Molas are simple yoke-type blouses richly decorated by intricate needlework. Mola can mean the blouse that is daily wear for Kuna (sometimes spelled Cuna) women but most often refers to its front or back panel. They have been made for about a century. The long shifts that were first worn were cumbersome and soon crept up to blouse length, to be paired with a simple sarong. Early loose-fitting molas gave way to blouses of smaller size. What inspired Kuna woman to take up the very difficult reverse appliqué technique is unclear. Each panel is constructed of multiple layers of cloth of contrasting colors. The layers are carefully snipped, peeled back to reveal the underlying colors and stitched together to create the pattern. The technique is sometimes referred to as reverse applique. Molas can often have as many as four colored layers of cloth with extra color pieces and embroidery accents added. It takes many hours of sewing to create even the simplest mola. https://benton.uconn.edu/exhibitions/molas/what-is-a-mola/#
|
Generate Ideas
|
Create a test pattern using the design above. You can use any 3 colors of your choic, but you should duplicate the image as close as possible. Steps are pictured beside the image. For this part, we will use Elmers Glue to attached layers. In the final art piece we will use Mod Podge.
Take a photo and turn it in to Canvas |
Materials List 12" x 18" Newsprint 4 Sheets or More 12" x 18" Colored Paper Mod Podge Glue Stick Craft Knife Cutting Mat Pencil |
|