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Title: A Piece of Home
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Inspiration:
Hmong Princess Hat Artifact:
The Hmong princess hat was created in 1980s after the mass immigration and Hmong refugees escaping Laos into Refugee camp such as Ban Vinai, where that Hat began to form. It was hugely influenced by western influences of crowns, with other meanings of a rooster hat, which is from the 3 main points on a comb. With roosters a main symbol in the Hmong culture by being able to connect to spirits and are used in many of the cultural practices from connected to finding a spirit. These hats were created to sell to Americans as well as fashion in the United States due to embroidery becoming more of a cost in a consumers aspect which is different from the past of embroidery solely used for cultural practices and have meaning behind each design. With this, I wanted to create a Hat that represents how much the Hmong had changed, and how I changed over the years to become more westernized, and represent how even though the culture changed, people are still able to hold on to a piece of a culture. |
Hmong Embroidery:
Another inspiration was Hmong embroidery, known as Paj Ntaub (flower cloth). I based the design on the most basic, and well known pattern the represents the Hmong, which the meaning is a House and Mountain designs. These symbolizes the Homes in Laos and where the Hmong originated from which is in the mountains. Also, the colors typically red, yellow, and green to show where the Hmong came from, which is the yellow river in China, and how they migrated down to Laos. With that I changed the colors to blue, red, and white to symbolize my own influences of being in America, and purple to represent one of the Hmong hats which is the purple hat or Turban which uses a purple cloth and an identification of the Hmong. |
Planning:
I first sketched out how I wanted the hat, since I wanted the hat a little large so when worn it covers the whole head rather than just the top. I decided the best option would be all the triangle top pieces will be all equal sizes, as well as being 4 top combs to create the hat longer and fit better when worn. In addition, I planned how I would sew it, knowing that I needed 2 additional pieces to attach the back triangle to cover the back and create the shape similar to the princess hat. I later, picked out the designs knowing it would be the house shape due to being well known and an identity of the Hmong people, and reflects the homeland. In addition I cut out in paper the form and shape I wanted it and how to attach it all together. Lastly, I picked out the colors, I wanted the colors to be more modern, yet have a close similarity to the traditional colors used in Hmong embroidery. With the colors I used were blue, red, and white to showcase the American identity, and the purple to showcase the Hmong identity from the Hmong purple turban a symbol of the Hmong and identifies that they are Hmong.
Process:
Firstly, I started with two flaps that are going to be attached to the main frame. Here I started in the middle of the embroidery, creating geometric shapes, sewing in an x due to the type of embroidery used is cross stitching, into it then radiating out towards the outside. I wanted to use Blue in the center, than I put a zigzag shape around it with purple to show the Hmong influence. This allowed for me to have an edge for adding bias tape and keep the embroidery centered. Then, going in with the T shape designs radiating outwards to showcase the homeland the Hmong had, from the center being a symbol of Home, and the rest, symbolizing the mountains and rivers. With the colors orange, red, blue, and green to give a sense of tradition from these colors typically used in this design. With the second main panel, a large rectangular square, making sure that the width is about 24 inches, and I added an additional 2 inches to sew on.
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With the height I kept it around 5-6 inches, with the peaks all being the same size. Knowing I wanted a inch to inch and 1/2 room for the bias tape, I counted 17 squares across for each design of the squares, and 12 down where I wanted the lace, making the lace part smaller because I wanted to show the embroidery more. Creating a stitching line of where I wanted everything. Later, completing the designs, I went back in, cleaning any missing stitching and counting if I have the measurements right. Afterwards, I attached the two triangle panels to the main rectangular panel. Knowing that I needed to piece them together in the back, I went in with the bias tape, red, which symbolizes American influences, and to give variance from the main textures being the embroidery. Then, sewing all the bias tape down, I went in with lace to frame the piece. With the center line, I sewed in a layer of lace, and a red nylon under, to give a modern American style due to lace introduced during the 1980s to the Hmong. I then sewed the piece together and attached the beads at the end to add color and vibrancy to the hat. With the beads being cooler colors of blues and purples to keep similarity with the embroidery.
