Purpose of Project:
The purpose of my research was to study various textile traditions in
Indonesia and to learn about techniques in weaving, batik, and dyeing.
The inter-relationship of Indonesian textiles with animist, Buddhist,
and Muslim traditions was also examined.
The seventh grade class was selected
to create batiks, the process of using hot wax and dye to create
designs and images on fabric. Students spent several weeks
studying new design concepts such as symmetrical patterning.
Motivation and inspiration were provided by actual textiles from
my own collection of Indonesian African, Indian, and Guatemalan
works. Students refined several practice designs and then
studied color mixing and theory. These studies prepared students
for color changes during the multiple dyeing stages of batik.
Student Activities:
- Show students examples of
printed fabrics (either actual fabrics or reproductions)
- Students create designs on
paper and then refine them.
- Designs are transferred to
unbleached muslin panels using light colored pencil.
- Heat wax safely in a kitchen
crock pot, to keep at a constant temperature. Apply wax
with a brush to the areas of the batik that are to remain
white-use older brushes as they will not be re-usable for
painting.
- Dye the fabric in the first
color. Dye colors light to dark. Use a tepid dye bath,
leave the fabric in for 20 minutes. Students must
stir the fabric so make sure they wear rubber gloves.
- Rinse out dye with cold water,
hang fabric to dry.
- Next session, students apply
a new layer of wax to cover the areas that will remain
the first dyed color. Do not scrap off the first
wax coat. The fabric is then dyed a new, slightly darker
color.
- Repeat steps 6 and 7, using
progressively darker colors in each session, until the
batik reaches the desired color richness and design complexity.
- When the dyeing is finished and the fabric is dry, iron
out the wax in between sheets of newspaper. Keep replacing
the newspaper layers until all the wax is out. The fabric
will remain a bit stiff. It is not possible to get
100% of the wax out by ironing.
Standards Addressed by This Unit:
- Students will create a work of art while learning to work
with batik.
- Students will apply their understanding of design and pattern
to their own work.
- Peer discussions and critiques will be conducted during
the design and dyeing phases.
- Students will respond and analyze their own work and that
of their peers during a final class critique when all batiks
are completed.
About the Students:
Allen Stevenson School is an all boys school. The seventh
grade class was selected to create batiks. The project,
because of the safety issues with hot wax, should not be done
with students younger than perhaps 6th grade. A willingness
to learn and work safely are the major prerequisites. Students
worked in groups of 4 around one crock pot for the wax. More
students at each crock pot would be unsafe.
I think batik is an excellent medium
to introduce all students, both male and female, to textile art
traditions.
Overall:
Students will learn to create a batik using hot wax and dye.
In learning this technique, both students and other teachers in the
school (if the works are exhibited) gain knowledge and appreciation
of an ancient, yet enduring, art tradition. The study can also introduce
a new area of cultural richness to an existing art department: Indonesia
and textile decoration as an art form. Prior to my research, Indonesia
and textile arts were an untapped subject area at my school. Since
the batik tradition is not limited to Indonesia, it can also be applied
to curriculums on India, parts of Western Africa and also Japan.
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Margaret Lanzetta is a
professional artist whose work is represented in numerous
collections such as the Museum of Modern Art in NY and the
British Museum. Her textile research has been conducted in
several Asian and Central American countries. She has been
an artist/instructor since 1990.
Region: New York City
Estimated Class Periods to Complete:
6
Subject: arts, social studies
Grade Level: 7-12
e-mail
Margaret
A Project of The
Council for Basic Education and Time
Warner
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for the full image
Batik Designs
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