Uncanny Creatures: Stitching together the Mythological Hybrid

In this studio art course, we will study historical examples of mythological hybrids, ranging from Egyptian gods to Greek monsters to the common North American Jackalope. Students will then take inspiration from a culture of their choice to make one of these creatures or invent a new one of their own! We will discuss these creatures’ place in their respective stories and try to understand the purpose of their hybrid nature. This course also takes a hybrid approach to soft sculpture, combining textile arts with sculptural techniques often used in the movie and prop industry. We will begin by learning to sew simple stuffed forms and then progress to designing more complex shapes and sewing patterns. In addition, students will learn how to make molds of their hands or faces and cast these in rubber, resin, or foam. These cast parts will be altered and combined to create truly uncanny creatures. As students gain confidence with sewing, we will begin upcycling found textiles like old jeans, shirts, gloves, or socks. If time allows, near the end of the course, we could either create our own bestiary or work together to build a giant inflatable monster.