Era of Sewing

Above: ANYWHERE TO CREATE: Clarke Central High School Sculpture I student Gabriel Grimont, a sophomore, displays the final project for his class’s sewing unit on Nov. 13 in Room 214. Grimont embraced the different opportunities the class provided. “I'm better at (sewing) than I was with clay. You can do your own thing at your own time (and) it's, something you can take home and do, not like clay,” Grimont said. Photo by Olivia Hendershot

Clarke Central High School Sculpture I classes are exploring sewing mediums, one of many textiles the sculpture students engage in throughout the school year. 

Clarke Central High School Sculpture I students experiment with a variety of sewing mediums during the class sewing unit, which includes embroidery, stitch weaving and 3D cloth pieces. 

The introductory sculpture class is available to all CCHS students class registry, providing a different outlet for creativity from 2D art. Fine arts department Co-Chair Jessica Shelden noticed the placid environment when students worked on the detail-oriented projects.

“Everyone's very focused, and there's a lot more quiet. There's no issues at all with cell phones because they just sit there and they're so focused on (sewing),” Shelden said. “I was very surprised how much students seem to actually enjoy doing embroidery. They get very frustrated at first, but then it usually ends up being their favorite unit.” 

Above: EVERY ARTIST: Clarke Central High School Department Chair of the fine arts department teacher Jessica Shelden talks to sculpture one students in Room 214 on Nov. 12. Sheldon saw an opportunity for students of all talents in the sculpture classes with the various mediums used throughout the year. “I think the drawing and painting classes can be a little daunting to a lot of our students, and in sculpture, there's more opportunities for them to feel successful because it doesn't have to be realistic,” Shelden said. Photo by Olivia Hendershot

Sculpture I student Gabriel Grimton, a sophomore, finds sewing to be the easiest unit so far, but parts of the craft still have their downsides. 

“Knotting (the string) when you're done sewing and you gotta do it at least two times. It's a little hard (because the knot) can come off,” Grimont said

For the class's final project, students are required to create a plushie-like sculpture out of felt and use the stitch weaves they learned throughout the unit. 

“I think there is a level of excitement with their finished pieces that we don't always see in the other units,” Shelden said. “ I always look forward to doing sewing each semester, because they don't give up at that initial frustration, and then they push through it, and then there's just this little excitement, a little twinkle in their eyes when they create this small, tiny, little, soft thing,” 

Story by Oliva Hendershot

Olivia Hendershot is a senior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia. She serves as the Editor-in-Chief for the iliad literary-art magazine. Hendershot hopes to expand iliads outreach as well as make positive improvements to the program. In her free time, she likes listening to music, sketching/painting and hanging out with friends.