Jenna Boyles Selected Work

Transcription

1 Jenna Boyles Selected Work As an artist and educator, I work with textiles, circuitry, and found objects. I am interested in how technology permeates daily life, constantly generating anxieties and memories while we discard physical material and leave trails of digital information. I work with cloth not only because of its warmth and relation to the body, but also to refer to the technological and political history of textile production and labor. My practice involves teaching workshops on soft circuitry and research on thermochromic (color changing heat sensitive) textiles. Resist Banner Jenna Boyles, 2017 Thermochromic (heat sensitive) protest banner. Details: 20 x36 Custom milled PCB. Nichrome wire. Arduino Uno. 9V batteries or 9V power supplies. Scrap fabric. Link: The banner can operate using batteries to allow for mobility, however the climate of the location affects the visibility (the color becomes clear at 92 F (33 C). This play of environmental factors upon the message raises the question, what does it mean to be unable to function properly due to external circumstances that are out of control? The slow and calm undulation of the urgent word "resist" acts as a reminder of the importance to breath and reflect amidst turmoil, frustration and action.

2 Stenophone Jenna Boyles, 2018 Wearable performance object Details: 8 x10 weaving. x6 hacked Stylophone. Cotton thread. Yarn. Wire. Reused copper tape. Aluminum tape. Link:

3 The surface of an analog pocket synth Stylophone is extended to a conductive textile that resembles a steno pad or notebook page which can be used to play and loop tones. Conductive Textile with Recording Device Jenna Boyles, 2018 Wearable performance object Details: 8 x16 weaving: Cotton thread. Yarn. Wire. Reused copper and aluminum tape. Reused copper wire. Speaker. 3V battery. Recording module.

4 Modular Cloth: Connecting Textiles and Electronics in the Digital Era Jenna Boyles & Dylan Fish, 2017 Link: h ttp://jennaboyles.com/modularcloth Funded by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago s Early Concept Grants for Exploratory Research, this collaborative project was an investigation into the parallels between electronics and textiles through modular ways of working, and how electronic textiles can be made more accessible. While prototyping fabrics capable of generating and representing data through the use of soft circuitry and weaving, I conducted research surrounding data collection, control, and consumption in relation to fabric. In addition, I co-taught workshops and built an electronic textile swatch library that was incorporated into the Textile Resource Center at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Soft Circuit Swatch Library Jenna Boyles & Dylan Fish, 2017 Details: Six 3 x swatches. Felt. Conductive thread. Conductive fabric. Thread. LEDs. Battery holders. Thermochromic Array Module Jenna Boyles, 2017 Details: 2 x3 Felt. Conductive thread. Seed beads. Thread. Wire. Thermochromic ink. Array module set up for testing with 9V battery, breadboard, and Arduino Link:

5 Woven Thermochromic Array Jenna Boyles & Dylan Fish, Details: 3 x12 woven textile. Nichrome. Wires. Thermochromic ink. Arduino Uno. 9V battery. Custom milled PCB. This programmable woven thermochromic textile is the culminating project of Modular Cloth. While design and prototyping is complete it is currently in the final stage of fabrication and is expected to be complete by fall For more information or updates regarding this or any project, please contact jboyles@saic.edu.