dictionary, unless otherwise specified)

Art / The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power
Artist / A person that practices any creative art as a profession or hobby
Crochet / Creating a textured fabric with yarn using a hooked needle
Display / A collection of objects arranged for public viewing
Exhibition / Public display of works of art or items of interest
Felt / Textile made by wetting or heating, rolling and pressing wool, causing individual fibres to mat together to create a smooth surface
Fibre / A thread or filament from which a vegetable tissue, mineral substance, or textile is formed
Gallery / Room or building for the display of works of art
Interpret / Convey the creator’s understanding of a particular idea through another medium or in a different way
Knit / A fabric or garment made by interlocking loops of wool or other yarn with knitting needles or on a machine
Material / The matter from which a thing is or can be made
Pattern / A repeated, decorative design
Scarf / Length or square of fabric worn around the neck and/or head
Sustainable Practices / A way of doing things that avoids depletion of natural resources / helps to maintain a certain resource level
Textile / Type of cloth or woven fabric
Texture / the feel, appearance, or consistency of a surface or a substance
Theme / Subject or topic of the exhibition
Weave / Fabric or a fabric item made by interlacing long threads passing in one direction with others at a right angle to them

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Curriculum Connections

Discipline-Based Learning: The Arts
Foundation / Express and communicate experiences, observations, ideas and feelings about themselves and their world
Talk about ways in which the Arts are part of their personal experience, as well as cultural and social events in their community
Begin to use arts language to describe features of their own and others’ arts works
Learn about ways of making personal responses to arts works based on sensory perception
Level 1 / Using ideas and concepts taken from themes, scenarios, narratives and visual stimuli, they experiment with ways of expressing and communication ideas and feelings to particular audiences or for particular purposes
Begin to use arts language in discussions about and response to their own and other people’s arts works
Respond to arts works to gain experience in identifying personal preferences, reflecting on features that might influence their own arts works
Learn about places where arts works can be found and how arts works can be designed and made to fulfill particular individual and community needs.
Level 2 / Learn about a range of ways arts elements can be used to communicate experiences, observations and things imagined
Using ideas and concepts taken from themes, scenarios, narratives and visual stimuli, experiment with ways of expressing and communication idea and feelings to particular audiences or for particular purposes
Respond to arts works to gain experience in identifying personal preferences, reflecting on features that might influence their own arts works
Begin to use arts language in discussions about and response to their own and other people’s arts works
Level 3 / Explore arts processes and ways to communicate concepts arising from their personal experience and from the world around them
Explore and respond to their own and others’ arts works, students develop skills, techniques and processes for expressing emotions and ideas, and signifying purpose
Use appropriate arts language to identify and describe ways they and others use specific elements, principles and/or conventions, skills, techniques and processes and discuss how ideas, feelings and purpose are conveyed
Level 4 / Explore arts processes and ways to communicate concepts arising from their personal experiences and from the world around them
Consider the purpose and audience of their arts works as they experiment with various ways of presenting works in a range of arts forms
Develop skills, techniques and processes for expressing emotions and ideas, and signifying purpose
Level 5 / Learn about ways to design, improvise, represent, interpret, make and present arts works that communicate feelings and their interests and understanding of themselves, their relationships and other people
Independently and collaboratively explore and experiment with different ways of present arts works and consider appropriateness of presentation for intended audience
Level 6 / Learn about ways to design, improvise, represent, interpret, make and present arts works that communicate feelings and their interests and understanding of themselves, their relationships and other people
Independently and collaboratively explore and experiment with different ways of present arts works and consider appropriateness of presentation for intended audience
Level 7 / Use a range of starting points including observation, experience and research to represent, generate, develop and communicate real, imaginary and abstract ideas
Independently and collaboratively explore and experiment with different ways of present arts works and consider appropriateness of presentation for intended audience
Use appropriate arts language when discussing their own and other artists’ intentions and expressive use of arts forms elements, etc and when describing, analysing and interpreting the content and meaning of arts works
Level 8 / Independently and collaboratively work to develop creative and effective ways of combining and manipulating arts elements, principles and/or conventions when designing, making and presenting arts works for particular purposes and audiences
Use appropriate arts language when discussing their own and other artists’ intentions and expressive use of arts forms elements, etc and when describing, analysing and interpreting the content and meaning of arts works
Level 9 / Develop skills in making decisions about creative ways of generating and implementing ideas
Keep their intended aesthetic qualities in mind when they experiment with select, vary combinations of and manipulate arts elements, principles and/or conventions to effectively realise their ideas
Develop aesthetic and critical awareness through observation, research, discussion and analysis of arts works
Level 10 / Develop skills in making decisions about creative ways of generating and implementing ideas
Keep their intended aesthetic qualities in mind when they experiment with select, vary combinations of and manipulate arts elements, principles and/or conventions to effectively realise their ideas
Develop aesthetic and critical awareness through observation, research, discussion and analysis of arts works

