Seeking Objective Beauty

I really need to drive my compu-dobby loom better….so I’m reading and re-reading everything I have on Pattern Drafting. Starting with a thorough read of my Fiberworks PCW manual which makes me more efficient at the software. Then going over the Complete Book of Drafting for Handweavers by Madelyn van der Hoogt, and Network Drafting by Alice Schlein.

An why! To create textiles that provoke deep feelings of well being, harmony and beauty in another. I think this is always my aim. And although this is not only found in complex weaving it is where I want to explore it in some form.

I have always thought that beauty is subjective, how else can I explain ugly buildings etc., but according to architect, Christopher Alexander, it is objective. He maps out 15 (see them here as a review) properties of beauty, which include alternating repetition, positive space, boundaries and local symmetries. All of which can apply to a textile, its design, texture and function. He also doesn’t focus on the architectual blueprint as a plan which cannot be deviated from when the building is being created. [Sample Chapter 3 from the Nature of Order 3]

So I think it’s OK to change my mind about that shadow weave from my last entry. I changed tac and will now do a networked twill derived from Sandra Rude’s wonderful pattern WIF file at Complex Weavers.