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Experimentation:
I soon found out that washing the embroidery would help bring out the colors more because it was washing off the dirt and . This allowed for the piece to be brighter, and oils. In addition, I tried using and separating my colors for different needles, which allowed for less mixing of the colors, and made it easier to know where to sew. I also tried various ways to sew down the lace, doing a simple running stitch was the most efficient than trying to sew down each individual loop in the lace. Doing two running stitches made the lace sturdy and didn't destroy the form. Afterwards, I made sure everything was layered correctly and sew down any other areas that were poking out. Lastly, was the edges on the top, typically it is 1 fold in a diagonal and the other side an opposite fold to the front. This was difficult so I just folded both flaps inwards and sewed at the top edge to keep it flush and from the hat coming apart.
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Reflection:
Overall, if I were to do this project I would because I learned better techniques that could of helped in the beginning of sewing. Additionally, use more string to pop out the colors more, and put a stabilizer fabric in to further empathize the form to incorporate how I wanted the colors to represent Hmong and the American identity. Also, use better measurement that are even throughout from some areas having less of a count which could lead to the piece being off at the end. I enjoyed using a different type of medium because this I was able to gain more out of and learn to better appreciate my own clothing and how art is made for garments, and why it is important. Lastly, I gained more knowledge of how to use this medium of sewing and embroidery, and the stitching required to sew them.
Compare & Contrast:
Contrast:
- The traditional Hmong Princess Hats uses symbols that are meaningful to the Hmong history, while in A Piece of Home uses the patterns to mean the homeland where the Hmong had came from. - The Princess Hat's meaning is different from symbolizing youth and was made because of having to sell garments to westerners, while A Piece of Home's meaning is the transition and identity of being Hmong American, and what it means. - In A Piece of Home uses colors to symbolize the American identity and the Hmong identity, while in the Hmong princess hat utilizes colors that represent the origins of the Hmong people. - A Piece of Home uses textures to showcase the Hmong embroidery and the colors, while in a Hmong princess hat uses textures to catch the eye for selling. |
Compare:
- Both uses colors to create meaning in the piece and use texture to emphasize the meaning. - Both A Piece of Home and the Hmong princess hats are a outcome of western influence and the identity shifts in the Hmong community. - A Piece of Home and Hmong Princess hats uses symbols to portray history and a story within the piece. Moreover, creates meaning of one's identity and how it reflects how one feels to interpret it. |
ACT Questions:
1) Clearly explain and describe how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork.
The cause effect relationship between my inspiration and it's effect on my artwork is the placing and use of colors to add meaning and symbolism to give meaning behind geometric and traditional garments.
2) What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
My overall approach regarding the author and topic of my inspiration is how color can add meaning to a piece and how symbolism can be use to give meaning.
3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Generalizations I've made was the Hmong design in the shape of the Hat from it having different names, and the one in Hmong translates to rooster hat or young girl's hat. Additionally, that the Hmong culture had to use these hats for commercial uses and decorative from having to sell items in the 1980 refugee camps where it originated from.
4) What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea of my inspirational research was use of symbolism to give meaning into a piece of clothing, and explore why the hat came popular in the 1980s.
5) What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
Conclusions made while reading my research was that the Hmong people used these colors throughout the piece due to at least some containing them and stories explaining the meaning.
The cause effect relationship between my inspiration and it's effect on my artwork is the placing and use of colors to add meaning and symbolism to give meaning behind geometric and traditional garments.
2) What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
My overall approach regarding the author and topic of my inspiration is how color can add meaning to a piece and how symbolism can be use to give meaning.
3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Generalizations I've made was the Hmong design in the shape of the Hat from it having different names, and the one in Hmong translates to rooster hat or young girl's hat. Additionally, that the Hmong culture had to use these hats for commercial uses and decorative from having to sell items in the 1980 refugee camps where it originated from.
4) What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea of my inspirational research was use of symbolism to give meaning into a piece of clothing, and explore why the hat came popular in the 1980s.
5) What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
Conclusions made while reading my research was that the Hmong people used these colors throughout the piece due to at least some containing them and stories explaining the meaning.
Bibilography:
Paj ntaub or story cloth. (n.d.). Retrieved March 12, 2021, from https://www.hmongembroidery.org/