Activities that supportPhysical, Personal & Social Learning and Interdisciplinary Learning are indicated with the following symbols:

Health & Physical Education / / Communication /
Interpersonal Development / / Design, Creativity & Technology /
Personal Learning / / Information & Communications Technology /
Civics & Citizenship / / Thinking Processes /

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Preparing: Pre-Visit Activities

Vocabulary

Review arts vocabulary with your class before visiting the exhibition. Assign or have students select an arts term (see list below for suggestions). Each student must research the definition of their term then write a simple definition in their own words.

1.Distribute A4 paper and colouring materials to students.

2.Fold A4 sheet in half length-wise.

3.Lift the flap and write the definition on the inside.

4.Use pictures and creative lettering to write the word in a way that illustrates its meaning on the outside face.

5.Post these words on a classroom bulletin board.

Some suggested words:abstraction, balance,colour, composition, contrast, crochet, distortion,emphasis, felt, fibre, form, harmony, juxtaposition, knit, line, movement, pattern, point, proportion, recycle, relationships, repetition, reuse, sequence,shape, space, surface, symmetry/asymmetry, textile, texture, tone, tone, unity, warm/cold colours, wearable, weave

Judging

The theme of the 2013 Scarf Festival was Home. The theme invited scarf makers to explore what the idea of “home” meant to them – what is home? It was an opportunity to create a scarf that explains, explores, and explodes the myths and realities of what it means to belong. Before viewing last year’s winners, discuss what students’ feel “Home” could mean; how would they interpret the theme?

There are 11 different categories to enter, along with the Scarf of the Year:

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  • Thematic scarf
  • Use of colours
  • Use of sustainable practices
  • Menswear
  • Knitted scarf
  • Woven scarf
  • Crocheted scarf
  • Felted scarf
  • 100% wool scarf
  • Primary school student
  • Secondary school student

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When judging a scarf, judges must be careful not to judge the scarf based on personal taste – it is not a simple question of do I like or not like this scarf? This is also not a technical assessment of an artist’s execution of a particular technique. Judges are looking at the connection between the artists’ statement, their creation and the theme; at how the different elements in the scarf work together; at the types of techniques artists have used and so forth. In small groups, and using appropriate arts language, have students create a simple judging checklist that could be used to assess the scarves in a particular category. Distribute relevant flash cards (pp. 7-12) to each group and have students a look at the scarves using this checklist. Then as class select a Scarf of the Year from amongst these 23 scarves.

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Best Thematic Scarf
Home in the rainforest (Cecile Falvey)
I live on Mt Tambourine above the Gold Coast in Queensland. My weaving creations in the studio are highly influenced by where I live. In this piece, I have tried to show the rain forest and the track on which we walk. Red soil, baby ground flowers and pebbles below the green colour of the trees above. /
Highly Commended Thematic Scarf
Somewhere over the rainbow(ChrisBoerner)
What is home Dorothy? Is it a safe place? Is it a scary place? Is it a comforting place? Is it a confusing place? Is it a challenging place? What goes on behind the curtained windows? Know that you can be the designer of your own home, should you choose to. So follow the yellow brick road, avoid the poppy fields and find the ruby slippers. Click the heels together three times and say 'There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home.’

Best Use of Colours in a Scarf
My garden at home (Jean Inglis)
This tole represents my garden in all its moods, in rain, in drought but always a little colour. /
Highly Commended Use of Colours in a Scarf
Well stitched (Barbara Rogers)
Home is a place where something is discovered, foundered or developed - a source. I have discovered Shibori, developed Shibori into scarves.

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Best Use of Sustainable Practices
Scribbly Gum (LisMertens)
This delicate silk and merino wool scarf was created in an ironbark slab hut built in the 1860's which was my home for 10 years and is now my studio. The design intention was to produce an item to comfort against the cold climate of the Southern Tablelands of NSW using materials found in the vicinity and methods which would have been available to the original residents of the building. /
Highly Commended Use of Sustainable Practices
…a quick tidy up, then a nice cuppa
(Samantha Anderson)
I was struggling to find inspiration until it literally struck me on the head! A fresh roll of pink chex. It fell from the cupboard and there it was - it was obvious. Home to me means family, a haven and endless chores. I added the flowers as no home is complete without a garden...and a nice cup of tea!

