You start each quarter by introducing yourself with your name and major. “Hi, I’m Ella Saltzman, and I’m a fibers major,” and almost every professor’s response is, “I love the Fibers Open Studio!” I never truly understood why, until I walked into Pepe Hall last Friday, Feb. 27th.
There was only one word to describe the sight: fabulous. Happiness just hits you. Smiles are shared across rooms, laughs were heard all around, and kind comments filled the halls. It truly is unlike any other academic environment.
Walking into the building, you’re hit with the smell of food and lively tunes from the DJ. Proud parents mingled with professors, alumni fondly reminisced, and prospective students wandered around with stars in their eyes. Fibers may not be the most known or even most popular major at SCAD, but for one night, everyone came together and appreciated the program, complex surface designs, and, of course, the delicious finger food, highlighting unique diversity in mediums and styles while creating a cohesive aesthetic scene.
The obvious highlight of every Fibers Open Studio is the talented seniors, like Scott Groves’ elegant nature-driven surface designs, Eve Friday’s dynamic jacquard woven tapestries, and Lily McWhorter’svibrant floral interior textiles, to name a few. The open studio showcased not just the seniors’ collection, but what Fibers is at its core.
Each floor exemplified the diversity within the major. The first floor was composed of more muted, serene patterns in the halls. The basement, in all its hectic nature, was filled with bright colors and smiles. Lastly, the second floor highlighted the true beauty of a fully developed thesis, each standing with its own unique style and materials. All of Pepe’s walls were covered in delicate woven fabric swatches, colorful hand-dyed patterns, and brilliant screen prints.
There were also so many fun activities for all ages during the exhilarating three hours. This year had screen printing, indigo dyeing, a sneak peak at looms, and the Embellished Band-Aid Lab, an exploration of creativity and healing by the talented Courtney Watts. There was something remarkably beautiful in seeing students, families, and alumni come together and experience the highlights of this truly underappreciated major. I’ll be counting down the days to the 2027 Fibers Open Studio to experience this fabulous event again! (It’s 352 days if you were curious.)
Words by Ella Saltzman
Photos By Ella Saltzman