AN interactive artist in residency program is now underway at Bendigo Tech School.<\/p>\n
The residency features creative technologist Jess Coldrey, who was named one of the top 50 women in engineering.<\/p>\n
Over the coming weeks, Coldrey will use the facilities at the tech school to explore solutions to challenges in the fashion industry, a process that will be shared with local high school students.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be delving into the future of fashion and I\u2019ll be creating an exhibition with students from local schools,\u201d said Coldrey.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe main idea around the series was trying to imagine a more sustainable vision for the fashion industry, but using technology, science, and engineering to project what that system could look like on a large scale.\u201d<\/p>\n
With Coldrey\u2019s guidance, students who engage with the residency will get the chance to learn skills in digital fields like artificial intelligence and virtual reality.<\/p>\n
The project also involves recycling and upcycling existing materials and textiles to encourage critical and creative thinking around challenges facing the fashion industry such as resource scarcity.<\/p>\n
\u201cOften when we think about the future of fashion we picture shiny, metallic, futuristic, very plastic-y visions of the future,\u201d Coldrey said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut there\u2019s a language of more organic materials, more lumpy, unusual sustainable clothing that not everyone gravitates towards but could become a really strong aesthetic in the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo throughout the residency I\u2019ll be testing some different materials and playing with the idea of what if in the future we\u2019ve got scarce resources and it\u2019s actually banned to make new fibres for clothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Part of the aim of the residency is to show students the creative pathways that exist for women in STEM.<\/p>\n
Science educator and head of programs at Bendigo Tech School, Ember Chittenden, said it was exciting to have Coldrey involved as both a woman working in STEAM and to encourage students engage in future thinking.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnpacking the idea of resource scarcity and the \u2018what if\u2019 or the \u2018how might we\u2019 problem solving process is really important,\u201d Ms Chittenden said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo bringing around thinking about social change and how they can be a part of that going forward into their future is great.\u201d<\/p>\n
The residency will culminate in an exhibition at Bendigo Tech School on 8 March, which is also International Women’s Day.<\/p>\n
High school groups can still participate in the program by contacting Bendigo Tech School.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AN interactive artist in residency program is now underway at Bendigo Tech School. The residency features creative technologist Jess Coldrey, who was named one of the top 50 women in engineering. Over the coming weeks, Coldrey will use the facilities at the tech school to explore solutions to challenges in the fashion industry, a process […]<\/p>\n