Best Knitted Scarf
Bridal Heirloom (Margaret Langford)
Learning to knit, using huge skeins of khaki wool during the second world war. Born was my love of exploring fibres, spinning, felting and old traditional patterns from Wales, Ireland and Shetland. My mother knitted all the family's socks and jumpers - nevery idle hands! My father grew all our vegetables and kept bees and pheasants - all surrounded by gardens of glowers. Great memories of a loving family home. Home is where the heart is -Langfordf and idle hands the tools of the devil? /
Highly Commended Knitted Scarf
Dragon (Jai Qi Xu)
When people talk to me about home, the first word that comes to my mind is my hometown China. This instantly reminds me of the dragon. We have a huge culture based around the dragon. Chinese believe we are descendants of the dragon. As a child of the dragon, I hand knitted this scarf. The dragon tells a tale about one's beliefs and also has the power to bring good luck and fortune. Everything in my life can be told by the dragon - who I am and where I belong.

Best Woven Scarf and Scarf of the Year 2013
Diamonds (Laurie Paine)
'Diamonds' is a hand woven evocation of the patterned and coloured quilts we use to keep us warm and decorate our beds. A symbol of the very heart of our home. /
Highly Commended Woven Scarf
Honeycomb (Laurie Paine)
'Honeycomb' is a hand woven evocation of the honey bees at home.

Best 100% Wool Scarf
The Australian tartan (Jean Inglis)
My father was born in Scotland, then after fighting in the war, he came to Australia, hence I have reproduced the Australian Tartan to remember him and his two homes. /
Highly Commended 100% Wool Scarf
Take me home (Georgia Brunmayr)
Supportive. With all the chaos that comes with life, your home is a tightknit community. It might be held together with the finest of threads but when it truly counts, you are never left out in the cold. Changing with time and experiences the scarf is all so interchangeable, the arms and shoulder pads are removable but the base always remains the same.

Best Scarf by Primary Student
Our family Christmas tree (Tiana Wells)
The smell of pine in the living room is comforting and the lights flash different colours. To me this is home. /
Highly Commended Scarf by Primary Student
Home and me (Warrnambool Primary School)
What is home? Home to me means family, comfortable, cosy, warm, big, small, love, shelter, surprising, exciting, heart, relaxing, fun, memories, Sunday roast, animals, sisters, brothers, parents, food, everything, belong, play, fight, safety, smiles, space, cooking, technology, play games, happiness, fit in, rest, sleep and pets.

Best Crocheted Scarf
Spectrum (Rosie Cicak)
A home is full of colour and life that should bring a smile to those it surrounds. /
Highly Commended Crocheted Scarf
Living in the garden (Maureen Watts)
For me, home is both a real garden and a metaphorical garden. Events, memories, aspirations, emotions, relationships are interwoven in a sort of ecosystem that continues to evolve over time and across many actual places. I used window frames, paths and fences entwined with garden images to represent the idea of growth and creation within a contained area and recognisable shapes underline the idea of domesticity.

Best Felted Scarf
A natural (Kate Williams)
The materials simply felt at home with one another. /
Highly Commended Felted Scarf
Connectivity (Judy Styles)
Home is a place to which I am physically, emotionally and spiritually connected. It is a place where I am comfortable, belong and where I experience a warm, inner passionate feeling - hence the colours used in the scarf. Home is also about people and their connections and relationships. The circles in my scarf symbolise this. Home is all about connectivity - the title of my scarf.

Best Scarf by Secondary Student
(Htoo Gay Ku Shwe MyaingThein Win)
Weaving makes me happy because I weave at home with my family around me. My mum taught me how to weave first and now a friend is helping me. When I weave at home, my baby brother crawls under my weaving and I get cross with him. He sits and looks at me with his big smile and I smile too. My scarf is full of happy colours. /
Highly Commended Scarf by Secondary Student
Home is where the cats are (TailahPearson)
I love animals, so when I heard the theme was home, I though of making an animal scarf. Home is where the love is and I love animals. I chose to do a cat scarf because they are so cute and comfort you. Just like home.

Best Menswear
Home is a word(Kate Williams)
Home is a word we use to indicate different things - where we live with loved ones, where we lived before, there is leaving home, making a home, home made, home plate, home run, homeward, home country, going home, coming home, home town etc. The word is repeated 44 times in this scarf.

The Planning Process: