abby jarvis

Growing Pains

Growing Pains is embodied in a collection of patterns that dresses and addresses buildings of New Bedford, MA. It speculates old industries of New Bedford, Sail makers, textile mill workers and fishermen as stakeholders that turn their practice and attention towards our buildings. This non-profit was started by a group of sail makers at the old Durant Sail Loft. They visit sites around the city documenting deterioration and strategize ways to facilitate maintenance. Growing Pains interventions seen around New Bedford is a speculative world where fabric is used to identify care and repair.

Growing Pains is headquartered in the existing building of what was the old Durant Sail Loft, also know as the Bourne Counting House.

An example of a pattern sleeve for a column pad.

16 Bedford st- Dressed Scaffolding in progress 1/2"=1'0" model. 
Mdf, paper, wood, and fabric taped, glued and sewn.

Bespoke pants 
made in Who Wears the Pants taught by Meg DeCubellis. 
This pant is made from 2 recycled dress form canvas bags from the company PGM.
Photo taken by Molly Sullivan.

Column Pad
10" in diameter and 6' tall.
canvas and nylon patterned together to make a pocket to be stuffed with paper for durability.

Team: Abby Jarvis, Molly Sullivan, Liz Shepard 
Photographer: Molly Sullivan

This project aimed to replicate a typical double hung window using fabric and a twist on how they would typically operate. In the span of 2 weeks the team designed, patterned and constructed this installation. We speculated what it meant for us to be rebuilding an architecture element with traditionally feminine practices of sewing.