ArtClothText

Weaving studio with jacquard and dobby looms

Last week I had the opportunity to visit the Maison des métiers d’art de Québec, a school of applied arts in Quebec City offering courses in ceramics, textile design and sculpture. I was given a tour of the school by it’s director, Carole Baillargeon.

Ceramics studio

The school offers a Techniques de métiers d’art professional training program, leading to a Diploma of College Studies in partnership with CEGEP Lemoilou.

Sculpture studio for stone carving

Students are encouraged to develop technical and artistic skill in an environment that fosters entrepreneurship and professional practice. The daylight-flooded studios are well equipped and open to graduates for a time after school to provide much needed support as they transition into a career as an artisan/creator.

Artist J. Penney Burton working in her studio during her June residency at MMAQ (Burton’s Piece Flax into Gold is currently exhibited in Lieux de Memoire, part of the Biennale international du lin)

The school also offers a residency program available to both young artists and established professionals from Canada and abroad. Residencies take place from September to June from 4 to 6 weeks in duration. Proposals may be submitted anytime.

Workshop assistant and centre graduate Dahlia Milon prepares a warp on one of the facility’s two Jacquard looms.

Today I had the opportunity to visit the Montreal Centre for Contemporary Textiles with colleague Nancy Price. We were given a tour of this dynamic center of education and innovation by its director, artist and educator Louise Lemieux Berubé. Berubé and Régine Mainberger a fellow textile artist founded the centre in the early 1990`s. Acquiring its first Jacquard loom in 1996, the MCCT became one of the first North American educational institutions offering access to this technology, earning international attention.

Samples displayed in the Jacquard design classroom

The centre offers a three year college diploma program of textile design centered around Jacquard and multi-harness weaving and knitting for commercial production and personal expression. Remarkably, the studios remain available to graduates for a time after graduation to support the development of their professional work.

Samples displayed in the knitting studio

In addition to the diploma program, the centre also offers courses in Jacquard design to textile artists. The looms (and the hard-working technicians) at the centre are almost perpetually occupied weaving designs sent from artists around the globe.

Luckily our visit coincided with a display of work by graduating students that will be on display until July 2, 2009.

Mélanie Champagne’s machine-knitted, fulled wearables are at once elegant and surprising.

To see more images, or to learn more about The Montreal Centre for Contemporary Textiles, visit their website