The goal of this course is for provide an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of textiles and textile art within one’s own lived experience, within our ecological, social and cultural context and within a historic and international context. We will contemplate gender roles in relation to textiles both present, past, within various contexts. Pedagogies in this course are informed by Indigenous Ways of Knowing, of ecological responsibility, of lived-experience, Slow pedagogies, and of experiential practices found in studio ‘making’. Here we will explore a cross-section of artistic, artisanal and practices involving the fibre arts and place this within a context of contemporary textile industries. Amongst practices covered, we will look the basics of working with wool, and learning the attributes various fibres; we will learn the basics of knitting, weaving (of various kinds); felting, embroidery, quilting. Students will have the opportunity to fully explore two major studio projects that reflect their own learning and artistic goals, and one collaborative project.

Topics in sustainability, including the impact of technology on the environment and society, and fundamentals of engineering design. Restricted to students in the UBC Vantage College Engineering Stream.

The nature and dynamics of urban ecosystems with emphasis on urban forests and greenspaces. The role of green infrastructure in urban sustainability with particular focus on the ecological impact of urban forest management, design, and policy decisions. Credit may be granted for only one of UFOR 420 or UFOR 520.