A student exhibition by the artist Edie Trautwein, Downtime features fiber and decorative art objects, wearable garments that explore the concept of the trousseau, and a collection of objects made by a bride before her wedding day as a gift to her husband.
Traditionally these items could include linens, clothing and other wares that a woman would spend her life making in preparation for her future. These items were almost always of a practical nature that hinged on necessity, two key pillars of “women’s work.” Women knit sweaters and crocheted scarves for warmth, made lace, and embroidered objects to bring color and life to otherwise generic things. In contemporary times, this necessity has been subverted by the rise of machinery, technology, and consumerism that render hand crafting obsolete.
The artist chose to pursue these crafts, and exploring the idea of the trousseau as a means of creation beyond necessity, making things for an unseen future. Objects that were explicitly non-essential, whose only purpose is to be worked on, keeping hands busy. What would it mean to crochet a sweater that couldn’t be worn, or embroider an object devoid of additional colors that rejected the foundations of the medium? By using found materials as the basis of this collection, the artist strove to create within their means, yet outside of their control, exploring ideas with the piece while letting the materials dictate the outcome.
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ADMISSION
Free and open to the public.
Attend in person.
Gallery open daily from noon–5:00 p.m.
Exhibition: Fri, Feb 4–Sun, Feb 13, 2022
Reception: Fri, Feb 11, 3:00–6:00 p.m.
COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
All attendees must wear an approved face covering while inside the Gallery and complete the daily symptom check per the following:
UCSC students: show green clearance badge
UCSC employees: present symptom check clearance email
VISITORS: complete and be prepared to present proof of the Visitor Symptom Check Questionnaire (complete online, on the day of the event, prior to coming to campus)
PARKING
Parking $5 or by permit.
Purchase a permit in advance or use the ParkMobile app.
The closest parking lots to the Gallery are #124 and #125 at Porter College.
See Transportation & Parking Services (TAPS) for visitor parking information, ParkMobile instructions, and a campus parking map.
image credit: Edie Trautwein